Western Force’s Super future even more uncertain as Rebels boss refuses to sell license

MELBOURNE Rebels owner Andrew Cox told his players he would not be selling his license, putting Western Force’s Super Rugby future in even more peril.

IT was the conversation that has put another nail in the Western Force’s coffin.

Melbourne Rebels owner Andrew Cox told his players categorically at a meeting he would not be selling his license.

The simple equation here is that if Cox does not sell his license, the ARU cannot remove Melbourne from the Super Rugby competition, leaving the Force as the only alternative.

The Force has served a legal writ upon the ARU saying they in breach of an agreement signed last May between both parties that would see the club through to the end of the current broadcast deal in 2020.

Rebels owner Andrew Cox reassures players he won’t sell his license.

But Cox and the Rebels hit back in astonishing fashion late Friday when they released a lengthy statement slamming the national union over its handling of the affair and indicating they’ll seek financial compensation for damaging their brand by identifying them and the Force as the two clubs in the frame to get cut in a revamped 15-team competition from next year.

Cox purchased the license for the Rebels from the ARU in 2015 and it was a 20-year deal.

If he refuses to sell, at any price offered to him, the ARU is powerless to remove them.

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But he is a businessman and they all have their price.

It has been speculated recently Cox would have been willing to sell the license back for $5 million.

However, the financially stricken ARU cannot afford to buy it.

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This would leave the Force an option to raise the money themselves, buy the license and save their club.

According to insiders, the Force could potentially raise that money, but would then need another $6 million simply to operate their franchise in 2018.

But Cox’s conversation with Rebels players has turned that prospect on its head.

If he holds his word, there is no avenue the Force or ARU can take to axe the Rebels.

The ARU would be left to fight its legal battle against the Force, and argue that despite the original broadcast agreement guaranteeing the Perth club safety until the end of 2020, the revamped competition from 18 teams to 15 means it is inherently a new broadcast deal.

As a successful businessman, Cox is also aware the Rebels are at a low base.

Andrew cox with England cricket legend Ian Botham at AAMI Park.

The Force’s expected demise would strengthen Melbourne’s squad, and make them a more valuable proposition to sell at a later date.

Given lawyers are involved, this matter is not expected to resolved anytime soon.

But the Rebels’ strong statement and Force’s legal move pile more pressure on the embattled ARU board and chief executive Bill Pulver, whose contract expires in February.

Perhaps the most damaging element of Melbourne’s statement on Friday was the indication they were misled by the ARU when purchasing the license.

It was the year Super Rugby was expanded to 18 teams, and the Rebels believe if the ARU thought five Australian teams was unsustainable they should never have offered to sell the license of a franchise to a private owner.