This has probably been mentioned, but I see Toronto are offering their 2021 new signings to other clubs and have told all players they are free to talk to other clubs.
They have said they will honour all contracts through this season, but the future does not look good. It is always a shame when players are touted around en masse and is often the beginning of the end.
Argyle is now proposing to raise £6m by selling shares in the club and also asking for a share of the Sky money. I thought that he was a billionaire with bottomless pockets, but clearly as a businessman he considers his £18m investment in the club is enough. The promised massive North American tv deal is a myth and not going to happen in the foreseeable future.
I feel sorry for the fans in Toronto who bought into the dream and the players likely to be looking for new clubs, but the time has come to end this failed venture albeit an embarrassment for the RFL. Surely, any future investment in NA must be aimed at developing the game in that part of the world. The RFL should address how to expand the game in the UK before taking on the world.
I think we know that was the cash rather than the challenge that attracted the powers that be!!
On the recent Sky Golden Point Vodcast, Eric Perez, the founder of TWP and now the owner of Ottawa, came across as enthusiastic and committed to the development of RL in North America; and, whilst he disagreed with some of the management decisions taken by David Argyle, leading to the present financial problems, he felt that the RFL should get behind the expansion, but on the basis that they should receive a share of central funding.
He also felt that it time for David Argyle to step down. He highlighted the level of local support generated over the three years of the club's existence and the successful marketing in NA. I must confess that he was convincing in his arguments. One question that he was not asked and one that, in my view, needs to be addressed, is where the development of a North American league, if any, fits into these plans; or is it envisaged that there will be just a handful of elite clubs in North America, playing in an international league , with other clubs (if any) playing at a lower domestic level?
I guess that having agreed to allow Ottawa into the league in 2021 and potentially NY in 2022, it would be difficult (and embarrassing) to kick TWP out of the league; and that the RFL will allow them to remain in SL in 2021. The SL clubs may be forced to give TWP a share of the Sky money, on the basis that they cannot continue without the funding, with some conditions on funding being generated in NA. They should, however, be placed in special measures to ensure that they do not over commit on signings, which has partly been behind their current financial position.
The RFL need to address their long term vision of this international expansion and how this will impact on on the game in the UK. My own view is that if the game can expand in NA, with a successful NA league, generating tv interest and the promised funding, this should be welcomed, but an international league in its current SL format is unsustainable.
The RFL aren't as fond of expansion as they'd have you believe!!
Agree with both posts, until a realistic plan is published, with club support, we are in limbo land. SL clubs stay silent in case they lose out by objecting but even they must see the writing on the wall if we carry on as we are!
At what point do SL say 'no more additions'. If they are going to take on enough NA teams to form a NA league they will take over SL.
The Covid shut down should have given time for planning our future, but that may be too optimistic. The lack of direction depresses me tbh. We are always going to be competing with big money from outside our game, as are all Championship clubs.
I will suppport because I love the game but for many that isn't enough, a chance of promotion is their motivation as it should be, take that away and what's the point?
Read an interesting article by Martin Shaw supporting the North American expansionist plans. His arguments appear to be that the RFL has failed to grow and has in fact declined in the 125 years of its existence; that in its short existence, TWP has grown a decent fan base, better than any team in the Championship/League 1, and given a profile to the game in North America; that far from not bringing in spectators at away games, for most games the home clubs had an above average attendance for TWP games; that it cost RFL/SL nothing from central funding to support this expansion although that may change; and that they have introduced idea for marketing the game and improving the match day experience that other clubs should consider.
All this may be true, but is there any kind of strategy in place if the expansion is successful and other NA teams apply to join RFL? If the "international" expansion is successful, is the intention to include other European and Australian and Australasian countries? How many of the existing S: clubs fit the profile for the future "international" league? For example, if Batley get a backer and win promotion, will a Batley v NY it the image? At what stage will it cease to be a British game? What happens if the tv deal does not materialise - after all, this expansion is based on additional funds flowing in from NA tv rights? Are there any marketing ideas that the RF/teams can learn from TWP, with a view to trying to expand the game in the UK? What plans do the RFL have for the game in the UK below the international expansionist level? If TWP fail because of financial issues, will this impact on the entry of Ottawa and NY?
It seems to me that this expansion has gone ahead on a piece meal basis, with no long term plan in place or consideration of the impact on the game in the UK. If the thought is that after 125 years of decline in the UK game, the game is dead or at least on life support, is there any plan to try and revive the game? I suppose that it all depends on what people consider to be successful. Some will want to see a game involving a few UK clubs, but bringing in a fortune in tv rights to enable high salaries to be paid to a few elite players, managers and owners; others may see a growth of clubs at grass roots level, with local clubs like Widnes being able to be financially viable and attracting local support. Time will tell. I know which option I would support or maybe room for both.
Some will want to see a game involving a few UK clubs, but bringing in a fortune in tv rights to enable high salaries to be paid to a few elite players, managers and owners; others may see a growth of clubs at grass roots level, with local clubs like Widnes being able to be financially viable and attracting local support. Time will tell. I know which option I would support or maybe room for both.
Don't forget governing bodies!!
Top earners in S.L...
1. SBW
2. Greg Inglis maybe?
3. Wigan's highest player
4-8 Probably the RFL Board!!
Some will want to see a game involving a few UK clubs, but bringing in a fortune in tv rights to enable high salaries to be paid to a few elite players, managers and owners; others may see a growth of clubs at grass roots level, with local clubs like Widnes being able to be financially viable and attracting local support. Time will tell. I know which option I would support or maybe room for both.
Don’t forget governing bodies!! Top earners in S.L… 1. SBW 2. Greg Inglis maybe? 3. Wigan’s highest player 4-8 Probably the RFL Board!!
Yes forget them - and Chief Executives too!!!
Interesting comment from Elstone regarding the expansion plans:
“Strategic expansion into areas where there’s an affinity to the game, where it’s played, where it’s connected geographically, makes sense. This felt to me a different expansion strategy, which isn’t to say it was never going to work and there’s absolutely no, ‘I told you so,’ in any of this.”
In the article, Elstone confirmed that TWP were allowed in with a clear set of financial conditions, which they accepted.
The first bit of common sense spoken about the NA expansion plans, which simply cannot work. Maybe TWP, Ottawa, NY and other NA teams can concentrate on building the game in NA and when they get their massive tv deal in the future, they can say "we told you so" to the RFL.
In the Sunday Times the headline was that RL is under threat of reverting back to Semi-Pro, basically saying if Toronto don't come back the TV deal could be reduced further and that with the impact of Covid combined could lead to Semi-Pro.
Stormy times ahead in terms of what happens next in this saga!
Some sort of order from the chaos would be a relief tbh!
For a 'professional' sport we seem bereft of professional organisation. They have spent and spent as much as they could get with never a thought for tomorrow and stabilising the game's base or even its organising body. And they would criticise any club running on those lines.
If, as is being suggested, Sky drop the ante there will be such a scrabble to hold on it could be another lost season. I just wonder how many sugar daddies will have enough spare cash to fund things without Sky money. Or maybe the RFL/SL would grab the Sky cash for HQ stability and say that clubs will have to survive on their own means, either as pro or semi-pro.
Just been reading about Ricky Leutele's situation.
He has been issued an eviction notice on his home as Toronto have not paid his rent, his car club car has been taken back, he has had to apply for a short term emergency visa and has not been paid since May and is owed £44,000. This is a guy with a wife and three kids to look after.
I am sure there are many more Wolfpack players in similar situations and at least he has managed to secure a short term gig at Melbourne.
My question is, how would the RFL treat any other club in this situation , I would venture that they would be nowhere near SL next season .
I have also just watched David Argyle pleading poverty. What has happened to this multi -billionaire with a plan to revolutionise rugby league.
You are right that any other club in that position would face sanctions, including potential relegation and at the least a substantial points deduction.
Elstone was right, when he said that they needed to take a breath and consider the situation fully before making a decision. One option that should be dismissed out of hand is the proposal by the owners of NY to buy TWP and presumably their place in SL.
What is the position with franchising? Wasn't there a suggestion of Widnes being bought out by Coventry a few years back? I hope that the game does not go down the franchising route or the next billionaire may decide it would be easier to buy a club like Wigan and ship it across the Atlantic, rather than start in League 1!! Where would that leave the game in the UK or for that matter in Canada?
It certainly should mean that we take a long hard look at the game as a whole from top to bottom. The survival of the game is at stake this time. Applications from other NA clubs have got to be better vetted and turned down if they aren't right.
A major consideration has to be to work out an option without Sky, should that be a possibility. All clubs may have to cut their cloth, as we had to do, and run on a lower budget. It will be a worry particularly for full-timers, if the budgets are cut.