www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport ... 6607558.jp 3 Clubs Lancashire Lynx,Chorley Lynx and now the Panthers all no more, how sad is this an inditement on the people who run them ? Cant believe it

www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport ... 6607558.jp 3 Clubs Lancashire Lynx,Chorley Lynx and now the Panthers all no more, how sad is this an inditement on the people who run them ? Cant believe it

Was told yesterday that the Panthers have officially folded

Sad times

Very sad, but no real surprise at all.

The harsh truth is that there simply aren't enough people around the Fylde who will actively support lower level pro RL to make it viable.

I suspect more folk leave the area each weekend to watch Super League than have ever watched the Panthers/Lynx/Gladiators/Borough down the years. A lot of that is down to the demographic of the area, with mnany people migrating in from other areas and still having an allegiance to their home town club.

No doubt it'll resurface again at some stage in the future, but unless it's run along sound financial principles and no outlandish pie in the sky plans are put in place it'll inevitably go the same way as the other incarnations.

I'm glad the RFL have put their foot down over the matter of the new consortium coming in with a new Ltd company and wiping out the old debts as it sends out all the wrong messages and is hugely unfair on the clubs that play with a straight bat (and of course to the creditors who would undoubtedly get bugger all).

Best of luck to Martin Crompton and the players whatever comes along next for the. MC in particular deserves the highest praise for his achievements.

Back to watching the Sea Eagles next Summer then (assuming they carry on and any of the visiting sides actually bother to show up....but that's another story

)

Dont be to downhearted lads , have been told ,after you fold, you will reform ,BILL QUINN as your new chairman ,and ex Barrow man Dave Clark as your new coach, remember Charlie loves Blackpool.

Rumour has it that Bill Quinn won't take on the debt and the RFL won't let them just walk away from the debt and reform, so if true, we have an impasse.

And i personally think the rugby league are right in that,sad though it is my personal feeling at the moment is that its pointless this guise of what ever it maybe where ever it may go has to be put to bed.......Blackpool Rugby league has had many shots in many places its time now Imho to turn out the lights ....the club wherever and if ever it turns up again cannot be taken seriously.

If the rumours are true that the rfl will not let the prospective new owners put the old club into liquidation and then form a new club, then this is quite frankly b*llocks & double standards. The number of clubs who have pulled similar moves in recent history is notable, so to suddenly make a moral stand with one of the league systems weakest clubs is a joke. This is made worse by the fact that the majority of the clubs debts were more than likely caused by Bobby Hope who is nowhere near the club now.

If this wasn't sport, then the old company would be wound up and a new one set up, probably trading from the same place and with the additional of (UK) or such to the end of the name.

I have no objection to the RFL taking this position provided that they apply it universally and without excepion across the league to all clubs who find themselves in a similar position. If they do it in isolation though it will be nothing short of a disgrace.

Latest from todays Chateaux d'espair:

[urlhttp://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Panthers-fight-on-for-survival.6611188.jp[/url

all i have heard is if the club do get re-elected in the championship 1 they will start on minus 9 points. As for the other information did whitehaven not just go into administration? was that stipulated to them? maybe a point to look into?? Seems to be the day and age where companies go bust everyday then pop up again with a different name and seem to get away with it.

Look's like they are letting Crusaders do just that though. Hope you boy's can fight hard, unfortunately haven't made it to our away agmes with you in recent years due to various reasons but do look fo ryour scores a few old Widnes lads have been in the side and you also like many have good RL people.

Hopefully all goes well and 1st game next year see's Widnes travel to your nest in the NRC

I hope something can be salvaged from this and your club can continue in some form.
Come on Blackpool!
Come on you Dons!

Really hope you can come through this guy's. Good Luck.

Not looking good, from Gazette website:

[urlhttp://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Panthers-miss-deadline.6617022.jp[/url

But the silence is deafening re the definitive information the fans need


Will I have a Championship 1 club to support next season?

Heard from one of the people involved at fylde that Sale sharks are lining up a potential takeover keeping the base at fylde, not sure how it would work but supposedly a similar proposal to that which Newcastle falcons were considering with Gateshead a few years ago

Doesnt look good does it folks

Not heard that one about sale, thats a new one on me. Cant see how sale can takeover the panthers but still be based at fylde and play at fylde`s ground? Surely they would want the rugby league team to be located where sale play ( stockport i think? Then again the RFL really need a team at fylde to hold the northern rail 9`s and the kids games they have at fylde.
So i guess anythings possible when the panthers are involved. Lets hope if true they get it sorted asap as players are signing for other clubs(swinton,rochdale) so may have a team but no players left

if it comes down to it and we still have a club to support next season, but the majority of players have left (despite a large number giving verbal agreements not to go elsewhere if panthers survive) then there is plenty of local talent at the amateur club within blackpool to give a slightly competitive team, there are plenty of players there who can cope at cc1 standard, I personally can vouch for many of them as I myself play along side them. Some of whom have proven in the past they can do so whether it be in nr9s or even cc1 itself, that is, if the new club want to go down this road.

The players gave MC a verbal agreement that they would sign, with MC no longer at the club due to reasons he saw fit the players therefore do not have any security and have to look elsewhere for a club. The players have been 100% loyal to the panthers but as is still the case no one knows whats happening. Clubs are signing players and as we arguably had some of the best players in the league its only common sense other clubs want our players. You cant blame the players, they want to play rugby and its unfortunate that us at blackpool are still in limbo. I for one wish anyone that leaves our club the best in the future. As for playing amatuer players from the local area, i would imagine every panthers supporter wants 17 lads from blackpool in our squad but the reality is that isnt going to happen. People like brett whitehead and joe bullock are very good local talent but play in wigan, blackpool has no chance to compete with the wigans etc.
Lets hope first and foremost we have a club then build on that and make it a community club and substainable for years to come.

SO SAD TO HEAR ABOUT BLACKPOOL PANTHERS.been to watch blackpool play quite a few time . i am a cas tigers fan and allways had my club shirt on when i went to games over there.I WAS ALLWAYS MADE WELLCOME BY FANS AND CLUB OFFICALS.makes my blood boil when i read clubs like blackpool are dieing yet the RFL will bend over backward to keep the likes of crusaders in super league.I WISH BLACKPOOL EVERY GOOD WISH AND HOPE SOME TIME SOON THEY CAN REFORM AS A NEW CLUB AND COME BACK STRONGER THAN EVER.XXX

It just seems to look like the end now - but, if a new club is formed and gets back into CC1, I'll go and support you when you play your first game.

. Lets hope if true they get it sorted asap as players are signing for other clubs(swinton,rochdale) so may have a team but no players left'"