Rugby league needs 'pot of money' to succeed in Wales - Leighton Samuel

[manxviking]

What no-one has ever convinced me about is why we NEED to expand? I have no objection in principle, but to try and plant a sport in the way the RFL has is crass stupidity. And the result could be far-reaching. Nobody in their right mind would trust the RFL to be prudent with any dosh now.

[neilw]

I do think we need to expand however not in the way the RFL have gone about it. We need to have more people watchin gthe sport, more people investing in the sport, more people playing the sport. Only then will the game get bigger and hopefully better. As this should result in a bigger pool of players for England to pick from and in turn give us a better chances of winning against the aussies.

[iksmudge]

Guess he and the RFL got their sums wrong.

What were the chances of THAT happening I wonder?

No I'd say from that statement thath he was very clear about his sums - hence he's pulled out to cut his losses.
It was the RFL that got it badly wrong and are now desparte to get their money back somehow.
Can't really shout at a guy who's ploughed in £1.64 million of his own money.

[Badly Overdrawn Boy]

No I'd say from that statement thath he was very clear about his sums - hence he's pulled out to cut his losses.
It was the RFL that got it badly wrong and are now desparte to get their money back somehow.
Can't really shout at a guy who's ploughed in £1.64 million of his own money.

Good point mate.

However, I don't think Samuel thought he would be in this position, otherwise he wouldn't have put £1.64 million into a bottomless pit. Well, I know I wouldn't!

I reckon he thought he could have the RFL over a barrel if it came to this. Just like his famous "I'll pull out of Crusaders if we don't get a license" threat just before the last franchise decisions. It worked once, why not twice?

It also suggests that the RFL were originally very supportive of him and Crusaders. I wonder just how supportive and whether Samuel knew that before the decisions were announced because on paper, even he must have known that Crusaders would have to go some to make ends meet, especially after he sold the ground.

His vitriol now against his old chums at the RFL in that article speaks volumes about the situation if you ask me. I wonder why he didn't have those thoughts or concerns before?

[John]

Samuels should have known this before he started - perhaps if he'd hired a good management consultant eh Ged?  But he is right, the RFL needs to realise that to expand in the way it has chosen takes a lot of time and a lot of money which as Samuels says they do not have.  Did the RFL underestimate how much Samuels would be prepared to put in the long term or did they think it could be done on the cheap?  Many millions are required to set up a new sport in a new area - tennis still hasn't achieved anything in the UK despite the multi-millions they get from Wimbledon.  RL in the UK missed the boat before RU became professional.  Perhaps it may have possible then but not now.

Wrexham is clearly a face-saving gesture from the RFL and stands far less chance of survival than Bridgend.  I think they may not even survive the season - and perhaps the RFL Board think that buys them enough time to get them as individuals off the hook. What deal has been done to to get Moss to agree? He already has stated he is looking for income to support a failing football club not another drain on his resources. It must be clear to him and those around him he needs much more than the SL Sky money to do that.  The Sky money will barely cover the players salaries never mind those of coaches and backroom staff as well as the every day expenses of running the club. Any sensible analyst would conclude from all this that the RFL Board are incompetent and must go.

[manxviking]

Good point mate.

However, I don't think Samuel thought he would be in this position, otherwise he wouldn't have put £1.64 million into a bottomless pit. Well, I know I wouldn't!

I reckon he thought he could have the RFL over a barrel if it came to this. Just like his famous "I'll pull out of Crusaders if we don't get a license" threat just before the last franchise decisions. It worked once, why not twice?

It also suggests that the RFL were originally very supportive of him and Crusaders. I wonder just how supportive and whether Samuel knew that before the decisions were announced because on paper, even he must have known that Crusaders would have to go some to make ends meet, especially after he sold the ground.

His vitriol now against his old chums at the RFL in that article speaks volumes about the situation if you ask me. I wonder why he didn't have those thoughts or concerns before?

The only thing is BOB is that Samuels has previous. he did exactly the same in RU with Warriors. It is precisely why I knew he would fail. Grand gestures but no credible business plan. Moss is no different. He wants to save Wrexham FC with a sport not played in the twon at amateur level (As far as I know) and with no tradition. That's a business plan? Reminds me of a certain retailer who went big into the US and got very very badly burnt.

[Peter]

The only thing is BOB is that Samuels has previous. he did exactly the same in RU with Warriors. It is precisely why I knew he would fail. Grand gestures but no credible business plan. Moss is no different. He wants to save Wrexham FC with a sport not played in the twon at amateur level (As far as I know) and with no tradition. That's a business plan? Reminds me of a certain retailer who went big into the US and got very very badly burnt.

Samuels might have lost a lot of money, but it is hard to find sympathy for a man who was gambling to win a lot of money. He had tried once before.

Moss is exactly the same. He want to save Wrexham FC by getting the ground used through the summer plus SKY money.