Statement from Carl Hall : Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:23 pm  

To possible quell some peoples thoughts, Carl has asked me to forward this onto the forum as Carl is not a member, and if anyone wants to know about the club or have some questions they would like to ask then please contact the club.

Carl Hall`s statement:

I can understand every body’s frustration with regards to the club at the moment but just want to clear up a few issues and put a few people right.

I have absolutely no control over the financial side on the running the business, that is left to the owners of the club, I am given a budget by the board at the start of the season that is within their business plan and can assure everyone that this is not the reason for the financial troubles that have been well documented of late.

My remit is to deal with all the contracts (players and coaching staff) the RFL, and all the first teams’ requirements, to try and attract players to want to come and play for Doncaster Rugby League and I feel over the last two years we have done pretty well on that front before all hell broke loose.

Last year we had a Commercial and Marketing Manager who was paid a very good salary before he departed the club. The club decided not too replace him and it was then left to myself and the rest of the team to try and work it between us, on top of everything else Craig Harrison was trying to do and let me tell you that man tried bloody everything.

Over the last 18 months I have brought in a substantial amount of revenue to Doncaster Rugby League Club which was outside of my job description.

The reasons for doing this is I feel I owe Doncaster everything as I am not one of those people to forget where it all started for me everything I own and all the memories I have over my career Doncaster played a massive part of as this was the club who gave me an opportunity to become a professional rugby player.

We met with the RFL just before all the financial problems started and I openly said to them if they can bring someone in to replace me I would rather them do that before they cut all the players wages, as at the end of the day it is a rugby club and we needed a team before anything else, they didn’t think that they would be able to do that, there are no egos with me it is all about what is best for “THE DON’S” and if there is anyone out there who thinks they could do it and it keeps this fantastic club afloat come and have a go.

I do sometimes think why I bother when it would be so much easier to be just like everybody else to just come and pay my money on the gate and be a fan with no hassle, but like I said it must be in the blood to help our club.

All the Best
Carl Hall.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:49 pm  

Well if you have worked within the budget given, then nobody can blame you.
And I don't think anyone has a bad word to say about you.
It does look however like that budget was too high.
So someone can't do simple arithmetic.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:08 pm  

Stand-Offish wrote:

Well if you have worked within the budget given, then nobody can blame you.
And I don't think anyone has a bad word to say about you.

It does look however like that budget was too high.

So someone can't do simple arithmetic.

Agree S/O purse strings should have been more closely monitored and books balanced on the guarantee from the RFL money and not the possibility of sponsors and people through the gate, that should have been the bonus bit to add to the RFL money.

[Wanderer]

Re: Statement from Carl Hall : Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:07 pm  

rugbyman wrote:

To possible quell some peoples thoughts, Carl has asked me to forward this onto the forum as Carl is not a member, and if anyone wants to know about the club or have some questions they would like to ask then please contact the club.

Carl Hall`s statement:

I can understand every body’s frustration with regards to the club at the moment but just want to clear up a few issues and put a few people right.

I have absolutely no control over the financial side on the running the business, that is left to the owners of the club, I am given a budget by the board at the start of the season that is within their business plan and can assure everyone that this is not the reason for the financial troubles that have been well documented of late.

My remit is to deal with all the contracts (players and coaching staff) the RFL, and all the first teams’ requirements, to try and attract players to want to come and play for Doncaster Rugby League and I feel over the last two years we have done pretty well on that front before all hell broke loose.

Last year we had a Commercial and Marketing Manager who was paid a very good salary before he departed the club. The club decided not too replace him and it was then left to myself and the rest of the team to try and work it between us, on top of everything else Craig Harrison was trying to do and let me tell you that man tried bloody everything.

Over the last 18 months I have brought in a substantial amount of revenue to Doncaster Rugby League Club which was outside of my job description.

The reasons for doing this is I feel I owe Doncaster everything as I am not one of those people to forget where it all started for me everything I own and all the memories I have over my career Doncaster played a massive part of as this was the club who gave me an opportunity to become a professional rugby player.

We met with the RFL just before all the financial problems started and I openly said to them if they can bring someone in to replace me I would rather them do that before they cut all the players wages, as at the end of the day it is a rugby club and we needed a team before anything else, they didn’t think that they would be able to do that, there are no egos with me it is all about what is best for “THE DON’S” and if there is anyone out there who thinks they could do it and it keeps this fantastic club afloat come and have a go.

I do sometimes think why I bother when it would be so much easier to be just like everybody else to just come and pay my money on the gate and be a fan with no hassle, but like I said it must be in the blood to help our club.

All the Best
Carl Hall.

Carl said all of the above to me last night when he had the courtesy to let me know that Shaun Leaf was ok (so it would go on the messageboard).

I agree, if Carl has worked within the budget given to him, it's somewhat harsh if people believe that he is behind the financial issues at the Club.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:22 pm  

Was the the main problem that quite a few players were on 2 year deals from last season ?

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:43 pm  

there were quite a few players on two contracts Paul.

[Wanderer]

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:43 pm  

weighman wrote:

Was the the main problem that quite a few players were on 2 year deals from last season ?

That and the Inland Revenue.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:32 pm  

Poor show if anyone is harbouring thoughts that Carl Hall is to blame for the clubs predicament. There may be lots of differents factors in the clubs demise (once again) but the man gets my full backing(for what its worth). He has done his best and I'm sure will continue to do so.

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:00 pm  

not having a pop at carl but he says he still here for the love of the dons so its not his salary then? did he take a pay cut like players did? i hope so!

players contracts and inland revenue should all have been budgetted for! i know its all been said before but seems hes trying to keep fans on side and blame every1 else!

: Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:41 pm  

rugbyman wrote:

Agree S/O purse strings should have been more closely monitored and books balanced on the guarantee from the RFL money and not the possibility of sponsors and people through the gate, that should have been the bonus bit to add to the RFL money.

What RFL money ?