Quote ="Ganson's Optician"I think the problem is that central funding can only do so much to help a company (important to remember that a sports club is still a company like any other) in free fall.
It is a common misconception that the RFL 'bails out' London all the time (I don't think this has ever been the case?) and does nothing for 'heartland' clubs yet when Leigh had problems two years ago they were supportive and more recently they have advanced payments to Swinton. Only last year Nigel Wood was key to bringing in Marwan Koukash. But if for example a few years ago the RFL had thrown a load of money at Blackpool Panthers would they have achieved anything? I think the answer is that the money would have just gone down a black hole.
London is vital to SL first and foremost because it is very difficult to gain national sponsorship or coverage when the game is confined to a motorway in the north of England. There is also a lot of good work being done at grass roots level throughout the south of England which is starting to come into fruition, we need to offer a clear pathway for talented RL players south of Warrington otherwise these lads will simply be lost to the other code.
I'm not sure whether this is already the case, but there needs to be a generous 'London Living Allowance' on top of their salary cap. If I was the new owner I would be getting on to the phone to Koukash and asking how he managed to bring players into the club. During the RLWC I spoke to so many southerners who love the game but didn't have any interest in going to watch the Broncos because "they're not very good". Bring in some big names and that will soon change.'"
You make some very well reasoned arguments.
However, the problem is that this London team is a nomadic gypsy, that has never put down any roots.
London is a city of small towns.
If they had stayed local to the boundaries of a few, they could have built some sort of fan base during the last 30 years.
Unfortunately they haven't, and the result is what we have today.
Compare this to Catalan, a resounding succes.
If any more expansionism occurs, then surly this is the model to follow?
