Gareth is a top rugby league journalist who has one very exceptional distinction. He chooses to write about matters pertaining to the Championship and League One.
Although this blog is devoted to Featherstone Rovers it is always good to read opinions about matters relevant to us, but not specifically about us. We hope you enjoy reading Gareth's column each week.
Stronger together
IF anyone thought that the clubs
outside Super League were going to shrink quietly into the background when it
was suggested that their funding should be cut, they were seriously mistaken.
In
case you’re unaware, this story originated
in January, when a letter sent by the Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan to fellow top
flight clubs back in October became public.
It
suggested a new structure with two top divisions of 10 - nothing too sinister
in that and perhaps even a good way forward for the sport, if it can create a
strong, fully professional second tier.
But
Lenagan also suggested “de-regulating” the
third tier - effectively cutting the central funding to every club outside that
top 20 and intimating they could operate as amateur clubs.
Understandably,
it hasn’t been greeted well by Championship and
League One clubs, who have virtually united as one to oppose the idea in
meetings between them.
They
have also formed a six-strong independent board consisting of chairmen from
clubs in the two divisions, which is set to meet with their Super League
counterparts later this month.
Among
those to express grave concerns about the proposal has been Whitehaven player
coach Carl Forster, who has experienced the professional game in all three
tiers.
He
said: “I just think it’s ludicrous - I don’t get
where the logic comes for it.
“Clubs
like Whitehaven live off the RFL distribution money - it’s how we shape our
budgets.
“We
try and bring in what we can ourselves as well, but if you take that funding
away from a club like Whitehaven they could go bust, I don’t believe many would
be able to carry on.
“The
amateur game in Cumbria is really strong, but for me you need that
semi-professional level in the area for players to aspire to.
“If
the funding went, a lot of clubs like Whitehaven wouldn’t be able to survive in
my opinion.”
Forster
believes that some people in Super League have little understanding of what
goes into running a club outside the top tier.
He
added: “I just don’t think they realise what’s
involved.
“A
lot of clubs at this level are family-orientated and run by volunteers.
“I
know this from being at clubs like Rochdale and Whitehaven - the groundsmen,
people who sell lottery tickets, all things like that are often done for free
and for the love of the club.
“You
can’t take that away from rugby league in my opinion.
“These
things are always about money aren’t they and everyone always wants a bit more.
“But
it’s to the long-term benefit of Super League clubs to have those lower
divisions because it allows their dual reg and loan players a chance to play
against adults at a good level.
“The
top eight or so clubs in our league could all give most Championship clubs a
run for their money, and the Challenge Cup weekend proved that.
“You
have clubs like York and Bradford who are really getting their names out there,
and to put all of that to an amateur status would be ridiculous for me.”
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