As far as I know, the only NRL club that owns its own ground is Cronulla.

Regardless of other sports in British RL when a club is going downhill, it sells its ground. In 95% of cases, this seems to accelerate events and the club generally gets turfed out of one ground after another being unable to pay the rent. Each move is heralded as a chance to begin again and attract new fans but it never works like that.

Clubs need their own stadiums or a share in a stadium to be stable.

London Irish are in a HUGE amount of debt and Saracens do own their own ground.

Australian RL clubs have different income streams to UK clubs. They have the League clubs and most stadiums are part of the community and are assisted financially by the regional govts. That does NOT happen in the UK and if you don't have control of your income from stadia you are in big trouble very quickly. Ok you don't need to own it, but if you don't you need to have a very good deal, or a big supporter base.

Why not merge Skolars and the remnants of Broncos ... stay in the Champioship and work it from there.
If only 20% of Broncos supported this move then Skolars crowds would improve by approx 450 which would in theory double the present fan base.

450?

When you look at Broncos crowd figures bear in mind:-

1) a fair number are away fans
2) that's how many are attracted to a SL match - it will fall for a Championship club
3) a lot of those fans will go and watch Skolars as well

Even so if (and it is still IF) Broncos do fold then there will be nothing to merge.

No players, no ground, no assets, no management that anyone would want and the fans aren't owned by the club - they do what they want.

I still think Broncos will continue in some form though I can't see how it will be as a SL side.

Fair assesment,
but...
1) Can't argue with that point
2) I think that the hard core Bronco fans are rugby supporters not just SL fans,but I have allowed 80% drop out rate into my calculation.
3) Never having been to Skolars ground I can't really comment.

I have a terrible feeling they may just"vanish" as teams in the past i.e. Mansfield,Scarborough,Chorley,Nottingham and so on......

Why even think about this, when we still no negotiations have to be confirmed?

Yeah but your 80% is "80% objecting to a merger". There would be two problems 1) objecting to a merger 2) objecting to dropping a division (or two).



It's not impossible but remember that Broncos have been around much longer, played at a higher level, have more fans and have grassroots development.

I can only speak for myself, but I think a lot of our fans travel some distance to watch Broncos as they're the local SL team (I go from Milton Keynes). Would they travel the same distance to watch semi-pro tier 3 rugby league at the Skolars?

I wouldn't.

I'd rather go to Yorkshire 3 or 4 times a year and support a northern SL team.

You are always welcome at The Halliwell Jones

I said Yorkshire not Lancacheshire!

Well I pass close to The Hallwell to get on the M6 for each Broncos home game and onto the M62 for away games, but I will stick with London Thanks

we are fighting hard for every concession apparently.....can't see this being sorted for at least another 6 weeks myself.

Fighting hard with who? The RFL put everything on hold until after the WC didn't they?

Whatever Gus is doing, you can be sure it is a freaking shambles.

And then he probably won't bother doing anything until the cricket season starts

negotiations are going on with the RFL......the EGM and restructure is on Hold, but the day to day running of the game continues as normal!

The RFL is in a shambles, they attended the meeting of the Super League Clubs last week Expecting the vote to ratify the Nigel Proposals to be passed? in fact some Championship owners had been told it would? No wonder the six walked out, is that why we did not walk, worried about Nigel and his Power!

Wigan wont save us but the RFL can hence why they didnt walk out.

What is it exactly Leneghan wants?

some kind of commercial strategy to go along side the pointless re-structuring. Wire bring in Emirates as a sponsor, Leigh bring in O2.....RFL bring in nobody for the World Cup or Super League and he thinks it's unacceptable and cant be swept under the carpet by re-structuring the leagues.

Yes Ian Leneghan wants what I have said should be for the way for a long time, the Super League to be run as a separate body looking for sponsors and marketing, but remaining a member of the RFL, who I have always said should be there to serve the clubs, not govern. Hetherington is far too close to Nigel, how could Bradford walk out and also Wakefield when they are looking for the RFL to stand by them, the sale with ourselves sadly. If anything Ian should have won over Bradford, Wakefield and ourselves that they would be looked after, not sure why Widnes have stayed on the RFL side? Not sure what Ian is on about when he says Super League Clubs should have a seat on the RFL Board? there should be no RFL Board, they are just officers to serve all clubs of RFL, but that is not how Nigel sees it?

Does anybody know if the Broncos were actually at the meeting? Represented by whom? Presume it would have to be Gus, DH having lost interest.

So did Gus travel to Leeds and back for a non-meeting? Or was he just on the phone? Or is he up there anyway for the duration of these never-ending discussions about the club's future?

Well. I guess we'll never know.

Gus I think was at the first meeting, but everyone is staying closed shop, to who was at last week's meeting. I just hope Ian Leneghan stands firm! there must be no backing down now, yes there will have to be some compromise on both sides, but for The Good of The Game change has to come, and not Nigel's Proposals!

Widnes have a CEO with the initials of JR who just happens to be a close friend with Kath from their time at Hull FC together.
In essence Gary Hetherington has 3 votes (Widnes, Wakey and Leeds), Yourselves are hoping for RFL help getting yourselves exemption and Salford still owe the RFL monies by all accounts.

So as far as the clubs go it's 6 against and 5 for (Saints, Cas and Bradford either unable to vote or not in a position to do so).
No problems you would think but the RFL get a vote so 6 all.
Still a tie and nothing changes until you count in 1 thing...................The RFL's casting vote.
Game set and match to the RFL/GH on a vote with THREE members missing and a promise the subject wouldn't be touched until after the WC.

The 6 rightly walked to stop what was a farce.

Writing's on the wall We are three months from the start of the Super League season and still don't know if London Broncos are taking part. Most of their best players have already headed north. If they do play in the 2014 campaign, it's hard to see them being competitive. Every year, semi-pro side London Skolars play the Broncos in the heart of the financial district in the 'Capital Challenge'. Next year, they've decided, they're playing Wigan. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 2wsu4.html Not a good sign

Writing's on the wall We are three months from the start of the Super League season and still don't know if London Broncos are taking part. Most of their best players have already headed north. If they do play in the 2014 campaign, it's hard to see them being competitive. Every year, semi-pro side London Skolars play the Broncos in the heart of the financial district in the 'Capital Challenge'. Next year, they've decided, they're playing Wigan. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 2wsu4.html Not a good sign