Re: London Irish in Initial Plough Lane Talks : Tue May 02, 2023 11:38 am  

jbuzza wrote:

This can be the only thing that potentially hasn't met expectation. Everything else is of the Broncos own doing.

Could all be nonsense but I agree this is the only area where there may be doubt as to who is completely to blame. A couple of weeks overrun last season was regrettable, doubly so if hard baked into every season but there must have been some discussion about that possibility and the non availability of ground if we had a cup match added to the schedule. In any event it’s the concept of a lengthy gap in home games that is the most problematic for a club trying to embed itself in a new area - whether 5 or 7 weeks is of lesser importance. Generally AFC have been accommodating and tried to drum up interest in AFC fans ( last season at least). How did we repay that golden opportunity? By serving up rubbish in our first two home games - and as it was an entirely foreseeable outcome that golden opportunity was lost and can’t be clawed back.
They’ve made changes this season all for the good, less unnecessary stewards, fan zone, move the East stand but it only really works if you get people through the door. What have we done to get people in? What can we do with a shoestring back room staff. Is it AFCs fault we appear not to have struck a chord with local sponsors or the local community? I would think know, although that’s not to suggest it is in anyway easy.
The truth is we are in a pickle and throwing money at a big stadium was always high risk. Where do we go next though??? If we go to Roslyn Park I doubt that ground is currently acceptable for Championship standards so that would mean back to Ealing. Both do have scope for development on the plus side.
Either way I suggest we dial back on the big time rhetoric about not wanting to be housed in 3rd tier football/RU grounds. The truth is that is exactly the right space for us at the moment. (This could be said of many clubs including in SL of course).

Re: London Irish in Initial Plough Lane Talks : Tue May 02, 2023 4:18 pm  

It's a farce.
Highest and Loubser haven't a clue what to do and unless the Club is either taken over by or employs someone who can chew gum and walk at the same time, we're heading for obscurity....

Re: London Irish in Initial Plough Lane Talks : Tue May 02, 2023 5:34 pm  

jbuzza wrote:

This can be the only thing that potentially hasn't met expectation. Everything else is of the Broncos own doing.

No arguements from me on this.... Broncos would alienate Ghandi, the pope or even Tripitaka the holy fool from Monkey Magic....

Re: London Irish in Initial Plough Lane Talks : Tue May 02, 2023 9:20 pm  

crashmon wrote:

... or even Tripitaka the holy fool from Monkey Magic....

Anyone who doesn't recognise this reference doesn't know they're born. (From an egg, on a mountain top.)

Re: London Irish in Initial Plough Lane Talks : Wed May 03, 2023 7:14 am  

jbuzza wrote:

This can be the only thing that potentially hasn't met expectation. Everything else is of the Broncos own doing.

Very true but if we were told to only expect to be out of PL for 5 or 6 weeks....
Still makes me think what was the point of moving to PL when zero effort has been put in by Hughes to make a go of it.
If we'd stayed at Ealing we'd be able to play ALL our home matches at home, and most likely be able to host a double header at most of said home games. Just saying......

Re: London Irish in Initial Plough Lane Talks : Wed May 03, 2023 8:38 am  

The Hughes version of Omertà is still very baffling. Clearly not a believer in information is power. Unless of course it's about him keeping all the information to himself. Another season aimlessly drifting by it seems.

Re: London Irish in Initial Plough Lane Talks : Wed May 03, 2023 9:32 am  

According to the Times online "London Irish could follow Wasps and Worcester into financial meltdown - Gallagher Premiership club failed to pay their players and staff last month".

"London Irish are at risk of following Worcester Warriors and Wasps into financial meltdown after players and staff failed to receive their April salaries.

The American consortium involved in takeover talks with the Gallagher Premiership club informed all employees in a meeting on Friday that their money would not be paid on time.

A follow-up email was sent on Sunday with assurances that confirmation of payment would be received by Monday evening in the UK, once the banks in the United States had opened for business. But it was an empty promise. By the close of business on Tuesday, players and staff had still not been paid, raising an all-too-familiar red flag.

London Irish, who have £30 million of debt, are the third Premiership club this season to find themselves in this situation. Worcester and Wasps both went bust before Christmas and dropped out of the Premiership."

It's a lengthy article and behind a paywall so I won't link to it or copy & paste the whole thing. There's no mention of the possible AFC Wimbledon deal.

Re: London Irish in Initial Plough Lane Talks : Wed May 03, 2023 9:50 am  

If the Times article is correct maybe London Irish should be looking for a groundshare at Trailfinders or Rosslyn Park! I assume Beoncos and AFC have a contractual agreement. One assumes there would be break clauses that either party could exercise but it doesn't look like LI would be a brilliant tenant for AFC if they are more or less bust. I suppose Broncos might exercise a break clause, but they would have to find another ground and it sounds like bridges were burnt with Trailfinders?

Re: London Irish in Initial Plough Lane Talks : Wed May 03, 2023 12:52 pm  

Hockley Bronco wrote:

If the Times article is correct maybe London Irish should be looking for a groundshare at Trailfinders or Rosslyn Park! I assume Beoncos and AFC have a contractual agreement. One assumes there would be break clauses that either party could exercise but it doesn't look like LI would be a brilliant tenant for AFC if they are more or less bust. I suppose Broncos might exercise a break clause, but they would have to find another ground and it sounds like bridges were burnt with Trailfinders?

There is a break clause after two years. This is Broncos second year.

Re: London Irish in Initial Plough Lane Talks : Wed May 03, 2023 1:48 pm  

A usually reliable birdie up north thinks there is something in the story Broncos are looking into leaving Plough Lane.