Seems odd the club isn't making any statements, providing updates etc

Anyone heard anything??

They never do even in season

The only reason we know what was going on back in 2013/14 off season was because for some unfathomable reason I was on the CEO's speed dial and he wanted to make sure that we were aware of how hard he was working to save the club





This time around, I suspect that whereas there was the duo of Loubser & Henderson pitching the plan to get us back into SL and off life support a couple of years back, it's now just Loubser trying to get Hughes to stay.

Add to that the fact our squad looks paper thin and in need of at least 3 more bodies, then the search for a coach becomes the first priority as no decent player will sign for a club with no coach........but the flip side is "how much will we be able to pay" these new players if we're semi-professional come February?

I have been his most ardent critic over the years, but even I openly admit that Hughes is a Saint (misguided maybe, but a Saint nonetheless) and at some stage he needs to draw a line under his tenure at the club.

What news exactly are people expecting to hear about? And why is it odd?

There was a rumour circulating a week or so ago, that DH was considering his options and those of the Club moving forward. I have no idea where it started (another forum is where I saw it), but these things generally don't just appear out of thin air when the LB's are in the mix. Add to this the sudden departure of our Coach and now our Commercial Manager (revenue generator) and things at ETF are looking worrying.
If Henderson thought we had a pop at SL after next season he'd have stayed......but for some reason he sees a better chance of progression as a #2......maybe that's where the rumour started, but either way, a simple statement from the club via our media person (while we still have one) would put this to bed one way or 'tother

So an unsubstantiated rumour and suddenly the club should make a statement?

Perhaps the club should have an unsubstantiated rumour department that can put out detailed press releases on anything.

Indeed......there's no worry about a coachless club, with a substandard playing roster and an owner who has wobbled on a number of occasions...the last time he was walking until the RFL bribed the new landlord back in 2014...the RFL and the game don't need us now they have another pipe dream in North America....but yeah, given we've lost our commercial manager, maybe we could afford a rumour department..

We are also approaching the final year of the Ealing deal. I'd suggest it would be very surprising if a review of the future of the club wasn't under way / imminent.

I'll be surprised if the club doesn't feature next season, though the change of coach could permit a review of the playing budget. I'd be more worried about the 2019 season. The end of the Ealing deal is an obvious potential exit point, if David decides enough is enough.

To be fair to the club they have confirmed that the hunt for a head coach is under way which is a pretty firm statement that the club is here next season. Not really much more they can say. The length of contract offered to the new coach might be interesting mind.

Current rumour doing the rounds S.O. Else is Jon Sharp as coach next season, which would be a decent choice if true.

If there is no news what's the point in putting out a news flash that there is non! Rumours are just that! And until something happens rumours are just rumours not news.

Surely not Jon Sharpe, he is yesterdays man. Lets go for new blood.

I am 50:50 on him. Cannot see Kear taking job, and not sure who else is available/willing to move to London? I am almost thinking the Langley/Ward combo might be the solution. Langley has done well with the youngsters and Ward has been around the club for years and seems settled with the team. Other option is an Australian, but again our last experience was not a great one...........

Sharpe would be good. An EX SL coach who knows the championship inside out. Produced a terrific Fev team on a shoe string (although the chairman didn't think that!).

Not convinced on sharpe, yes he has experience but there is a reason he is a journeyman coach at the mo.
Maybe the option of Danny ward and Jamie is not so daft, ok last time we tried that approach rob Powell could not get what was needed out f the players at the level they were playing at.
It's the same old problem by the looks though, trying to tempt someone out of the m62 coridoor!!!

With some of the names being bandied about the thought of Langley/ Ward taking over sounds more and more appealing. Unless of course an Aussie with a bit of the mongrel about him appears on the horizon

Disquieting and perturbing interview with Hendo in League Express. Reading between the lines he was saying that in the current way of things he cannot see a way forward and that he could not promise success with the budgets that he has been given for next season. All the departures in the squad will be covered by the young players. The only real conclusion from this is that Hughes is cutting the budget drastically and hendo felt He could not promise success in this situation

If the budgets have been reduced, then Langley/Ward seems the more likely option .

Neither of them have played or coached under current modern coaching techniques. Ward has been with the club whilst it has gone south as has Langley at the Bulls. They would be a disaster.

From my point of view Jamie has done an excellent job with the Academy - they played for him and each other and held their own against teams whose players had been playing League for more than 5 years than any of our players. He is an inspiration to that group, but that doesn't mean he's ready yet for Head Coach in what will be a whirlwind 2018 season as the Championship as we know it probably comes to an end. I know Jamie is a great coach, and will become a great Head Coach if that's what he wants to do. I hope that when we have the correct plan in place to regain Super League status that he will be our Head Coach then.

Still suspect we will plump for the easy option of ward/ Langley

My honest view on super league status, sadly I am going to have to agree with dog on this, in our current guise we are not a super league team. We don't have the ground or the financial backing. London Broncos as it stands is in the competition where it deserves to be.
I am a DH fan, he has kept us afloat, but without a massive inject of cash we cannot even contemplate super league status. Problem is I don't see where that investment is coming from, currently if DH walks the club goes with him. The RFL have bigger fish to fry with Toronto and NY and who ever else gets up and running over there to worry about us, and quite rightly, we have had 30plus years to establish ourselves.

Is this an NB/GF(Dog to you NB) love in??

Of course!!!!

Firstly, colours to the mast! I have never been a fan of a RL team in London - it's been tried before and failed.

However, as you point out, you have been around for 30+ years and, as such, are now part of the Game's history - especially the history of the modern, Super League era. For RL to gain any credibility in this country, there will have to be a team in London. In fact, for the game to gain credibility in North America, the 'home' of the Sport will need a successful team in our capital.

Crikey, I never thought I, as a confirmed 'flat capper' would say that! So, stay positive, and good luck for the future. Looking forward to our games with you next season.

Alan, get everything you say but it's a fact now that the RFL have got there eyes on that n America market.

Toronto's first league game was in London. Their first home game was v Oxford. Toronto agreed that with the RFL in order to ensure people mulling over whether or not to try a new sport out viewed it as credible opposition i.e a place they had heard of.

North American expansion is creating a real opportunity for London assuming franchising returns, pretty much nailed on, and there is someone willing to run a franchise. That bit may be the challenge but don't totally write it off.

A very reliable birdie told me there was a serious attempt to put a consortium together to buy Broncos three or so years ago. Franchising and a possible return to the top tier may see another go. Stress may, I have no inside info on any current plans.