Harlequins bust? : Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:03 am  

Heard a rumour this morning that Harlequins RL have gone bust? Dont know how much truth there is in it?

Re: Harlequins bust? : Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:07 am  

Not sure but their chairman has put £7 million of his own money in to club over the years as was mentioned on Boots n all last night.

Re: Harlequins bust? : Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:35 am  

I think it is now commonly accepted that they are under major financial pressure and that the much discussed withdrawl of the chairman's cash would probably push them over the edge. Question is would SL turn a blind eye to such instability or even intervene to keep their big (capital) city dream alive. Or would they see the silver lining of avoiding the controversy of excluding a heartland club 12 months hence and being able to elevate Widnes before they fall even further down NL.

Re: Harlequins bust? : Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:53 am  

There has to be a solution to this and I feel sorry for the Quins fans. We really could do with a big London presence in Super League and I do not want them to goto the walls.

Re: Harlequins bust? : Thu Aug 19, 2010 12:54 pm  

http://www.skysports.com/tv_show/story/ ... 87,00.html And Fully I don't want them to go to the wall either,but if it was between us and them you know what the answer is.

http://www.skysports.com/tv_show/story/ ... 87,00.html And Fully I don't want them to go to the wall either,but if it was between us and them you know what the answer is.

Re: Harlequins bust? : Thu Aug 19, 2010 12:58 pm  

Normy Knight wrote:

http://www.skysports.com/tv_show/story/0,20144,12387_6321010_12387,00.html

And Fully I don't want them to go to the wall either,but if it was between us and them you know what the answer is.

Indeed, and there's always going to be that. I wonder if a stint in the Championship would make any difference. It would enable them to cut back in outgoings and DH could invest in the areas to market the club with the potential to re-enter come 2015.

The fans wouldn't lose their club, the young London based talent could come through and they could potentially have derbies (albeit in the NR Cup) with Skolars to market to.

Re: Harlequins bust? : Thu Aug 19, 2010 1:08 pm  

If they drop to the Championship this shows that the expansionism approach by the RFL is undermined without sturdy foundations at the club first.
Quins have lacked in support which has affected them financially, Paris just lacked, Catalans are more solid and if any of the rumours are correct about the Nomad Welsh Aussies they are struggling for cash also.
The RFL will lose too much if Quins are to slip down and so Imo they will be 'supported' by the RFL.

Re: Harlequins bust? : Thu Aug 19, 2010 1:14 pm  

smoking monkey wrote:

I think it is now commonly accepted that they are under major financial pressure and that the much discussed withdrawl of the chairman's cash would probably push them over the edge. Question is would SL turn a blind eye to such instability or even intervene to keep their big (capital) city dream alive. Or would they see the silver lining of avoiding the controversy of excluding a heartland club 12 months hence and being able to elevate Widnes before they fall even further down NL.

Quins going into administration would have to be a major fillip for us - I don't see how the RFL could conceivably remove any other club in such a scenario.

Of course a strong London side would be great for the sport and I'd prefer us both to be awarded franchises but I'm also not going to pretend that, selfishly, this would (if true) be great new for Cas!

Re: Harlequins bust? : Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:11 pm  

Well if they are going ust who would we pick up? I like the young half back they've got, Gale I think his name is. Also, any mileage of looking at Luke Dorn again? I guess there's Clubb and the blond haired Aussie centre, maybe worth a phone call. I'm sure we wouldn't be the only club doing that over the next few days.

Re: Harlequins bust? : Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:10 pm  

firstly i dont want quins or london rl not to have a team in super league long term,however its pretty clear that they can not be sustained in their current format of losing money hand over fist.

now for me the senseble option would be to take a gap year or two in the championship and rebuild the from scratch "again".if they are confident that they are producing good quality kids then they should be able to field a near full southern english side,they then need to find a venue that is accessable to the london public without been too far out,ive travelled from inner london on a few occasions to the stoop and its a logistical nightmare especially when trains and undergrounnd are shut for works over a weekend and then with this hassle you understand why they get little support.