Re: John Wilkinson selling up : Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:32 am
theredshed wrote:
I think you have to look also at the appeal and potential of the sport to investers. Top flight football is in a different stratosphere financially compared to Rugby League. And as much as it hurts to say, Rugby Union is on a different level also when you consider their clubs get substantially more from Sky.
A lot of blame is rightly directed at the clubs but should the rugby league not be held more accountable for the poor health of our game? For instance they couldn't even find a proper sponsor for Superleague and had to reluntantly agree to a few rugby players/teams being displayed on a small number of HGV lorries. If the RFL can't find a real sponsor for an established, professional and televised sport it doesn't inspire you with confidence that they negotiated the best possible deal with sky, does it?
I think another thing you have to consider is all clubs must be struggling to attract anywhere close to the levels of sponsorship they were getting pre 2008. Plus I've heard stories in the game of companies agreeing to sponsorship deals and then not being able to pay. This must surely affect the best laid plans or budgets.
A lot of blame is rightly directed at the clubs but should the rugby league not be held more accountable for the poor health of our game? For instance they couldn't even find a proper sponsor for Superleague and had to reluntantly agree to a few rugby players/teams being displayed on a small number of HGV lorries. If the RFL can't find a real sponsor for an established, professional and televised sport it doesn't inspire you with confidence that they negotiated the best possible deal with sky, does it?
I think another thing you have to consider is all clubs must be struggling to attract anywhere close to the levels of sponsorship they were getting pre 2008. Plus I've heard stories in the game of companies agreeing to sponsorship deals and then not being able to pay. This must surely affect the best laid plans or budgets.
Couldn't agree more with you. Hence the reason why I stated that if you was a businessman looking to invest and expecting a return on capital, the last place you would do that is on a rugby club.The people who do this do it as part of a passion for a club as your own Mr Wilkinson has admirably demonstarted.