CASH-strapped Doncaster Rugby League Club are set to go into administration in a last-ditch bid to save them from liquidation.
The club appointed insolvency experts XL Business Solutions yesterday afternoon to start the process.

The Rugby Football League, who were aware of the Co-operative Championship club's financial problems, have been informed,

But the club's chief executive, Dave Marshall, reaffirmed to The Star that the RFL were not in a position to help bail out the Dons.

"There are other clubs also feeling the pinch in these tough economic times and if the Rugby League helps one then it has to help the others," he said.

"In any case, it would be unfair on clubs who have kept on an even keel."

Although reluctant to publicly discuss the implications of going into administration until the Cleckheaton-based experts have had time to assess the club's situation, Marshall said that it was imperative that someone came forward to run the Dons.

The club has effectively been run by Marshall, Karen Bailey and director of rugby Carl Hall since former millionaire chairman Craig Harrison severed his connections last autumn.

Marshall has already announced plans to step down, while Bailey no longer works for the club on a full-time basis.

Marshall has agreed to stay on in the short-term to assist the administrator run the club, along with Hall.

"A few people have come forward and asked if they can help out, but at the moment any rescue plans are in the very early stages," he said.

"I don't think the people concerned are looking to necessarily put any money into the club - which would be free of debt if the administration process was successful.

"I think that they are talking of working together to run the club as a proper business."

Although the Dons' debts, believed to be between £70,000 and £80,000, are not in massive, Marshall said the club had no way of meeting their financial obligations and that the situation had been steadily getting worse.

"The reason for taking the action that we have is that we've not been able to generate the amount of money that we had been hoping to do," he said.

"Gates have been slightly lower than we anticipated but the problems are across the board.

"Match sponsorship, shirt sponsorship and hospitality have all been hit by the recession,

"Everyone, be it business people or supporters, are all tightening their belts."

Ross Divorty and Mark Castle have become the latest players to quit, joining Feath-erstone and Leigh respectively.

The club, who will be docked points if they go into administration, plan to update the players at training tomorrow.

The Dons, who haven't got a game scheduled until June 28, are hoping to play their outstanding game against Batley at Featherstone on June 21.



www.thestar.co.uk/rugbyleague/La ... 5333948.jp

CASH-strapped Doncaster Rugby League Club are set to go into administration in a last-ditch bid to save them from liquidation.
The club appointed insolvency experts XL Business Solutions yesterday afternoon to start the process.

The Rugby Football League, who were aware of the Co-operative Championship club's financial problems, have been informed,

But the club's chief executive, Dave Marshall, reaffirmed to The Star that the RFL were not in a position to help bail out the Dons.

"There are other clubs also feeling the pinch in these tough economic times and if the Rugby League helps one then it has to help the others," he said.

"In any case, it would be unfair on clubs who have kept on an even keel."

Although reluctant to publicly discuss the implications of going into administration until the Cleckheaton-based experts have had time to assess the club's situation, Marshall said that it was imperative that someone came forward to run the Dons.

The club has effectively been run by Marshall, Karen Bailey and director of rugby Carl Hall since former millionaire chairman Craig Harrison severed his connections last autumn.

Marshall has already announced plans to step down, while Bailey no longer works for the club on a full-time basis.

Marshall has agreed to stay on in the short-term to assist the administrator run the club, along with Hall.

"A few people have come forward and asked if they can help out, but at the moment any rescue plans are in the very early stages," he said.

"I don't think the people concerned are looking to necessarily put any money into the club - which would be free of debt if the administration process was successful.

"I think that they are talking of working together to run the club as a proper business."

Although the Dons' debts, believed to be between £70,000 and £80,000, are not in massive, Marshall said the club had no way of meeting their financial obligations and that the situation had been steadily getting worse.

"The reason for taking the action that we have is that we've not been able to generate the amount of money that we had been hoping to do," he said.

"Gates have been slightly lower than we anticipated but the problems are across the board.

"Match sponsorship, shirt sponsorship and hospitality have all been hit by the recession,

"Everyone, be it business people or supporters, are all tightening their belts."

Ross Divorty and Mark Castle have become the latest players to quit, joining Feath-erstone and Leigh respectively.

The club, who will be docked points if they go into administration, plan to update the players at training tomorrow.

The Dons, who haven't got a game scheduled until June 28, are hoping to play their outstanding game against Batley at Featherstone on June 21.



www.thestar.co.uk/rugbyleague/La ... 5333948.jp