102 replies to this topic

[Wolford6]

I'm very sorry to see him go. He stopped Maurice Lindsay from running the show and was respected by all the clubs.

I'd like to see John Steele get the job. He's got a proven record of achievement and a grudge against the RFU.

Outside bets? Abi Ekoku or Simon Kelner

[hindle xiii]

Peter Hood. *thumbs up*

[Matt J]

Me.

[nadera78]

Richard Lewis was an absolute breath of fresh air for our sport, and I have nothing but praise for the man and the work he has done over the past ten years. In the extremely unlikely even that he happens to glance at this message board then I'd just like to say 'thank you very much'. And if he has some time on his hands and he wants to join the board at the Broncos then he'd be very welcome indeed.

Now for the successor....

[Northern Sol]

On the plus side, he did very well with the finances and especially getting money for development work from the likes of Sport England. On the negative side, he oversaw the Crusaders debacle.

Overall he did a good job and will be missed though I wonder how involved he has been this last couple of years.

[Bostik Bailey]

Would be better than Nigel Wood, Ralph Rimmer or Gary Hevverington).

Truth is, none of the UK team sports have a great reputation for being well run. I'd sound out the guys in charge of UK cycling, swimming or rowing as they have all fostered excellence during their time in charge.

The thing us with uk cycling they had a very big pool of latent talent lots of cyclist were very good but lacked to opportunity/correct training. This has been redressed and now they are a real professional set up. I don't think that this would work in any established sport, because lets face it gramh obese and Chris board man were the exceptions

[John Rhino]

We need to move forward in the right direction, but we also need to do it together. In my opinion, Nige is too divisive a figure and there may be better options elsewhere.

Lewis has done an excellent job for the game, and it's a pity he didn't stay "hands on" for a bit longer.

As for moving forward together it might help if all the club chairmen actually attended the meetings. What was it Hudgell said in his well publicised winge "when I attended my last meeting in Bradford". That was two years ago as Hetherington pointed out this week in LE.

Lewis's replacement has got a monumental task ahead of him and I wish him all the best.

[Phil]

He's done a good job, lets bring in a high achiever from outside the game and who hasn't got a northern accent.

[Just Browny]

who hasn't got a northern accent.

I never get this. Having a northern accent doesn't make you thick or any less capable.

[giwildgo]

Not a big fan of the RFL as an administration, but Lewis has done an excellent job within the constraints of the structure and left the game healthier than when he found it. Just a shame that since he went part time that some of the duffers and cronies below him have rose to prominence. Hopefully a fresh face will continue building from his foundations and bring some real reform to the old boys network.

[deluded pom?]

He's done a good job, lets bring in a high achiever from outside the game and who hasn't got a northern accent.

For Padge's sake I hope it's not a Yorkshireman.

[Matt J]

I never get this. Having a northern accent doesn't make you thick or any less capable.

I know sophisitaction, Ive been to Leeds.

[deluded pom?]

I know sophisitaction, Ive been to Leeds.

How much did you make last year? I bet I made more.

Edited by deluded pom?, 10 April 2012 - 06:19 PM.

[Methven Hornet]

I like the sound of Watkins too. A bit worrying all the same with the England and Wales World Cup a year away and both England and Wales RL looking for a new Chairman. Hope Lewis can retain his RLEF role.

####! The world cup is doomed!

[nec]

Truth is that he had made a difference at the start but increasingly had taken a back seat, and this was the right time for him to leave. The appointment is key though, better to have an interim for 5 months than risk the wrong person. We need someone with great media contacts, good commercial contacts, the ability to manage very difficult people and tricky situations. They do not grow on trees. The in tray is full and getting expansion right whilst protecting the existing clubs in small towns is one key issue. The bigger issue is the need to get the world cup right though! Do that and everything else becomes easier.

[Student Ram]

Some predictable responses on Facebook and here (less so on here - typically measured TRL response - this thread is probably as good as any to illustrate most TRL posters take on the game.)

In my eyes Lewis has done an incredible job. Things have gone downhill since he moved from Chief Exec to Chairman and left wood and rimmer who are failed club execs (IMO)to sort out the day to day running of the game. Lewis was a breath of fresh air in the early noughties in his approach to the game as an outsider and I fully support the direction he has taken the game in.

I agree with the others. I don't see anyone within the game good enough/with the same attitude to carry on his work and would really like to see someone of similar outlook and ability recruited from outside the sport.

[Student Ram]

NEC +1

[Lobbygobbler]

You forgot to add

7. The annual cycle of clubs going into administration, every single season
8. Less and less young players being promoted because clubs wont risk untested kids in a battle for promotion or to fight of relegation
9. Standards slipping even further behind the Aussies because of an over reliance on overseas players (despite the "tightening of the rules" they will always be circumvented)
10. Even less chance for most clubs to gain promotion as less and less money is invested into the game
11. Lower places sides slipping further behind the top sides because they cannot attract the best players on longer term contracts.
12. Lower placed sides losing their best players to top sides who have the luxury of offering longer term contracts.

etc etc.

Take a look at the game of 10-20 year ago, and tell me if you truly want a return to this.

Dont clubs go into administration any more?
Have we got rid of imports?
Is the game stable below SL - how many wealthy investors have entered the game before SL?

Who do u support Ant?

[Phil]

I never get this. Having a northern accent doesn't make you thick or any less capable.

Of course it doesn't, but we need to break out of the "northern" paradigm, we can't do that with someone who sounds like Fred Trueman.

[Jonty]

Roger Draper seems to be on his way out of the LTA, if the press is to be believed - how much this has to do with Richard Lewis coming in, I don't know. At least with Draper you get the best of both worlds - someone that is from a RL background (St Pats, GB students), but with CEO experience at Sport England and the LTA. Would RL be seen as a step down after the LTA though?

Simon Kelner was an interesting suggestion earlier on the thread.

Person preference is someone with high-level sports administration experience outside RL, and someone that the RFL engage a headhunter to get and pay top dollar to retain.

The best part iof this news is that he hasn't gone to the RFU.