Neil Back Leaves Rugby Lions

This was a story in the Rugby Paper yesterday.

It would seem that the money promised by the business man behind the 5 year plan to get Rugby Lions into the AP with a 30k capacity, custom built stadium never materialised. Back and Andy Key recruited a squad of championship players (on championship wages) that won every match this season in securing promotion to National League 2 South. However rumours are that the wages have not been paid since October by the club, with Backy paying players from his own pocket (surely not the full whack).

Details of the 5 year plan:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/9537174.stm


I have no online verification of this but will link to it if and when I can.

Sorry state of affairs if this comes to fruition and smacks of wendyball financial mismanagement.

He was a fool for buying into this scam anyway.

Where next for Mr Back?

Any club reliant on funding from a single person is always at risk no matter the heritage (or wealth of the backer) - as Richmond found out.

Thankfully we have no clubs in the Premiership reliant on a single, wealthy benefactor do we?

The difference being Mr Craig has already stumped up the cash and is in it for the long haul because he is a fan.

Completely different situation, only a fool would think differently!

This guy stumped up the cash initially Hersh. Backie, Key and Mr England Sevens Ben Gollings didn't join for free they would have received some sort of payment.

It's a shame really as Rugby Lions seemed to be building something good in the ancestral home of rugby union.

HERSH wrote:The difference being Mr Craig has already stumped up the cash and is in it for the long haul because he is a fan.

Completely different situation, only a fool would think differently!

Agreed a different situation. Though no club is safe when it is making huge losses every year and is reliant on the whims of one man to keep it funded.

HERSH wrote:The difference being Mr Craig has already stumped up the cash and is in it for the long haul because he is a fan.

Completely different situation, only a fool would think differently!

Is he clinically insane? A fan of , lock him up!!

HKC,

If you get him sectioned and a saner person given power of attorney?

LondonTiger wrote:HKC,

If you get him sectioned and a saner person given power of attorney?

Most would be saner, Screaming Lord Sutch perhaps... But perhaps it would be better to keep the status quo.

On a serious note, has it actually been confirmed that Back et al have left?

There's a lot of chat on
http://www.rolling-maul.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8155&PN=3&title=rugby-lions

There is even the suggestion that Back is returning to Leeds (God forbid). Back has gained no experience since leaving and I can see no reason to suppose that he will be any better a 2nd time around.