Gateshead are going nowhere. They'll just wind up the current company and clear the debts or transfer the debts to the 'new' company that takes ownership.

In talks with RFL over being saved. It's a lot like the RFL did for donny and other such clubs. Oh. Hang on........

Well, it'll take someone with deep pockets to get the game started up there. Again, they're just not interested in RL. If after thirty years of trying in London we produce a three thousand and odd average crowd for a SL club then that tells you how difficult it is to plant the game in an area where there's no interest. The NFL (with all their $squillions) couldn't launch their game here - with the blaze of publicity for the London Monarchs. That worked didn't it? As did the NRL's attempt in Perth - and it's that country's national sport for God's sake.

The RFL just aren't getting it. Yes, it would be lovely to spread the game but it's nigh on impossible to do so. The more these clubs go to the wall, the more potential backers will be put off. The only hope is for a Rugby Union club to go bust and be bought out by a League franchise - but even they've got more money than sense, so i can't see that happening.

[url=http://www.thunderrugby.com/news_article.php?id=253Gateshead holding company to be wound up[/url

Leigh may yet be spared.....still! Pinched from the Donny board:

[urlhttp://viewtopic.php?t=434854[/url

Gateshead CEO Rod Findlay previously worked at RFL headquarters.Why would you give up a job at RFL headquarters to move to a club that is struggling financially unless you know something the rest of us can easily guess at-the RFL won't let Gateshead go to the wall

So what do people think plan B is?

The obvious thing for me would be to re-locate to Edinburgh, think Cardiff Millenium magic & Celtic getting into SL, last year Murrayfield magic or whatever the spin was......

I had a feeling befor all this that they would move to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh.

Riiiiiiiiight. How is that going to be different to Gateshead's struggle to attract crowds?

No-one's watchin' folks.

A move to the Newcastle Falcons ground I recon. Shared costs, not too far for existing fans to travel and a new, bigger, local market.

There's still nobody watching ..................

They have elected to go in Championship 1

Plan B appears to be a drop to Championship 1 and have a team that consists of the remaining local & amateur players.

From my point of view that will result in heavy defeats and even smaller crowds. Some of the current Thunder fans, like myself, have just about had enough. If there isn't the market for RL in the NE perhaps it's time we died with at least a bit of grace and concentrated on the amateur game for now. We could actually have a half decent side in the Conference National with the local players that were at Thunder. Hopefully some of them will be picked up by other Championship sides to further their carreers

For the first time i've actually got a sense of what a Gateshead fan is feeling right now. I feel a bit flat after that. Really sorry about that - sorry for what you've lost.

Some good players locally up there. Its really sad when something like this happens as it hits the fans and Players hard. Thankfully Gateshead Storm and further afield Peterlee Pumas, Sunderland, Newcastle, Whitley Bay and Durham will make sure RUgby League survives at an amateur level. I would hope all the Thunder fans stick with the game and follow local amateur teams if the Thunder do in fact disappear. I am sure if Thunder fans wanted to take a trip then you would be made welcome at Fax

Leigh should then rightly remain in our division as when their administration is confirmed they should be deducted 9 points which will put them below Leigh. To be honest, which other sport would allow its game to become a laughing stock. The RFL are an embarrassing joke IMO.

Im not knocking Gateshead but the entire scenario of this expansion plan has never and will never work for RL in the main. Ok they got lucky with Catalans but look at the other disasters and in particular the ill fated mergers.

They didn't even do that. Catalans play in a "heartlands" area.

Cheers Si. I didn't even know these teams existed. I miss my RL when I can't get to the mid week games at Fax. I didn't know there was a team at Peterlee which is just down the road from my partners in Hartlepool!

Do you know of any nearer? there is NIL coverage of Rugby League in the local papers.

Yob, thunderstorm.org.uk/links/north-east-clubs Hopefully the link will work, a list of the NE Amateur clubs

Yob, thunderstorm.org.uk/links/north-east-clubs Hopefully the link will work, a list of the NE Amateur clubs

Wy Aye. There seems to be a canny bit going on www.northeastrl.com/images/august2009.pdf

Wy Aye. There seems to be a canny bit going on www.northeastrl.com/images/august2009.pdf

there is little doubt about it that Gateshead are cheats, they have been cheating all season and as cheats should never prosper they should be banished from the championship and replaced by Leigh Centurions

In what way have they cheated? There money man has pulled out and that is why they are in this trouble.

Make it a 10 team comp. Leigh were so bad last year they deserve to be in the lower division for a year.

Next year make it 1 down 3 up and have a 12 team comp next year.

I agree.