Doncaster Lakers' hopes of applying for a Super League franchise are in tatters after their chairman and owner, John Wright, revealed he is struggling to keep the club in business. Wright will host a public meeting tonight to outline the depth of the club's financial collapse.
Wright rescued Doncaster from liquidation in 2001 and had overseen a steady growth of the club. He had hoped that moving to the new £32m Keepmoat Stadium, also used by Doncaster Rovers FC, would provide the springboard for progress into the Super League via the franchise system due to be implemented in 2009, and funded the introduction of a full-time squad and extensive off-field staff this season.
But the team have struggled badly, and the coaches Keiran Dempsey and Phil Windley were suspended only months after being appointed. The Lakers had already been forced to pay about £17,000 in compensation to their former employees Tony Miller and Paul McNicholas after being taken to tribunals, and in a statement Wright admitted the club "has been badly managed".
"My major ambition was to see the Lakers playing in a great new stadium and I have achieved that, but I have to admit that the scenario since has become a nightmare for me personally," Wright said. "All in all the venture has become a financial disaster which I can no longer support financially myself."
Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers are still awaiting a tribunal date from the Rugby Football League over the cross-city switch of Paul Cooke. Both clubs are now refusing to comment until legal formalities are completed.
Wigan, who have frequently been criticised for allowing young English players to leave the club in recent years, have agreed contracts with three of their brightest talents. Eamon O'Carroll, Darrell Goulding and Martin McIlorum have signed deals that will tie them to the Warriors until 2008.