[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/article/rfl-chairman-to-become-chief-executive-at-wimbledon/24809[/url

Game set and match

Can he take Stuart Cumings with him please?

It's a pity he won't be taking Jabba with him...

Well, now we'll see whether the flatcappers have it right and it's Lewis/the RFL that have been holding the game back all this time rather than the self interest of club chairmen...

That's a great pity. Under Richard Lewis, the clubs that have been prepared to be progressive, and the sport, have made significant process in what should have been difficult times in the wider world for RL.

Was he involved in giving franchises to three clubs that have, or are just about to, go into administration? Have they/he provided any lead to supporters giving donations and where the money might go if the Bulls do fold?

Hopefully we might get someone in who understands a bit about RL, it's history and it's supporters (rather than Lewis) and realises that we aren't American Football and that the franchise system was a complete disaster that has seen f (with Wakefield failing to meet the terms, but staying in, while others like Halifax meet the terms, but stay out at the expense of others), clubs going bankrupt, or as good as. It has made the Superleague a laughing stock which has driven a gigantic wedge between SL and the national league.



However I will not keep my fingers crossed...

You would have to ask the Bulls what they're doing with donations (and sponsorship and ticket money for that matter)

I'd imagine that if they do go into administration that their creditors would take the donations, much as they will if they don't go into administration.

Conversely, I'd rather we kept Richard Lewis (even his initials are right for the sport) and change a whole load of our supporters.

SL clubs voted for a 14 team competition. There were - IIRC - 16 bids submitted. Crusaders withdrew, and the Halifax bid apparently contained some forecasts that they couldn't provide any evidence to back up.



Each bid was independently assessed by KPMG, who provided advice to the RFL throughout the bidding process.



Given there were only 14 bids that stood up to even the weakest scrutiny, and 14 places available to successful bidders, how exactly is it the RFL or Richard Lewis's fault that subsequently some of those bidders went belly up?



Sometimes, a sport gets the sort of administrators its supporters deserve. In Richard Lewis, rugby league at least temporarily managed to buck that trend. I look forward to seeing a return to self interested club chairmen at the helm of the game, like the glory days of the 70s and 80s.

The RFL is now very solvent. Was it Solvent when Lewis took over?



Be careful what you wish for people.