Skolars & Toronto investment Guardian Article

[IM2]

A great article! https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2019/jan/15/toronto-wolfpack-buying-rugby-league-club-london-skolars 

[Damien]

It's already being discussed here:

 

[Gerrumonside ref]

1 hour ago, IM2 said:

A great article! https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2019/jan/15/toronto-wolfpack-buying-rugby-league-club-london-skolars 

Sounds like the end of the Skolars identity in exchange for an ambitious stab at being a bigger club.

[TIWIT]

The game needs more ambitious clubs.

[EssexRL]

1 hour ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Sounds like the end of the Skolars identity in exchange for an ambitious stab at being a bigger club.

No. It's a recognition that the club needs an investment to grow on and off the pitch. Otherwise, we will continue to bounce around the bottom of L1. For all the good things going on with the club that's basically the identity.

It's worth reminding people that the TWP money is being matched by other investors. There is an additional 50% coming into the club. I think Hector addressed the identity issue in the interview.

[Gerrumonside ref]

1 minute ago, EssexRL said:

No. It's a recognition that the club needs an investment to grow on and off the pitch. Otherwise, we will continue to bounce around the bottom of L1. For all the good things going on with the club that's basically the identity.

It's worth reminding people that the TWP money is being matched by other investors. There is an additional 50% coming into the club. I think Hector addressed the identity issue in the interview.

I meant literally the name ‘Skolars’ itself would go.

[Damien]

11 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

I meant literally the name ‘Skolars’ itself would go.

I never thought the Skolars name would work once it outgrew being a club for ex students.

[Pigeon Lofter]

2 hours ago, IM2 said:

A great article! 

It really is!

Real expansion in the pipeline and many forward steps in the making.

How many other clubs can say the same?

[Gerrumonside ref]

2 minutes ago, Damien said:

I never thought the Skolars name would work once it outgrew being a club for ex students.

Let’s face it, it’s going to be a pretty easy choice for the Skolars to rebrand if there’s a chance of becoming a big player in U.K. RL via new investment.

[EssexRL]

51 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

I meant literally the name ‘Skolars’ itself would go.

Sorry -  I misunderstood. I personally won’t lament the loss of “Skolars”. Tottenham Storm anyone? 

[Gerrumonside ref]

6 minutes ago, EssexRL said:

Sorry -  I misunderstood. I personally won’t lament the loss of “Skolars”. Tottenham Storm anyone? 

No worries, I’m not hostile to any change as I think the game is crying out for more big investment.

If that means the ‘retirement’ of the Skolars name then so be it.

[IM2]

The skolars name will most likely stay with the junior teams and maybe an open age team. similar to what wasps saracens etc did 

[The Daddy]

33 minutes ago, EssexRL said:

Sorry -  I misunderstood. I personally won’t lament the loss of “Skolars”. Tottenham Storm anyone? 

God no!! They should at very minimum keep London in the name 

[EssexRL]

I don’t think there’s been any discussion, other than a recognition that Skolars doesn’t really work. I got the impression London is likely to remain in the title but there’s a desire to create a local identity. Not sure if that means Harringey or north London or east London. 

[rlno1]

Does changing names really make that much of a difference. I remember when Canterbury and Balmain became the Sydney Bulldogs and Tigers it did nothing and they changed back within a couple of years.

[rlno1]

Did all the name changes do much for London Broncos pre 2000?

[The 4 of Us]

9 hours ago, EssexRL said:

I don’t think there’s been any discussion, other than a recognition that Skolars doesn’t really work. I got the impression London is likely to remain in the title but there’s a desire to create a local identity. Not sure if that means Harringey or north London or east London. 

Whitehearts ?

[cookey]

Terrific article,yet still the inevitable negativity creeps in after a few postings.

[Manx RL]

2 hours ago, The 4 of Us said:

Whitehearts ?

Sabres 

[Henson Park Old Firm]

How about the Spitfighters

[Rupert Prince]

13 hours ago, EssexRL said:

Sorry -  I misunderstood. I personally won’t lament the loss of “Skolars”. Tottenham Storm anyone? 

"Thames Valley Jets" would be my offer.... which I give away for free in the interests of furthering the game.

[Rupert Prince]

26 minutes ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

How about the Spitfighters

Just "Spitfires". Would suit a Kent club, preferably a ladies team. 

[EssexRL]

49 minutes ago, Rupert Prince said:

Just "Spitfires". Would suit a Kent club, preferably a ladies team. 

Southampton RL are the Spitfires. We’ve already got Medway Dragons down in Kent. 

Hopefully the club will canvas  views on a new name as and when. 

[Kayakman]

1 minute ago, EssexRL said:

Southampton RL are the Spitfires. We’ve already got Medway Dragons down in Kent. 

Hopefully the club will canvas  views on a new name as and when. 

How about Brexiteers?

[Oliver Clothesoff]

Does a name actually mean much? Changing to Skolars to something more “traditional” with Rugby League team names, specifically an animal, probably isn’t going to get people attending. 

They could keep the Skolars name and just do the basics right, things like engaging the local community, marketing the game, investing in youth etc and that would have a bigger effect, IMO, than changing their name to the London Lynx or whatever.