very much so if he had any dignity he would step down instead of forcing the clubs to drag it through this way.

most successful, higher average attendance and generally more famous would suggest wigan.

And just what were Brian Barwick's credentials to be Chair of the RFL come to that? A lifetime spent around football. Does he have ANY interest in Rugby League at all?

I listened to him plugging his latest book on Football on Five Live this summer and throughout a lengthy interview he didn't mention Rugby League once? With so-called friends like this who needs enemies.

For me Barwick and Wood are both incompetent. Get someone in who can sell the game to sponsors. To do that you need an appreciation of WHAT IT IS you are selling.

Two out of three trophies, and our chairman upsetting everybody.... Its like déjà vu all over again..

WIGAN chairman Ian Lenagan was last night remaining tight lipped about his reasons for leading a revolt against the governing body.

Because of his action, the Rugby Football League was forced into an embarrassing climbdown when a majority of Super League clubs demanded a re-think over its plans to re-structure the domestic game.

Lenagan declined to comment when contacted by the Evening Post. And offered the chance to elaborate on why he was driven to take action, he said only: “I’d rather not.”

Though Lenagan instigated the rebellion by inviting all 14 clubs to a hastily arranged meeting on Monday, it’s understood he doesn’t want to threaten the success of the upcoming World Cup with negative remarks.

Discussions will take place over the coming weeks, but it appeared unlikely a decision on the top-flight’s structure from 2015 will not be made until after the international competition has finished.

The RFL declined to add any comment to their statement, issued on Monday night, which said a majority of Super League clubs wanted “further consultation” over the policy review which has been the subject of discussions for most of the year.

The headline proposal is a reduction in the number of top-flight clubs, along with the method of re-introducing automatic promotion and relegation.

But the central issue appears to be control of the game and, more pertinently, the purse strings.

Lenagan feels the governing body has not done enough to market the game and bring in additional income - the Warriors won the Super League on Saturday, a competition which had no title sponsor.

He also wants Super League clubs to be given a greater say in the future direction of the sport, with representation on the currently independent board of directors.

Hetherington did not attend the “rebels’” meeting but confirmed Rhinos would have backed the RFL recommendations.

But the move by Lenagan and his colleagues is seen as a vote of no-confidence in the RFL and its chief executive Nigel Wood.

The policy review will not now be officially re-considered until after the end of the World Cup, which leaves just two months of an off season to put plans in place.

Thats one of the most depressing things i have read about the whole sport.

The people in charge over the last decade should hang their heads in shame!! Yes we are currently in poor economic times, but in recent times we have also had it wonderfully well. The fact that rl has fallen so far is a travasty and a disgrace no "proffesional" sport with the second highest viewing figures on sky should be in such a poor state.

Yes it's always best to sit back and let the sport be run to a slow death

a very wealthy man and a chairman of a leading super league club so who's asking?

hardly any surprise Lenagan doesn't want to rush to press without a fully agreed plan and to distract from the world cup.

he has known about it for 12 months so why wait till the 11 hour

Quote ="dubairl"a very wealthy man and a chairman of a leading super league club so who's asking? hardly any surprise Lenagan doesn't want to rush to press without a fully agreed plan and to distract from the world cup.'" www.loverugbyleague.com/news_135 ... nagan.html Carl Hall..whoever he is..Doncaster Cheif exec apparently

Quote ="dubairl"a very wealthy man and a chairman of a leading super league club so who's asking? hardly any surprise Lenagan doesn't want to rush to press without a fully agreed plan and to distract from the world cup.'" www.loverugbyleague.com/news_135 ... nagan.html Carl Hall..whoever he is..Doncaster Cheif exec apparently

Carl Hall is God in Doncaster and as owner and CEO of the club is concerned abt the survival and success of his club and entitled to his opinion as his Mr lenegan

Completely agree. Yes we are in a recession, but it has hardly affected any other sport.

The people responsible for the Stobarts fiasco should have been summarily sacked.

Imagine the conversation in the Wigan boardroom

"Ian it's Nutty Nige on the phone"

"Hi Nige, what news on the sponsorship?"

"Great news I've just secured the famous Eddie Stobart - we will be known as the Stobart Super League from now on"

"Ok well how much are they giving us?

The phone goes dead at this point

In answer to Dave0 and the point by point approach.

I posted again because you introduced a new thought namely that I was failing to see something presuming that you knew my mind and you do not.

How can there be evidence of something that is new before it happens, however there has to be trust in those that carried out the review.

Likewise if the pitfalls are so obvious how did the people carrying out the review miss them, or if they were considered why did they not think they posed a strong enough reason to exclude them and come up with an alternative.
They are nearer to and know more about the problems and possible solutions than you or I so in effect they are saying your concerns are at least not of serious enough.

As to me not having the answers well I have no problem admitting that I don't.
If anyone claims to have them well lets say it's a pretty big claim.
As above I have to trust who is in place to make them and review the available options which at the moment there is the RFL one and the alternative from Wigan through their leader and I know for sure the latter is not satisfactory.

If I were pressed i would say that 24 clubs is too many.
For the new idea on the lines of the RFL proposal a system that includes the current 14 SL clubs and the top 3 of the Championship and include Tolouse if they get the media backing that has been muted making about 18 clubs in the mix but as with anything anyone can say it won't work and point out this that and the other.

In the meantime we are left with the game hanging in the balance with two proposals that have no full backing at any level.

I can understand why the guy is upset to be honest. I just think that there are bigger issues at stake here than Doncaster RLFC.

Actually the timing might be quite clever by IL. A vote of no confidence is long overdue.

I also think that part of this is to save London Broncos. Because under the proposed format they would sink without trace after next season. I for one, wouldn't welcome that. I think RL needs a presence in the capital.

Higher average attendance? You may want to check that.

3 times in the last 10 years you've had a higher average attendance.

Maybe because all of the clubs in agreement haven't come up with a business module and he isn't just going it alone unlike some believe apparently.

Maybe we have slipped this season but for the past 3 or 4 seasons its higher, i am sure on here will know the correct figure for this season.

IL has stated that the clubs want the meeting after the world cup and anything said in the meantime is just hearsay, it cant be to hard to understand why he isn't giving the full plan and ideas behind the "revolt".

We only count the mortal attendees... Don't forget that the rugby gods are always there in great numbers...

so after reading the full article from the doncaster owner it becomes clear he is unhappy because he has signed some players no doubt expecting to use the extra funds that would be made available to championship clubs from cutting the funds to super league clubs. And the main backbone to his argument is that nobody knew IL when he was chairman of London hardly a great call out considering whats happening to London right now.

A copy of the covering letter is what has been printed where he says he wants all the money to come to SL whereas the review says that it should be used to help the whole game.
To say any club outside SL doesn't deserve anything and don't contribute says it all and it's clear where the lesser mortals stand but please let no one involved in the game call it a "Rugby League Family" ever again.
Eventually it will become apparent that no one can stand alone with no routes or thriving infrastructure below the top tier but by then it will probably be too late.
SL clubs on their own can't produce enough quailty players as it is for the 14 clubs that are active now and with the scrapping of the under 21's made that even harder.
As to regards Mr Lenegan being a smart buisness man well so were the other chairmen at all the other SL clubs that got into trouble and who bailed them out, the RFL that have now no confidence in them.
Additionally if he were such a good buisness man and administrator he would not need to rely more and more on the available SKY money at the expense of looking at the game as a whole.
Anyway the message is clear enough, thank you for your concern brother.

Dubai, Sky is more interested in subs which are linked to viewing figures, imagine if 20000 RL fans cancelled sky sports and gave the reason as the decision of SL clubs?
£10m less income that can be quantified directly to a specific action by SL chairman has influence, 40000 has much more

Don't worry, he also criticised the RFL for putting to much focus into the World Cup.

I assume he, and his gang of followers, will forfeit any profits which may be generated off the back of a successful tournament. Definitely got the best interests of the game at heart has Ian. Wigan's recent success hasn't gone to his head, not one bit, no sir.

How about we wait till after the world cup to see the full module as i highly doubt that IL or any other super league chairmen is willing to ignore the championship clubs full stop.
I see championship clubs as i see Jersey RFU, they have naturally a very small fan base and started out in the lowest devision and a fully amateur club over the last ten years with a small ground and facilities have built the income naturally not putting them selves in financial danger trying to push into the premiership (currently 1 division below).
Regards to not finding enough talent to fill a super league team you can't point that finger at IL or wigan either, doesn't wigan have some financial tie up with the scorpions? just out of curiosity have many players in super league have a championship background?
The difference between IL and other chairmen is simple he seems more methodical and doesn't take unnecessary risks. cant find any information on any club/company he owns going into administration (not to detract that there are some truly remarkable business men within rugby league). I also don't believe that he is reliant on just sky money to run wigan, just fed up of having a penny pinched out of his pocket every time the RFL come up with a brain dead idea.
By the way i hope no championship club folds, i would rather have prosperous rugby league club in every town in the UK just under this administration it will never happen.

completely agree but i also agree that there will be less followers of the game after super league loses any intensity it has left because it cant keep up with other codes. Its a fine line to try and balance on but at the moment superleague clubs are struggling and its not right to keep cutting fund from else where to give to the championship clubs.