www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... -statement What an embarrassing way to end an embarrassing day for English RL. 6 official from Super League clubs walking out on a meeting and holding the future of every English club in RL to ransom. Not the cleverest of things to do.

www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... -statement What an embarrassing way to end an embarrassing day for English RL. 6 official from Super League clubs walking out on a meeting and holding the future of every English club in RL to ransom. Not the cleverest of things to do.

I agree entirely John Gilbert, if these clubs don't wake up and see the damage they are going to do then I really fear for the whole of RL down to grass roots.
Clubs cannot survive on gate monies if they want a professional game even less so the lower down the pecking order you go it is important therefore that some TV money filters down.
The RL have shot themselves in the foot with the stupid sponsorship deal handed out ton Stobbarts a couple of seasons ago rendering any new sponsor of Super League almost impossible clearly therefore the six clubs are protecting what they may lose irrespective of the damage it may do.
If six clubs walked out that still left eight...did they not form a quorum for the vote to be carried anyway leaving the six clubs out on a limb, time to call the bluff of the Wigan and Warrington's of this world.
Six clubs could easily have taken their place because you can bet player would soon jump ship.

The damage we are doing......? what wanting to know the facts and figures behind another of Nigel woods excellent ideas..... I guess you missed last seasons sponsorship of superleague? and then the year before that the laughable stobart deal..... the london bailout.... the Odsal stadium Bradford bailout.....the crusaders fiasco the trouble with Wakefields finances, Salfords Finances...etc etc hey guess what none of these clubs named were one of the six

I would suggest the six clubs have men with a bit of business acumen running them....what was marwan doing while this was going on ? titting about on Twitter defending "GAZ" by the sounds of it.....

and for a Swinton fan having a pop at Warrington for having some principles about the way the game is run.......wow....... kick us out the league then, ....you'll lose half your team...... that by the way is another of Nigel woods excellent ideas...

if someone could also Remind Gary Hetherington he runs Leeds RLFC on the back of Caddicks money that doesnt make him boss of the RFL

changes need to be made we all know that but it dont help when six cry babies like warrington wigan and the others throw a paddy. Promotion and relegation a must. We know the rfl are incompitant but we dont need big clubs like i mentioned to have control. Its there way or no way things will never be sorted.

About time you changed that sig.

.www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/a ... saders-rfl Did GH walk out?

.www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/a ... saders-rfl Did GH walk out?

The game is imploding.

Something needs to give.

Trying to see it from the six clubs view, it seems that the meeting was only to decide the future league format. It seems the six wanted to discuss sponsorship and the commercial running of the RFL/Super League all at the same meeting

I think walking out may have been the best action, by making the meeting inquorate they avoided having to force a divisive vote and actually generated some time for the RFL or SLE or whoever to give some more consideration to generating a new agenda that is maybe a bit more fit for purpose?

The statement from SLE clearly says

How do you read from that that they flounced out purely to protect their own interests?

The representatives of these clubs - particularly Ian Lenegan - have been expressing concerns about the direction of the sport for some time now. And they're right, surely. It's an issue that needs to be discussed, and if this is the only way to get the governing bodies to discuss it, then so be it.


I believe he tweeted his concerns about the incident, saying that it shows a weakness in the governance of the sport. Not quite what the Evil Marwan that exists in your head would do, but it's what local radio has reported the real Marwan as doing.

I have just read an interview in the MEN with your chairman and I have to say he has gone up in my estimation.
He clearly realises that funding of the RL.. not just Super League needs to be more equitable due to the fact a RL players grounding comes from the lower divisions.
He believes clubs in the Championship should be looked after by The RL and uses Leigh as an example. He can see this yet Lenagan at Wigan can't grasp this fact.

well done to Koukash in this instance.

The problem is the sport isn't self sufficient and it's living way beyond it's means because it's not attracting enough punters. For how much longer can individuals of the smaller clubs be expected to dig deep and make up the shortfall? Either Superleague needs to go back to being semi professional or broadcasting revenue needs to be renegotiated and a sponsor found. If Sky or another broadcaster aren't prepared to pay more and Superleague can't attract a decent sponsor you have to ask some searching questions and get to the bottom of why?

For instance a question I would ask is if the salary cap has held the sport back in general for those few clubs who could spend more like Wigan, Leeds and Warrington? The analogy I would use is that you are never going to make a blockbuster movie and attract the masses on a small limited budget with a second rate cast. A great movie needs a few film stars like Superleague needs a few superstars!!