London Skolars

[The Daddy]

Read on another thread that London Skolars are in trouble. What's happening?

What happened to the takeover that was going through RFL approval?

[Gomersall]

That same question was covered on the thread you mentioned.  

[The Daddy]

55 minutes ago, Gomersall said:

That same question was covered on the thread you mentioned.  

OK I didn't see it 

[Gomersall]

15 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

OK I didn't see it 

[Yorks Tim]

This is awful news for League 1. Best wiishes for everyone at the club though and I hope they keep going in one form or another.

[fighting irish]

Heartbreak. 

[Cb2]

7 minutes ago, Yorks Tim said:

This is awful news for League 1. Best wiishes for everyone at the club though and I hope they keep going in one form or another.

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.

[GeordieSaint]

[Dave W]

I feel desperately sorry for Skolars and their fans - anyone who's ever been to one of their Friday Night Lights games on Challenge Cup weekend will know that there's a small hardcore of people down there who love the game and try to put on an event with limited means - a barbecue, a mini beer festival, a bit of music etc. Great fun.

The lack of adequate funding for clubs below SL is starting to have an effect. L1 is becoming unsustainable.

Is this the unwritten plan? Slow death by starvation?

 

[newbe]

Sorry for Skolars, but the next thing is what will happen to the league, as it stands 9 teams that is not competitive. Will they have to play each other 3 times which would be a farce.

[Damien]

This is terrible news and another huge setback for the sport in London.

[Roughyed Rats]

A real shame but sadly inevitable. The game can’t sustain a 9 team division and should look to a single division outside of SL.

[Jeff Stein]

As a season ticket holder who has watched the team since their very season as an amateur club I am absolutely gutted by this 

[ivans82]

It seems the RFL plan to starve  Clubs outside of Super League into submission is beginning to bite .

[Spidey]

My first trip to London Skolars was Crosfields’ first game in the NCL. Had a few visits there afterwards plus one watching Widnes in a cup game. It’s a sad ending, although not surprising in the end. I hope they consider the NCL again if they get enough funding for the travel 

[OriginalMrC]

South Wales, West Wales, Coventry, Oxford, Hemel, All Golds, Skolars all gone from league 1. What an absolute disaster this is. 

Feel sorry for Skolars fans. I hope like Hemel, All Golds and Coventry the club can continue as a community club. 

Many at the top of the sport won't be worried though. This is all part of managed decline to cut away what they consider deadwood. 

[sam4731]

Do the Broncos need to be worried? How much of their pathway came through the Skolars?

[gingerjon]

Awful news. Hard to see any meaningful future for the game at a national level at the minute.

[Toby Chopra]

Just now, sam4731 said:

Do the Broncos need to be worried? How much of their pathway came through the Skolars?

Depends if they fold completely or successfully transition back to amateur like Hemel have done and are now doing well, according to those in the know. 

It's obviously sad news, but a collection of strong southern community clubs may actually be better for the game down here than weak L1 clubs traveling the length of the country each week to get battered. Not every club needs to be professional.

[gingerjon]

8 minutes ago, Toby Chopra said:

Depends if they fold completely or successfully transition back to amateur like Hemel have done and are now doing well, according to those in the know. 

It's obviously sad news, but a collection of strong southern community clubs may actually be better for the game down here than weak L1 clubs traveling the length of the country each week to get battered. Not every club needs to be professional.

And is this collection of strong southern community clubs in the room with you now?

[Tattersfieldtreiziste]

This is very sad. For their fans, players and those who have given money and time to keep the club going.

As a Cov Bears fan, there was always something special about games between the two sides.

Yet another name for the list of former/defunct RL sides.

I am a devout expansionist, but now believe that expansion without direction, strategy and funding from the top is unsustainable.

League 1 is shrinking alarmingly and looking very fragile now.

 

 

Edited September 15, 2023 by Tattersfieldtreiziste

[Eddie]

Gutted for them and their fans, though not at all surprised. I don’t think the RFL and certainly SL have any interest in the game outside the M62 corridor, or even that much within it. 

[gingerjon]

RFL confirm the withdrawal along with an intention to play in the Southern Conference next season.

[Toby Chopra]

13 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

And is this collection of strong southern community clubs in the room with you now?

Of course not. I'm just reflecting on what our Hemel RL poster said that actually that club has done well since transitioning back to amateur, and is contributing more to southern rugby league as a community club than it was as a struggling "pro" club shipping in players from up north. L1 isn't the be all and end all, especially outside the heartland, so hopefully this doesn't mean the end for Skolars, who've always struggled to compete in the professional ranks.

Edited September 15, 2023 by Toby Chopra

[Archie Gordon]

9 minutes ago, Toby Chopra said:

... but a collection of strong southern community clubs may actually be better for the game down here than weak L1 clubs traveling the length of the country each week to get battered. Not every club needs to be professional.

This is exactly the kind of discussion that needs facilitating. But I don't see that anyone who might coordinate such a thing is much bothered.