link to report:
http://media.therfl.co.uk/docs/THE_FUTURE_OF_RUGBY_LEAGUE_IN_WEST_CUMBRIA.PDF After studying the Rapley report at length the Board would like to make the following observations.
The club has concerns over the recommendation that the amateur game should be replaced with an “open game”, we do not concur that “it belongs in the previous century” we believe in the long run doing away with amateur status will place an enormous financial burden on the amateur clubs and blur the distinction between amateur and professional that has served the game so well for 120 years.
The report seems to‘enshrine’ what many clubs see as the unfair distribution of money within Championship. Whilst we recognise that some differential may be needed the level of that differential does in no way make for a fair or ‘level playing field’- for many of the Championship clubs. We see that the notion of “increased investment into the top of the Tier 2 (Championship) competition is essential…” as just being totally and inherently unfair.
We are delighted that the report comes out strongly in favour of the RFL taking a backward step in its regulation of the game, and instead of “micro managing the clubs it should concentrate on improving the commercial and operational performance of the sport” and that it should allow “the responsibility for club performance to fall predominately on the Board of Directors and management of each club.”
It is also pleasing to us as a Board and as a club that there is no overt recommendation of a merger within the report and thus we can continue down the path we have recently started of long term plans for the club, and recent and future investment will not be put in jeapordy.
With the above in mind and the possibility of a merger no longer present, the distraction of the Rapley report can be put behind us and the club can move forward with its own plans for expansion and re – development at the Recreation Ground. We are more than willing to co-operate with our neighbours Workington Town and or Barrow on joint projects, such as: an U23 team, the Academy and the likes of Sky Try. Should any opportunities arise in the future such as representative games we will work constructively with all concerned.
T.Todd
Chairman
