Thankfully, I'm not a moderator kimbo, so probably won't comment on the continued petty bickering.
I visit many of the sports network sites. and, in general, find them fairly welcoming.
Despite a few historical family connections to Coventry RFC I no longer visit your network site.
I do, however, always look out for the Cov result and continue to wish them well.
London Irish
Re: London Irish
We know the powers that be want to expand the Prem.
So that means selling the existing clubs to consortia with deep pocket - to prevent any more bankruptcies.
And finding at least two new sides to join them.
Ealing could be one of those, but for the impasse over the Prem demanding a 10,000 seater, and Ealing's desire to stay at the current site - which will never get planning ofr a stadium of that size.
They have Worcester in the wings, but the current consortia do not seem keen on investing the sort of money needed, at least not quite yet.
maybe this is there year and maybe a slow expansion is the correct route.
Coventry are in a good position, but I am not sure the current owners pockets are deep enough.
And then there are the two defunct badges, on which dreams can be hung. A rich enough irish entrenponeur could decide to make London irish a reality again. But you are starting from half ownership of a club crest - and you need to build everything else.
But the PTB - whihever hat they happen to wear today - will court these fools and try to separate them from their money.
Will any of this benefit the greater club game - of course not. It is orthogonal to the amateur and semi-pro game.
So that means selling the existing clubs to consortia with deep pocket - to prevent any more bankruptcies.
And finding at least two new sides to join them.
Ealing could be one of those, but for the impasse over the Prem demanding a 10,000 seater, and Ealing's desire to stay at the current site - which will never get planning ofr a stadium of that size.
They have Worcester in the wings, but the current consortia do not seem keen on investing the sort of money needed, at least not quite yet.
maybe this is there year and maybe a slow expansion is the correct route.
Coventry are in a good position, but I am not sure the current owners pockets are deep enough.
And then there are the two defunct badges, on which dreams can be hung. A rich enough irish entrenponeur could decide to make London irish a reality again. But you are starting from half ownership of a club crest - and you need to build everything else.
But the PTB - whihever hat they happen to wear today - will court these fools and try to separate them from their money.
Will any of this benefit the greater club game - of course not. It is orthogonal to the amateur and semi-pro game.
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Southstand
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2026 2:21 pm
Re: London Irish
I think the stumbling block for many, and I include Mike G's sand pit in this, is the £26 million that is going to be needed to purchase the artificially inflated price of P shares which enables tv and sponsor funding, as well as a place at the table.
Whatever the RFU might want to do about this issue most of the clubs are now using a ridiculous overvaluation of the shares to balance their books.
Worcester were obliged to sell their P shares for £13 million when the stadium closed. Even allowing for inflation a 100% increase does seem a little fanciful.
Whatever the RFU might want to do about this issue most of the clubs are now using a ridiculous overvaluation of the shares to balance their books.
Worcester were obliged to sell their P shares for £13 million when the stadium closed. Even allowing for inflation a 100% increase does seem a little fanciful.
Re: London Irish
I'm afraid I am one of I very many who has little sympathy for Worcester being "forced" to sell their P shares.
Re: London Irish
According to London Irish's administrator's report, Worcester and Wasps were each paid £9,184,000 for their P-Shares.
The shares are not tradeable, they can only be sold back to PRL - and the terms and timing is still being negotiated.
So, the administrators still hold London Irish's P-shares.
However, over the three years of the adminnistration, £1m per year has been paid to LI as shareholders, all of which goes to Close to pay off part of their loan.
The administrators are still looking to sell the Hazelwood site.
Close as the preferential debtor should be paid in full.
Sprots England may receive part repayment of their loans.
However none of the other creditors are likely to be paid, other than HMRC receiving the VAT associatd with the asset sales.
To suome extent there is a good reason for PRL to charge more for shares than they will buy them back at, it acts as a dilution fee - providing the existing clubs recompense for splitting the income between a larger number of parties.
According to the news reports this morning, the PTB are looking to bring two new sides in by 29/30.
So those sides will either need to be existing Champ sides, or will need to be in added to the Champ by 28/29.
If you do not have a stadium - there is not a lot of time to build one.
or even to get a contract to share an existing one.
The shares are not tradeable, they can only be sold back to PRL - and the terms and timing is still being negotiated.
So, the administrators still hold London Irish's P-shares.
However, over the three years of the adminnistration, £1m per year has been paid to LI as shareholders, all of which goes to Close to pay off part of their loan.
The administrators are still looking to sell the Hazelwood site.
Close as the preferential debtor should be paid in full.
Sprots England may receive part repayment of their loans.
However none of the other creditors are likely to be paid, other than HMRC receiving the VAT associatd with the asset sales.
To suome extent there is a good reason for PRL to charge more for shares than they will buy them back at, it acts as a dilution fee - providing the existing clubs recompense for splitting the income between a larger number of parties.
According to the news reports this morning, the PTB are looking to bring two new sides in by 29/30.
So those sides will either need to be existing Champ sides, or will need to be in added to the Champ by 28/29.
If you do not have a stadium - there is not a lot of time to build one.
or even to get a contract to share an existing one.
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Southstand
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2026 2:21 pm
Re: London Irish
Nowhere was there any mention of Worcester requiring any "sympathy" for their compliance with the rules on P shares in my post.jblee wrote: Thu Oct 29, 2026 12:14 pm I'm afraid I am one of I very many who has little sympathy for Worcester being "forced" to sell their P shares.
It was merely an attempt to highlight the current valuations on these shares on Club balance sheets and possible reasons.
It would be nice if we could just talk about our shared interest of Rugby and put all the petty prejudices to one side.
Re: London Irish
It would be even nicer if your club paid back all the money they owe but I appreciate you would prefer to forget about this.Southstand wrote: Fri Oct 30, 2026 8:12 amNowhere was there any mention of Worcester requiring any "sympathy" for their compliance with the rules on P shares in my post.jblee wrote: Thu Oct 29, 2026 12:14 pm I'm afraid I am one of I very many who has little sympathy for Worcester being "forced" to sell their P shares.
It was merely an attempt to highlight the current valuations on these shares on Club balance sheets and possible reasons.
It would be nice if we could just talk about our shared interest of Rugby and put all the petty prejudices to one side.
Re: London Irish
Play nicely chaps.
I know this is a subject that I know raises strong emotions.
And I do not want to have to use moderator powers on any poster - other than the out and out spammers.
One thing is certain, whatever happened in the board rooms, it was not the fans fault.
And the Worcester fans are now comoing to your ground and buying your clubs' beer.
I know this is a subject that I know raises strong emotions.
And I do not want to have to use moderator powers on any poster - other than the out and out spammers.
One thing is certain, whatever happened in the board rooms, it was not the fans fault.
And the Worcester fans are now comoing to your ground and buying your clubs' beer.
Re: London Irish
I think people should be free to express opinions here without others dismissing them as " petty prejudices". Give an alternative opinion by all means but don't insult other posters. If that is an unacceptable view to the moderators then just let me know and I will leave.
Re: London Irish
Jblee
People have their own views. I have mine but others are at liberty to disagree.
Whichever side of the fence people sit Admins’ point about it not being the supporters fault is very sound.
The Champ now has the beginnings of a very good league, and not just because Roth are in it
I think the introduction of Clubber TV last season and Blaze this season, has given the league better publicity and coverage and the Clubber extending viewing options to the National Leagues is to be applauded.
The product below Prem level is looking very encouraging despite the closed door at the top end, but personally I have no interest in ever rejoining that league because the investment is far too much, and that isn’t the only problem.
As far as I am concerned the Champ is the pinnacle of club Rugby and for me I would say the Prem is in need of more help to prop up for me a very dull league and it is shooting itself in the foot with the soul interest being financial. It’s ruining football and will ruin Rugby too”.
They say a ringed fence is better looking from the inside than the outside but in this case I would much prefer the view from the outside. To go the other way would in my view be a one way ticket to oblivion.
People have their own views. I have mine but others are at liberty to disagree.
Whichever side of the fence people sit Admins’ point about it not being the supporters fault is very sound.
The Champ now has the beginnings of a very good league, and not just because Roth are in it
I think the introduction of Clubber TV last season and Blaze this season, has given the league better publicity and coverage and the Clubber extending viewing options to the National Leagues is to be applauded.
The product below Prem level is looking very encouraging despite the closed door at the top end, but personally I have no interest in ever rejoining that league because the investment is far too much, and that isn’t the only problem.
As far as I am concerned the Champ is the pinnacle of club Rugby and for me I would say the Prem is in need of more help to prop up for me a very dull league and it is shooting itself in the foot with the soul interest being financial. It’s ruining football and will ruin Rugby too”.
They say a ringed fence is better looking from the inside than the outside but in this case I would much prefer the view from the outside. To go the other way would in my view be a one way ticket to oblivion.