Quote ="Sir Kevin Sinfield"Leigh, Toronto’s main rival in the Championship received £500,000 in central funding.'"
No they didn't......but you already know this.
Toronto claimed they had a 5 yr plan for SL.....this was patently a "untruth" as they threw a low lever SL squad together for an assault on the 3rd tier competition. This year they again have a mid table SL squad that I believe will win automatic promotion before the MPG therefore making it to SL in 2 years.....saving 3 years of the imaginary investment which this year has been markedly reduced anyway.
In a notmal season, they could reasonably be expected to play 3 games away at the start, then the remaining 19 regular games, H and Away with maybe a couple of 2 week stays at home to make up fr the late season start......
so A,A,A H,A,H,A,H,H,A,H,A,H,H,BASH,A,H,A,H,A,H,A,H.......so I make that 19 flights for Toronto and another 22 flights for the visiting sides. 40 Flights for 30 people = 1,200.
This year......they fly Home in early May, back to the UK for 2 games then home for the lot.......so 3 flights for 40 or 480 fewer flights for their sponsor to swallow...40% reduction in sponsorship and no worrying connecting flights to pay for for those pesky French from Toulouse....., still no TV deal to speak of and a fixture list weighted in their favour.
As someone who had to constantly defend London from accusations (unfounded) of back-handers and favouritism, I find the sycophantic fawning over a team of mercenaries a little ironic and very worrying for the game in general. If we want Toronto in SL, then just put them there......the cake-walk of last year may well be repeated this year and it'll have achieved nothing of any merit other than to under-prepare Torontos fan base for the absolute hammerings they are going to get in SL.......and rest assured, the SL clubs will not be permitting blocs of games....