I agree with you, fans of most sporting clubs want success, at any cost. However, the Chairmen of these clubs have a business to run and whilst it is imperative that they keep the fans "on side", there has to be some realism from all concerned.

The basic element is that if your expenditure exceeds your income then you are in trouble and regardless of what the fans want/expect, the responsibility for running a club lies with the Chairman and his BoD.

In the franchise era, whre there is no relegation, it is quite ridiculous for clubs to spend more than their income.

Ok there are planned investments whch are paid for over long periods but all clubs run to a budget.

The one point I agree with from Mr Hudgell, is that the governing body do have a massive responsibility to run the sport in a forward thinking, but sustainable manner and at the moment this is clearly not the caes.

Maybe they are just as culpable of "chasing the dream" instead of living in the real world ?

Oh come off it, you can't possibly be that naive. Why was he writing a letter if it's purpose wasn't to leak it? He could have just got on the phone or waited for the next meeting if he only wanted to talk to the other SL chairmen.

I could certainly take a very well educated guess.

I guess you know the answer, but to confirm David Hughes covers London's losses and has committed to do so for the duration of this franchise. After that, who knows. I guess he is entitled to spend his money as he sees fit, and I am sure he has a vision of a strong and viable London club come 2015.

It isn't a press release.

It was sent to the other Chairpersons.

If this guy cares so much why hasn't he been to a meeting for two years to press his case?

I can see his point. Most clubs run at a loss, it is not a sustainable way to do business.



The RFL have managed to get more money from SKY and the BBC but seem to have passed very little extra onto the clubs. The prize money has decreased for the cup and the RFL pocket the money for play offs. The Magic weekend has been an embarrisment to the game and a massive failure but the RFL pocket money from the local tourist board and give nothing to the clubs so they are happy to keep it up.



The RFL then hire a small army of people at Red hall (no one quite knows what they do), have expansion officers all over the country and announces large profits. The issue is with the accountability of the RFL, they do not seem to answer to anyone, they are a financial black hole, who do not have to pay the price for their poor mistakes.



I really do think that at some point there will be another break away when the Superleague clubs have had enough. I just hope that when it does happen that the damage to our sport will not be too severe.

I noticed that as well.

Self-publicist in self-publicising shocker.



For someone who makes his living off the back of chasing ambulances, he's got a nerve to be lecturing anyone.

No it's not. It's a press release merely presented in the form of a pretend letter to other Chairmen. If Hudgell's concerns weren't supposed to reach the press why has he put his concerns into a letter rather than picking up the phone or talking face to face at meetings?

You seem to be seeing what you want to see so carry on......

I can understand why clubs could fall in financial trouble in a P+R situation. But isn't the franchise system supposed to help control the Bulls type situation amongst others.



I prefer the franchise system over P+R, however according to the letter Hudgell says it's the RFLs fault, but surely it's the fault of the clubs if they run their businesses at a loss. If a clubs income is £2.5m for example but outgoings cost £3m per year then the following year reductions should be made of £1/2m at least to try and get it in a stronger financial position. If that means a couple of years battling for the bottom of the SL but puts them in a stronger position then so be it. I think fans will understand if a club turns it self round from year year making losses to making profits.