Entry 12. 14th November 2010
Despite New Zealand giving everyone involved in Rugby League outside Australia a boost, my attention was switched back to domestic matters at the end of last week with two pieces of news. The first came in a brief email on Thursday from the RFL.
It read:
RFL cancels membership of Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool Panthers RLFC have had their membership of the RFL cancelled and will take no part in the 2011 Co-operative Championship after they failed to meet a deadline from the game’s governing body.
The club, which went into administration in early October, was poised to present plans for their participation in Championship One on Thursday November 11 however no information was forthcoming from officials.
RFL Chief Operating Officer Ralph Rimmer commented: “The RFL has done everything possible to ensure the continuing involvement of Blackpool Panthers in Co-operative Championship One and we had every hope that a credible plan would be presented.
“Despite a flexible approach to deadlines and ongoing support from the RFL as well as a commitment from the club’s representatives right up to the last minute that a plan would be forthcoming, we have received notification that no proposal will be presented.
“With plans for the 2011 season at an advanced stage we have had no choice but to regretfully decide to cancel their membership.”
-ends-
Now it would be fair to say that the Panthers have limped along for the last six months since their chairman Bobby Hope decided that he wasn't going to fund the venture anymore after a spell of poor health and crowds at a much lower level than was expected.
Blackpool were whacked ten points for their finances in the season and to be fair have been floundering since going into administration at the start of October. There had been talk of former Oldham investor Bill Quinn leading a consortium but the RFL have said they can't hang on any longer and acted accordingly.
While the people at the club, and particularly Bobby Hope can be criticised, and rightly so, I feel sorry for the hardcore 200-250 who watched the Panthers every week. Those people could now potentially be lost to the game.
I also feel sorry for their players. I know many of them due to ealrier service with Leigh and to be honest they deserve better. This decision now means that any deals agreed or signed with Blackpool have become null and void. The uncertainty already saw Martin Ainscough, Neil Holland and Dean Thompson find another club while Friday saw Mike Morrison sign a deal with Swinton (who themselves appear to be pushing the boat out ahead of their season at The Willows).
While not wishing to speak badly about the RFL I hope their stance is repeated with other clubs. For me they have made an example of the Panthers who let's be honest have been operating in something of a development area since moving from Chorley in 2004.
I only hope there has been enough interest generated by the Panthers to sustain the amateur game in Blackpool and I also would like to see a future professional team in the area. If there is to be a next time, lessons must be heeded. The club needs a base and must develop in its own time. This is one of the pitfalls of recruiting heavily and boosting expenditure way beyond income. I liken it in a business sense to trying to build foundations on quicksand.
Sadly this seems a common method in rugby league.
The second piece of news to make me take notice was that of Crusaders entering administration. Now this is a story that has been doing the rounds for a couple of weeks. Basically when the club moved from South Wales it inherited crippling debt which it has battled all season. With that in mind it makes you appreciate what a job Brian Noble did there last term in just getting them to the play-offs. Sadly the previous business model I spoke of - "Let's throw money at it" was used and again a club has got in lumber.
Last year I'm sure I wrote about there being two separate companies set up that can be connected with this club and I'm still not sure of the where's and why's so I'll leave that thought where it is for now.
The main point I am wanting to make here is that for me the RFL have set a precedent here. I wait to see if any action will be taken to revoke Crusaders license should there be no movement in six weeks.
Don't get me wrong, I am not decrying Wrexham, the town has already shown an appetite for the sport, I just wish there was some consistency shown.
I now believe that the Crusaders are in the right place. North Wales I feel is more susceptible to Rugby League growth and wouldn't it be nice to think that there could be the potential to grow clubs in places like Rhyll and Llandudno? For me Rugby League needs to grow from amateur bases with the Summer Conference a decent platform.
I'll be watching the situation with interest.
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