Des Byrne denied he wanted to return as Chairman, the new lease agreement fell at the final hurdle, and our talented Australian scrum half had to be released - and this is all since last Monday. It is fair to say that following Whitehaven RLFC could be likened to watching a soap opera. Never a dull moment and always plenty of talking points to keep the faithful coming back for more. However the latest developments are hardly brimming with the kind of optimism that will see a flood of new faces at the Recre.
The latest developments including Mike Graham and Phil Clarkin stepping down from the BOD leave Gordon Grace all alone in holding the fort. Surely not an ideal situation and I'm certain he is looking to rectify it as a matter of urgency. However it does make me wonder why no one has expressed a serious amount of interest. I mean, it is obvious that the club isn't in a perfect financial situation, but it surely isn't a lost cause, I mean surely? The longer this situation goes on for, the more I will wonder what the real situation at The Recreation Ground is like. Even the press state there has been nothing more than tentative interest shown in regards to a takeover. I guess it's a case of watch this space and hope for the best.
Whilst there is a concerning amount of uncertainty surrounding the BOD, what is more worrying is the future of The Recre. Despite both the miners and the club agreeing a lease, CISWO, the parent body of the miners refused the agreement. The current lease expired on the 31st of October leaving not only the stadium development plans in doubt, but the future of Whitehaven RLFC at The Recre. The club have stated they will be starting legal proceedings but how long could that take? Well how long is a piece of string? Maybe we could just relocate to Marchon...
And then just when you think enough bad news has been dealt, we go and lose our star signing Daniel Russell. New immigration laws stipulate that overseas amateurs cannot play for professional or semi-professional clubs. This is obviously a major blow to the squad and does leave a hole that presumably needs to be filled. Not all reaction has been negative from the fans though, some are glad that local lads will be given the chance. I'm sitting on the fence on this one, especially as I have seen this guy play and was very impressed. It looks like gone are the days when clubs bring over these up and coming Australians, it seems that era has come to a sudden end. It could be a while before a Sam Obst or Joel Penny graces the hallowed turf of The Recre again.
Onto a slightly more positive matter, the supporters trust idea that I mentioned in my last entry could be gathering a little bit of steam. A dedicated fan is extremely keen on the idea and has been exploring the various avenues to take. Through his research he is in contact with Supporters Direct who specialise in assisting fans form supporters trusts. They are holding a course in Manchester on the 11th of January which I have a place on and will be attending. Whilst this only the very first step on the ladder towards a supporters trust, it should give valuable insight into how they are formed and operate. I am keen to hear comments on the whole concept of the supporters trust.
So with no-one seemingly wanting to touch the club from a directorship point of view, another set back to the ground re-development and losing a potentially influential player, it doesn't seem like we are in the best of positions. However I for one am actually quite optimistic about next season, purely because of Ged Stokes. Crazy as it may sound (it would have sounded even crazier 12 months ago!) but I feel confident in this guy's ability and believe he is the correct person to take us through 2009. We have a fair squad on paper, and I for one hope they play with the same kind of passion and pride that was on display towards the latter stages of last season, starting with the match against Workington next weekend!
Friday, 19 December 2008
Monday, 8 December 2008
BOD Blues
With Gordon Grace looking to depart the Board of Directors and no one willingly stepping forward to take over the reigns, you have to ask the question why? Is a club that has seen good times in recent years on the brink of a crisis?
Whilst Grace always maintained the fact that he wasn't in it for the long haul, he does seem particularly keen, along with Mike Graham, to step aside now. Some may say that he has done his job and it's time to move on. However some also believe that there could be more to it than that.
Very few people actually knew the exact state of the financials when the current BOD took over, but we were all lead to believe we were on the brink of administration. Are we really in a much stronger situation now though than we were 10 months ago? Many would say that is debatable. Despite a superb end to the season on the field, rumours are still strong that the club still hasn't secured it's financial status.
Grace recently commented in the press that he has spoken to sponsors, council representatives, previous board members from several former boards in regards to takeover talks. However so far nothing worth mentioning has resulted from the discussions. Des Byrne, and the majority of the members from the previous BOD, who guided us through the most successful period in the clubs history, were invited for talks to take control over the club, however it seems that no agreement was reached. Is it a case of Grace and Graham asking the previous BOD as a polite gesture with no real intention of releasing control? Or could the previous BOD see something more worrying off the field, dare I say even financially, which confirmed the decision to not get involved?
It is no secret on the various Haven forums that a minority of people seem to know more than others when it comes to the financials. Some even saying that we wont last until Christmas! Whilst I am of the opinion that Grace and Graham do want the best for the club, I can't help but wonder if the situation is starting to get a little tricky, hence why they feel new direction, and even investment, is needed sooner rather than later.
New direction and investment is something which might be hard to find in the depths of West Cumbria. However the recent suggestion of a supporters trust becoming involved with the runnings of the club has been a hot talking point over the past few days. The idea of fans becoming involved with the decision making and the greater transparency that results from a supporters trust run club is very appealing.
Take Ebbsfleet Utd for example. A lower league football club run and owned by 30,000 individuals paying £35 per annum to the website myfootballclub.co.uk. Each member of the site has a share in the club for their £35 and can be involved in major decisions that effect the club. Whilst this can be considered as the purest form of supporters trust control, there are many clubs that operate along side a supporters trust.
Could a similar initiative be what a club like Whitehaven needs in order to progress off the field? The main questions surrounding such a scheme is whether there is the supporter base and enough interest to sustain such an idea, however it is something that key individuals at the club are taking notice of.
Whilst on the field we seem to have things under an element of control with Ged Stokes at the helm, off the field events are proving to be problematic and maybe the only way out is a radical restructuring through a supporters trust driven initiative.
Whilst Grace always maintained the fact that he wasn't in it for the long haul, he does seem particularly keen, along with Mike Graham, to step aside now. Some may say that he has done his job and it's time to move on. However some also believe that there could be more to it than that.
Very few people actually knew the exact state of the financials when the current BOD took over, but we were all lead to believe we were on the brink of administration. Are we really in a much stronger situation now though than we were 10 months ago? Many would say that is debatable. Despite a superb end to the season on the field, rumours are still strong that the club still hasn't secured it's financial status.
Grace recently commented in the press that he has spoken to sponsors, council representatives, previous board members from several former boards in regards to takeover talks. However so far nothing worth mentioning has resulted from the discussions. Des Byrne, and the majority of the members from the previous BOD, who guided us through the most successful period in the clubs history, were invited for talks to take control over the club, however it seems that no agreement was reached. Is it a case of Grace and Graham asking the previous BOD as a polite gesture with no real intention of releasing control? Or could the previous BOD see something more worrying off the field, dare I say even financially, which confirmed the decision to not get involved?
It is no secret on the various Haven forums that a minority of people seem to know more than others when it comes to the financials. Some even saying that we wont last until Christmas! Whilst I am of the opinion that Grace and Graham do want the best for the club, I can't help but wonder if the situation is starting to get a little tricky, hence why they feel new direction, and even investment, is needed sooner rather than later.
New direction and investment is something which might be hard to find in the depths of West Cumbria. However the recent suggestion of a supporters trust becoming involved with the runnings of the club has been a hot talking point over the past few days. The idea of fans becoming involved with the decision making and the greater transparency that results from a supporters trust run club is very appealing.
Take Ebbsfleet Utd for example. A lower league football club run and owned by 30,000 individuals paying £35 per annum to the website myfootballclub.co.uk. Each member of the site has a share in the club for their £35 and can be involved in major decisions that effect the club. Whilst this can be considered as the purest form of supporters trust control, there are many clubs that operate along side a supporters trust.
Could a similar initiative be what a club like Whitehaven needs in order to progress off the field? The main questions surrounding such a scheme is whether there is the supporter base and enough interest to sustain such an idea, however it is something that key individuals at the club are taking notice of.
Whilst on the field we seem to have things under an element of control with Ged Stokes at the helm, off the field events are proving to be problematic and maybe the only way out is a radical restructuring through a supporters trust driven initiative.
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