Cb2

Grim but predictable. This is their shortest away game of the year as well. Imagine when it’s SW London, Colchester or Bristol.

& the money raised from the ‘Capital Challenge’….

They 100% did - they were warned though. The major USP’s they had were Semi pro league and paying players, ex SL player as coach etc With those all gone - why would players travel to Wood Green to play for Skolars when they have West’s, Hoists, Chargers et al geographically closer to them in the same league?!

There is a massive pool of athletes - you only have to look at the players produced through the system over the years. Unfortunately to sustain a pro club it requires serious money/benefactor - hence Skolars demise. Very sad for the game.

So similar to NFL model - where each conference plays their own group home and away and vs another 1/2 conferences (which change each year). Basically top two go into playoffs - or top two seeds get a bye and then next best 10 teams start the playoffs. It’s better than anything else I’ve seen suggested!!!

Yes and that is a reality of pro sport, however it is a fact that Broncos ripped a nucleus of players out of Skolars leading into 2022 - of which only two who were upto the standard (Macani & Grant) ended up staying between Coleman leaving and Eccles being appointed. 100% Agree on Skolars commercially being negligent over the last few years, poor management of the club.

I mean only Skolars are struggling financially to the point of withdrawing but yes I understand the logic. Would just seem sensible for a year to keep the ‘integrity’ of the comp at 10 teams. As I said I’m sure plenty would disagree with that though.

I would say that the answer is probably somewhere in the middle. Are Broncos solely at fault for Skolars demise? Absolutely not. Are they one set of multiple fingerprints that all over this - yes. (I disagree with the Head Coach argument - if you speak to Skolars directors they will tell you Coleman was going to be removed anyway - the players argument is fairly accurate). The RFL haven’t helped - Skolars were fined their entire operational funding last year albeit with half suspended for the no doctor Keighley game. As stated before when you add in the £7k overnight away trips - you’re in a deficit very quickly. Skolars have had some good seasons - circa 2012 in the current coaches first stint - making the play off semi final. I am obviously pro Skolars and many would disagree but the RFL should step in with additional funding for the good of the competition in 2024 - keep it as ten teams, give Skolars another year to find investment or a buyer. 2025 is anyone’s guess as to whether League 1 will even exist.

That’s a very good question. If it gets run as their London Premier side has over the last 6-7 years then it’s the end of the club.

Inevitable given lack of funding. 2024 fixtures away at Newcastle, Workington, Whitehaven and Cornwall would cost the club £7k per game (if they lose). So £28k for four away games - RFL funding for the season is £15k.

I hope they pull through but at this point I think it’s highly unlikely. Going to need significant investment or crowd funding and/or a new owner to appear in the next month.

‘Help’ may have been the wrong choice of wording. From the people I have spoken too, who would know, Cornwall had the RFL over a Barrel with regard to the League 1 license they took on which was due to be for Ontario or NY pre pandemic. I’ll let others surmise what that could mean.

Midlands already aren’t really Midlands - 75% of their training is in Wakefield. They train once a fortnight in Derby to continue the ‘Midlands’ theme. Cornwall, as far as I’m aware are financially ok - receive a fair bit of help from the RFL as they had them over a barrel re the Ontario/NY license. Skolars demise won’t be in two years - two weeks more likely - that is based on fact. The issue for all of the rest is that League 1 probably won’t exist after next season. Broncos at least are showing some signs of life!!

100% agree. Skolars play a vital role in bringing juniors through and are a natural destination for players that don’t quite make it at Broncos (so many examples here) & with the players like Lovell & Macani who have gone back - I remember Dave Williams doing so a number of years ago as well. Sadly, I think it might be too late - without significant new investment or club sale I think Skolars are gone from League 1.

I’d say this is becoming more and more likely from what I hear - re Skolars.