I'd guess he's learnt a lot and Beaumont will be a steadying influence as brash as the man is. Looking forward to SL becoming that bit richer for it......

Badly needed at a time Pearson seems to be looking at the exit.

Certainly interesting, he was happy to splash the cash at Salford but, a little impatient.
Could be a very good week for Leigh

Great post.

It is something I have been looking forward to for a long time in that the Good Doc joins Leigh, can you imagine how exciting it is to be a Leigh fan with this news?

As stated previously there has been a lot of calls mainly from the Fan's of the "richer" clubs to increase the Salary Cap, if this increase does come about it will surely ruffle a few feathers with Leigh's new spending power, will it make some SL clubs consider how they will want any new structure to be formulated?

What if it is deemed we go back to a Licencing Structure, if in any list of criteria that is drawn up for entry to SL to include having an Academy as was in the last Framing the Future document the RFL have in essence barred any team but for the 10 who were granted an Academy Licence for the next 7 years from applying. Leigh had everything in place to run an academy for next season and even £400K to set aside to finance it, it was obvious to me that the licences were granted on a geographical basis until the about turn from pressure got the decision for Cas and HKR reversed, Leigh were not granted an academy licence in my opinion because of the locallity to Wigan, Saints and Wire but then again the RFL were not strong enough to to only allow two of those three to continue running an academy in a crowded area.

Even if we do go to a 2 x10's structure that could still be done as a Licence for SL1 and SL2, so if we do go back to Licencing I would suggest that having an academy is not part of the criteria for entry into SL but a mandatory requirement for every team in SL 1 when chosen to have to run one.

I would also make it a stipulation of any criteria to include a commitment to spend money both on and off the field, to promote the fan base and supplement the community game in their locality, and to commit to a certain level of spend on the Salary Cap, and this would have to be rubber stamped by means of a 'Bond' being placed, repayable annually over 3 to 5years, any club defaulting on the financial commitments losses the 'Bond'.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09r8tjp LINK, Yesterdays inteview with Dr Koukash begins at 34:40 mins, previous to that Derek Beaumont has some views on the game begins at approx 5:20 mins

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09r8tjp LINK, Yesterdays inteview with Dr Koukash begins at 34:40 mins, previous to that Derek Beaumont has some views on the game begins at approx 5:20 mins

With potential new investment to strengthen Leigh's squad, I'm almost certain that the SL/RFL will scupper any plans by relegating Leigh.

The game has a nasty habit of self sabotage.

Or put another way, it's a shame the RFL TWICE turned down the offer to buy Bradford from sugar daddies. The RFL have always wanted compliance from Bradford owners, not wealth or sustainability.

The owners of Wigan, Wire, Leeds & Saint's wouldn't be worried about Leigh being cashed up, Hull K.R's owner talked about leaving in recent times though they do well with whatever budget they have. Maybe the owners of Wakefield, Salford, Cas & Huddersfield will be more concerned with any challenge to their long term positions at the top table & of course the owner of Giants - Ken Davey has a very influential position at the head of the SL table, it certainly wouldn't suit old Ken !!!

If the ‘good doctor’ has learned from his failings at Salford - ie; stay out of rugby/playing decisions and have a little patience to build rather than wanting instant success, this could be a very good move for both Leigh and the game. Yes, he went a little OTT at times with his public outbursts but he can certainly get the media’s attention! Interesting to see what develops here.

What a ridiculous post, so because one club potentially has a new investor they should change the whole structure to make sure they don`t get relegated?

I can't see Derek Beaumont letting anyone else on board. Leigh Centurions is his baby.....for now. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58304075

I can't see Derek Beaumont letting anyone else on board. Leigh Centurions is his baby.....for now. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58304075

Koukash wants to be involved in the game but doesn't seem to know specifically how. Starts off with Salford, bids for Bradford, talks about Liverpool RLFC, flirts with Leigh. He's got a pretty non-specific desire to do something, but it seems to completely lack focus.

So on one hand Adam Pearson is calling out for private equity investment in the game (something that they already paid £500k, for then chose not to follow-up, as a few SL clubs weren't keen) and on the other there's Dr K who's got money to put in, but no clear direction of where to put it.

Meanwhile there's a bunch of uncertainty around what the league structure might look like next season.

So I can understand why any investment decisions might not be too straighforwards!

Yes. And don’t forget the new Cumbrian team he was creating.

Maybe he wants to build Leigh a nice new stadium;or take them into the NRL. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/ ... h-team-nrl

Maybe he wants to build Leigh a nice new stadium;or take them into the NRL. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/ ... h-team-nrl

Did you all listen to the radio interview I put the link to, there in his voice it comes over loud and clear that he wants to join his mate at Leigh, now I know there will be a lot of people resentful of that, and also maay who will be seeing the green eyed monster, as a Leigh fan I am absolutely over the moon if it comes to pass and he joins the club, there will be some Sl clubs looking over their shoulder instead of just treating them with contempt as was the case last December when allowing them into SL with no threat whatsoever of finishing higher than 12th spot, if they suddenly have the situation whereby Leigh can comfortably outspend them in bringing quality player's to the LSV it will be at another SL clubs expense and honestly I will treat that with as much feeling as they did when deciding the promoted club whoever it was by withholding funding and making the announcement as late as possible would have no chance of competeing in SL '21.

Yeah but with respect we can find you a similar clip of his wife saying how enthusiastic they are to get Bradford, or another about what a great idea Liverpool RL is. He's got an aimless interest in Rugby League which you might benefit from but perhaps he'll lose interest tomorrow and try setting up a club at Birch Services. The game needs his wealth but with more focus.

I have zero axe to grind with Leigh, but I'm not convinced that a very wealthy man going to a club with an existing wealthy owner is where our sport needs Koukash to go.

[urlhttps://www.autumn-internationals.co.uk/2021/[/url
Yeah....they're a poor copy of the greatest game.....


You, your like and the RFL are the reason we are trying to feel enthusiastic about
England hammering France in the autumn or Jamaica v Scotland at Post office road, whilst the copycats have another full calendar of friendlies to raise millions of pounds.
The all blacks are about to leave home for nearly 4 months......they do so because they are pro sports people who want to represent their country and have been invited to do so by their governing body. I'd suggest that the ARL and RFL could learn a lot from that, or are you in denial about the RLWC 2021 being bounced?
Marwan is another quick fix....it's why league flounders. It wants to be relevant, but only played on its own doorstep....and then the keyboard warriors whine when the BBC treat it like a local hobby.
If Marwan wants the game to do well, he should buy Swinton and build from there, because Leigh or Salford have already hit their heights.....they'll always be in the shadow of Wigan or Warrington....

Quote ="Ornery Optimist"Maybe he wants to build Leigh a nice new stadium;or take them into the NRL. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/ ... h-team-nrl'" you love digging up from the archives don't you

Quote ="Ornery Optimist"Maybe he wants to build Leigh a nice new stadium;or take them into the NRL. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/ ... h-team-nrl'" you love digging up from the archives don't you

Degsy and the Doc, what could possibley go wrong.....

It would either be a marriage made in heaven or Frank Carno's Circus, no in-between !
If it happens, as a Leigh fan I would be both excited & terrified.

Oh dear me







Sorry but remember Leigh winning the challenge cup, and moreso winning the Championship with Saints 7th.Wire 8th. and Wigan 11th. It's a rich owners game and Leigh have two now so they already top that table

You hope!
It must be gnawing away at you, that little Leigh can attract this kind of wealth, and your club has had aspirations of doing so for years but alas no one comes a knocking.
C'mon please be sensible any body going through the gate will be stuck with 'first inpressions' that will not dissapate and that is long before looking into the financials, sorry Jake- you are LaMotta I take it - you have no hope of ever getting that financial comfort blanket, but good luck any way, and I will look forward to our clashes with the Bulls next season.

1. 40 years ago.....they've been poor relations for 2 score years.
2. Marwan has never made a rich list although apparently worth 2 billion....he's promised loads and delivered nowt
3. Salford are in strife, Swinton are worse, there's no Liverpool RLFC club and his wife didn't get Bradford in the cheap.....pi55 and wind ...
4. Leigh will be in the 2nd tier next year....deckboy and redwine man will be big fish in a tiny pond....

Pretty much any club would welcome a guy like Koucash and having a multi, multi millionaire coming into the sport has to be a good thing.
It will be interesting if Leigh is where he ands up as, I dont see DB as the kind of bloke who wants to be "equal" or play no 2 and neither does Koucash so, there may be an almighty fall out at some point.
There is also the cynic in me that thinks that this could be Leigh trying to ensure their SL survival as, a sport so short of cash, wouldn't want to be seen to be pushing Koucash back into the wilderness and with a restructure on the cards, Leigh (or any other serious contender wont want to risk being the wrong side of any drawbridge that may be pulled up). Their best chance of a SL spot is to find a way of remaining in the top flight.
If MK and BD are such close friends and have been so for such a long time, why is it only now that MK has stuck his head above the parapet and why wouldn't he take on a club where he could be the No 1. this makes it all seem a little bit strange, certainly in terms of timing.

On the plus side, the bloke is seriously loaded and he was happy to mix things up as far as the power base in RL is concerned.
Without him, we wouldn't have the marque signing and there is sure to be demands for a salary cap increase.

This wont help the smaller clubs in the comp but, it may help the sport.