Club Statement - Part Time : Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:21 am  

The club put out the following statement this morning:

Following what has been a very disappointing season for the Club and its supporters in 2021 which has seen the Broncos fall way behind the pace set by other teams in the Betfred Championship, including several Part Time sides, it has been decided that in 2022 we will adjust our squad to that of a Part Time team as part of an overhaul of the First Team Squad.

Financially, the club will be receiving a vastly reduced central distribution in 2022 and we have had to make changes to offset this reduction which has led to the decision that has been taken by the club.

The London Broncos will increase the level of financial input into our highly successful Academy and Scholarship programme as well as work with the Community game in London and the South East to continue to develop professional Rugby League players as we take the opportunity to restructure the club ahead of our planned move to Plough Lane in 2022.

Off the field a huge amount of work is being undertaken in several areas to ensure that Rugby League in London continues to thrive and that the Broncos are able to return stronger for a promotion push in seasons to come with a squad littered with home grown players and a solid supporter base in our new home.

No great surprise and at least they admit this season has been poor. While it is good to see focus on Academy and Scholarship levels, the strategy of relying on this to provide a substantial part of the team has not worked to date. Not least because we are not able to retain the best product of the system.

Re: Club Statement - Part Time : Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:36 am  

No suggestion of a hybrid model just straight to PT. That will give the players and staff something to think about before ‘crucial’ last 2 games of season. Feels like we’ve basically shut up shop 2 games early. Could be a nice result for Haven this announcement. We don’t seem very good at decision making but, in particular, the timing of decisions. I guess it means we don’t need to agonise about new signings now as there won’t be any only departures.mTough old season next year in our spanking new huge stadium. Hmmm?

Re: Club Statement - Part Time : Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:47 am  

£200,000 going out the window on Plough Lane so that the club can cut the playing budget.

I've heard some stupid things in my 27 years watching this club but this just about takes the biscuit. I'm done. And so is this club.

Re: Club Statement - Part Time : Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:55 am  

Yes Nadera. Spending money on infrastructure not players is dull but worthy. Spending money on someone else’s infrastructure is difficult to justify. Part time club- part time ground eg Trailfinders. Simple. I’m going urge people to consider coming along to Sunday’s game. It could, to all intents and purposes , be the last and if we are lucky Rovers will rest a few for the play offs so it shouldn’t be a punishment beating.

Re: Club Statement - Part Time : Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:02 am  

The club blame the reduced RFL distribution but in reality this is the chickens coming home to roost from years of mismanagment.

The club needs a serious reboot with a published 3 to 5 year plan that delivers a more sustainable future. We cannot continue to be reliant on one (albeit generous) man. That route will simply run out of road. Have crowds ever increased under DH ownership ?

As it stands, the club seem to be going all in on using the Academy as the basis of the team when that has already been proven not to work.

The move to Wimbledon looks increasingly bizzare. The last thing we currently need is more seats. We will not be a SL quality team, even if through some restructuring we happen to end up in it.

I don't think we should overlook the wisdom of fragmenting the training facilities given the increasing reliance on the Academny setup.

What impact will part time status have on our ability to retain the best Academy players which is already poor ?

Re: Club Statement - Part Time : Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:29 am  

Wimbledon made sense if we were interested in challenging to be promoted, this just feels like a bad decision. We have been beaten by part timers, but I don't see how we are going to be promoted in the next five years by putting less time on the training field. £1m over the course of five years is a hell of a fee to play at a good ground as a part time club in the RFL Championship.

Re: Club Statement - Part Time : Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:39 am  

IIRC part of the Wimbledon deal was £500k pacific we got to SL. I wonder if AFC have done the maths on likelihood of that following this AMs announcement.

Re: Club Statement - Part Time : Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:10 am  

You would like to think Hughes was trying to negotiate down the £200,000 given the p/t statement.

Re: Club Statement - Part Time : Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:29 am  

What a shambles. PT is the end of the road for any chance the Broncos ever had for SL

Good luck getting fans in to watch the Academy getting bounced all over the place next season. Jesus this club never ceases to wind me up.

Those in charge have killed the Broncos and you should hang your heads in shame. Just shut up shop now and put people out of their misery.

Seen comments like "in the current image this makes sense". It makes zero sense, spunking money on loads of training/playing venues when no one is interested in watching anymore. NO ONE WILL FLOCK TO WATCH A BUNCH OF KIDS GETTING DESTROYED WEEK IN WEEK OUT.

Re: Club Statement - Part Time : Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:37 am  

Just shut up shop now and put people out of their misery.
No please don't shut up shop, some folk still want RL in London, whatever form that takes