It has been reported in the press that Investec have served a winding up order on Featherstone. However neither the club nor the RFL have issued any statement in respect of it.
Well the flat cappers are always up for a fight - now they can fight with administrators.
Looks like they spent a lot, and are still spending, hoping tor a rapid promotion but it didn't work out. There is always a limit on how much a 'sugar daddy' will pay out and when it stops it is hard to pick yourselves up!
The Yorkshire biased RFL won't like this!
Being very cynical, it wouldn't surprise me if the RFL didn't arrange/organise/fund/sponsor/or in some way support a survival package.
I read a post on twitter also from another member of their staff who had not received severance pay so there may be a string of creditors.
@sunny I am not sure that the RFL will have any interest in Featherstone. A club that has always played above its weight but, with a population of about 15,000, hardly meets the IMG criteria for a "big" Club.
I hope that they can get through any current financial problems, as Club's like Featherstone are the heartbeat of rugby league. RFL/IMG have no interest in the "smaller" Clubs and will be happy to see them fail.
As others have said, if the RFL have no interest in the Championship/League 1 and grass root clubs like Featherstone, maybe the time is right for Clubs to to consider a breakaway from SL and attempt to get a separate tv deal and sponsorship. They might as well go down fighting, rather than fade away under the RFL plans.
One thing is sure, RFL will one day lose the Sky money, if they are offering a sterile brand of rugby based around a few so called "big" clubs; and these clubs may well lose there big money sponsors. Where will that leave the game?
Just for clarity: Fev have not had a winding up order served on them, they have had a winding-up petition, there's a very big difference! A winding-up order would mean the club immediately going into liquidation.
Fev certainly do have some financial issues at the moment as a result of over-stretching themselves last season before the door to SL was slammed shut by the new IMG system. It's clearly far from an ideal situation but I think those fans from the likes of Wakefield and Castleford who were salivating on their forums at the prospect of Fev ceasing to exist because they'd then get extra catchment area points are going to be disappointed.
Well that’s good news
@lord-lucan Hope that's true mate, and there's plenty in Widnes who would be happy to see a potential play off rival go to the wall. RL is dying a slow death, IMO, and i would not wish any of the remaining clubs cease to exist.
It has probably been mentioned, but I read that Paddy Handley is leading a group who are going to "put significant investment" into the club.
Over fairly recent years , Featherstone have been unlucky with investors. There was Probiz and Feisal Nahaboo who were going to do great things only to disappear into the ether and I think someone else after him.
Fev have done a lot to make a visit there a much more pleasant experience, but in reality money at our level in RL is tight.
I have reservations regarding the RFL'side a to convert amateur clubs in semi professionals. l want the game to grow, but is this the way forward.
Another loss today for Fev, this time at Sheff, and that's three reversals on the spin now for Campbell's Crew, dropping 'em to sixth on the ladder.
Will a certain Mr Ford be sitting a little uneasily?
Spelly.
Four losses on the spin now, as I've mentioned on the Swinton report, despite having Patton in their line-up.
When did they last come second for a quartet of consec league games?
Sitting a (for them) lowly sixth on the ladder, and they're across la Manch next week, which'll be faaaaaaaaaaaaar from easy!
James Ford under serious pressure now, I would suggest.
Spelly.
Five ducks in a row now, and today they didn't even trouble the scorers across la Manche!
P2, L2 for a certain NP bound ex-Lion! Am I bothered? 😀
Spelly.
James Ford under serious pressure now, I would suggest.
Spelly.
Perhaps not the coach under the most pressure now though, I'd suggest...
@lord-lucan I'd suggest that a certain Swinton fan may well be assuming your username as the week goes on.
@lord-lucan I'd suggest that a certain Swinton fan may well be assuming your username as the week goes on.
To be fair I dont blame him, personally if there's something I don't agree with that my team has done I tend to keep my own counsel too, I dont think that's unreasonable, alternatively he might just not feel like getting drawn into an argument and that's fine too in my view.