Fortress Under Attack

The Championship seems destined to begin under a cloud of crisis as clubs come to terms with the economic downturn and ever changing sporting landscape.

At the beginning of the week it was good to hear that London Welsh would kick off the new season in the Championship thanks to a take over by Red Dragon Rugby Ltd. but as the week draws to a close another club is thrust into turmoil.

Turmoil is nothing new for Nottingham Rugby, who were one of the first clubs to announce financial difficulties last season, but the latest breaking story could potentially end professional rugby as we know it in Nottingham.

It has already been a mad week for Nottingham sport!

The appointment of Sven Goran Eriksson as Director of Football at League 2 side Notts County sent reverberations around the country - Munto Finance and the Oldest Football Club in the world mean business and nothing will stand in their way.

It now appears that will include Nottingham Rugby.

Notts County have reportedly stated that Nottingham Rugby will not be able to stage their home games at Meadow Lane this season.

This is a big issue for Nottingham Rugby, who sold their home at Ireland Avenue in 2006, and have made Meadow Lane a fortress in recent years.

The impressive stadium is a big draw card for the club in terms of players, sponsors, match day hospitality and, perhaps most importantly, profile in what is already a cluttered sporting environment in Nottingham - without it I fear that the club will have to change substantially.

I have no doubt there will always be a Nottingham Rugby Club but without Meadow Lane, and a lack of other enticing options, it is hard to see how they will be able to continue with the model and budgets that they will have set at the start of the year.

Having come through a difficult time last year this is another testing time for the players and staff, who stayed loyal despite the issues last season, and as the Chairman, Geoff Huckstep, states this could signal the end of professional rugby in Nottingham in its present state.

A legal battle seems unlikely considering the rugby clubs financial situation and the fact that Notts County are reportedly paying Sven £2m a year.

The partnership was started because both parties had something to offer, Notts had a stadium and Nottingham Rugby paid them to use it in times of financial need.

Money is no object for the football club anymore and they will want the best playing surface possible for Sven and the new signings - sixteen games of rugby would certainly take its toll.

They always say that the biggest threat to a Fortress is from the inside - let's hope that there is a plan B.

Is Anybody Listening???!!!!!

I seem to have set a trend for retirement announcements in the last few weeks - watch out blogging can be dangerous for our favourite national sports!

Whilst I would be delighted if Michael Vaughan and Freddie Flintoff have read the blog, I would be devasted if in some strange twist I had ended their sporting careers because of what they had read.

I didn't see Freddie saying "if that Ben Thompson is retiring then perhaps it is my time is up too" on Sky Sports News this week - but I do feel in exhalted company.

You also have read it here first - I am turning to the 7's circuit in India to make my millions too!!!

It has been a completely different month for me but I haven't regretted my decision for one minute - especially when all you hear are the horror stories of preseason training.

The pictures of the London Welsh marine training camp, for example, look horrendous - come on guys have a heart - as if the players aren't feeling bad enough at the moment!!!

London Welsh captain, Michael Powell (third from left), updated his status on Facebook half way through the camp - "now know what hell is!!" - yeah I am really missing it!!!

I'd like to say a quick thank you to collybs who kindly posted a link to the blog on the popular National League Rugby message board. (Thanks also to Richard Lowther, Wakefield supporter, for providing the service!)

I have been a big fan of the message board for a long time - it is a great source of information (especially the signings and departures section) and more importantly it represents the opinion of the fans that are travel the length and breadth of England to follow their team.

I know that a lot of players and management staff regularly go to the board to glean information.

In my opinion, if any of the clubs aren't looking at them and using them in a positive way to understand the people they are trying to attract through the gates, then they are missing a perfect opportunity.

There is no doubt that there can be some odd posts from disillusioned fans, players and, more than likely, even a few curve balls from people who should know better but the majority offer a great insight into rugby at this level, both on and off the pitch, and should be embraced.

In the past clubs have seen the fans' forums/message boards as a negative and a place for disgruntled fans to rant and rave - but as Bad Company famously (or not!!) sang "There is no smoke without fire"!! and if this is the case they are missing a trick.

As with any opinion or advice - even this blog I hear the cynics cry - the reader has total discretion about what, why and how they use the information that is being written and being handed to them on a plate.

This may be a surprise but I passionately believe that club officials should be actively involved in the forums (and should have one on their website!!) - there is obviously a limit to information that can or should be released - but they have a perfect platform to interact with the paying public that large companies would have paid researchers thousands of pounds for before the internet revolution.

There is no doubt the fans' comments are being monitored and read - I wonder how long it will be before we see a major step change and the forums being used to their full potential - it has to be have a positive effect for the fans, clubs and rugby as a whole.

I would be delighted to hear your comments on the subject - I will definitely get involved in the discussion!!!

London Welsh Enter Administration

It was sad to hear this week that London Welsh have gone into administration and I sincerely hope that they pull through and take their place in the new Championship in September.

Taking the step to appoint administrators Tenon Recovery must have been a big step and one that came as a bolt from the blue for most people involved in rugby at this level.

To everyone on the outside it looked as if London Welsh were creating a very strong squad that could rival the top four tems in the league but there must now be question marks over their participation let alone success in the new league.

However, there are some details of the announcement that do not sit particularly well which leads me to question the real threat of closure.

Take a look at the London Welsh website and you will get a flavour of the mixed messages coming from one of London's most famous rugby clubs.

Just four days prior to the announcement Welsh made the announcement that they had signed Simon Whatling from Championship rivals:

Quote:- “The ambition at London Welsh really appealed to me, while it’s also an exciting challenge for me personally, both in terms of my rugby and moving to a new city.”

There is either a very good sales man in the wrong job or all is not what it appears.

I have no doubt that London Welsh are having financial issues - who isn't in National Division One now the Championship - but I am sure it is not all doom and gloom.

The interview from the BBC is conducted very well and answers some of the question marks hanging over the club.

Reading between the lines Kelvin Bryon has funds to keep the club going but in order to reach the level they aspire to they need some serious investment and are twanging the heart strings of the London Welsh faithful.

But as the interviewer suggests this is probably not a business opportunity - at present without a ground to develop (such as Exeter Chiefs) - this is an expensive hobby for someone.

Everyone is chasing the dream of Premiership rugby but is it really sustainable?

Only one team will reach the promised land but what will their fate be? Bristol pleaded poverty before relegation and I am sure there are more teams in the Premiership in the same boat.

Having been through a similar scenario at Nottingham I feel for the players - especially with so many only recently signed. Many will have left solid contracts to join an aspirational London Welsh only to have been hit by this news.

Fingers crossed for London Welsh - the league needs to be competitive and they look to have a strong squad but lessons need to be learnt or more funding from the RFU is required.

Would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.................................