Ultimatum: Clubs threaten walkout unless tough questions answered
Nine Gold Coast rugby league clubs have declared they will walk away from the 2020 season unless their demands are met by the end of this week.
NRL
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Nine Gold Coast rugby league clubs have threatened to walk away from the 2020 season unless their demands for information are met by the end of this week.
The explosive ultimatum was delivered to Rugby League Gold Coast head office on Sunday after a week of radio silence following the board’s declaration that ‘rugby league was back’ on the Coast.
A lack of clarity regarding dates, numbers, finances and general transparency of information were key factors cited in the letter.
Club presidents from A Grade clubs Runaway Bay seniors, Ormeau, Mudgeeraba and Currumbin were cosignatories alongside the presidents of Burleigh juniors, Coomera, Helensvale, Nerang and Robina.
THE RUGBY LEAGUE GOLD COAST SAGA PT 1
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2. In or out? Coast footy clubs decide 2020 season
3. Ormeau walks away: ‘They’re not talking the truth’
4. The heartbroken faces behind Coast footy closure
5. Battle lines drawn: ‘We can’t hide under blankets’
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“The purpose of this is to clearly inform the league all of the attached clubs are not prepared to continue with season 2020 in its current format…” the letter said.
“There has been no information to confirm any relaxation of numbers, the signing in and out and many other aspects of the return to play guide sent to clubs from the QRL that are untenable, as a result all of the attached clubs are unable to continue for season 2020.
“There are a variety of reasons for all clubs but the major factors are lack of clarity of season length, finals/no finals, actual start date of each competition, finish date of each competition, financial implications and concerns as well as clubs not being able to inform their members of all this information to enable them to make informed decisions.
“Actual confirmed information to address all of the concerns has not been forthcoming and therefore continues to impact on the ability to run a season in 2020 on the Gold Coast.
“Unless every issue can be clarified and resolved by this week at the latest it is too late to be able to confirm/decline any participation…
THE RUGBY LEAGUE GOLD COAST SAGA PT 2
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9. What RLGC decision means for your club
10. ‘Stand together or die apart’: Club’s warning for outcasts
11. Seagulls summon players for emergency meeting
12. Incredible backflip forces more change for Coast footy
13. The crazy plan that could save Coast clubs
14. First league stars jump ship for rugby union
“Take this as each clubs [sic] confirmation that they will not participate in this season.”
Rugby League Gold Coast chairman Peter Daley said he could understand their frustrations and expressed his optimism that questions raised could be answered by letter’s deadline.
“We’re trying to answer all of these questions and I’m very confident we’ll have them all ticked off by Friday,” he said.
“What we can’t control is numbers at venues – from day one we’ve said we’re in the hands of the health department, so we’re relying on the State Government to give us a lift.
“We’ve been told a Government decision (on venue numbers) will be out this week and we’ll have a hook-up with clubs next week to put the last final bit on the table.
“It won’t be another vote, we’ll answer their questions and see if they are in or out.”
Planning around the movement of players to active clubs has already commenced, Daley said, with special rules to ensure players will be permitted to transfer back to their 2020 clubs without penalty.
Financial support from QRL and ARL is also expected to be confirmed this week, which will determine the extent to which RLGC can support clubs financially.
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