Are Ealing a sustainable club?

Richard Lowther wrote: No 7 wrote: 1871......2022 You have to be careful that these two dates don't become fixed. Mr Gooley is 86. He's been very generous but what are the long term plans, will his family keep contributing to the same level or will they reduce their investment or withdraw it totally? Would would these scenarios mean to Ealing? At best a return to amateur rugby?

Just to clear up the COVID grants it would have been mostly furloughing of players and staff, all clubs will have benefitted from this.

Well said ape.

1871 to 2022 and Ealing are in the most robust condition in their long history. I fully understand that without Mike Gooleys incredible commitment and financial backing Ealing would fall down the leagues. I have been told that Ealing Trailfinders have been assured of long term continuity. I am not privy to the detail but believe this to be true.

Adding to my previous post…

Building the sustainability and resilience of clubs and the wider game of Rugby is difficult. The past few years have been torture for most of us whether it is from Brexit, Covid or the effects of the energy crisis. For businesses if one thing didn’t hit badly another likely would have.

But with the game of Rugby we have been in crisis for 20+ years. There are structural issues the game that that have emerged and festered and to my mind have blighted the community side of the game creating a mismatch across rugby clubs at local and regional level and leaving a lot living on the edge. The RFU has tinkered with this, but with little or no real commitment that actually involved a real ‘needs analysis’.

Understanding the real resources in the game and how they are interconnected and dependent has ever really contributed to the structure of the game that would identify where the greatest return on investment could be achieved. What has been discussed to death and beyond is Premier Rugby.

The current arrangements are not working and haven’t ever. The P share scheme is completely artificial and recently during the Worc and Wasps fiasco it was revealed that these are valued at tens of millions, I nearly snorted coffee down my nose laughing. These ludicrous share values are propping up the balance sheets of clubs that can’t make ends meet! It beggars belief that it has been allowed to go on by the RFU and frankly, suggests the auditors want tickets to the internationals as there is absolutely NO EVIDENCE of this valuation. The scheme is protectionist and discriminatory in what is supposed to be a Rugby UNION. To add insult to injury clubs earning the right to play at the top tier can’t get them without bunging huge sums of money to leeches to buy-in. This is not fair or equitable and adds NO Value to the game.

A far simpler solution would have been actually develop a strategic plan for the top tiers of Rugby that distributed money based on. 3-5 year commitment to allow clubs to plan that was updated every couple of years based on performance and needs of the game with proper audit on an agreed base of indicators.   Does this sound familiar? It should. It is STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING. The RFU and PRA would argue that they do this, but do they… really? I say no. The objection that we can’t afford this is bogus by the way. A little time spent looking at report and accounts tells me that over a transitional period of say 5 years over £100 million could be raised and sustained.

The perspective taken by the RFU IS ALWAYS TOO NARROW and lacks recognition of the obligations and vision needed to needed to lead the game. The job of ultimate governance actually falls to the RFU Council and this group has never used its authority to properly demand better performance from the management board. Their various games of smoke and mirrors, sprinkled with fairy dust, has led to the games decline.

There are a few clubs that have navigated this path better than others. They are distinguished, by the quality of their internal management and the long term relationships with sponsors, staff, players, members and fans. Respect and trust is earn’t. As Ealing crept up from the London leagues to the current position we saw a lot of great clubs, some were in a bad way others managing and a few showing how Rugby could be sustainable and a real part of a community with our game at its heart.

For me the big question is who should own the game? Is it VC investors or the members of clubs across the country.

IF we can’t tell the difference between a sponsor and an investor we’re all in big trouble.

I am SOOO tired of the BS that comes out of HQ … I have seen more sense, structure and commitment in an Under 7’s team. They earned their hot dog or a slice of pizza, but the senior management of the RFU… well I can’t decide if I should despise or pity the fools.



Edited by dumbape - 17 Dec 2022 at 14:00

Dumbape,  Excellent analysis & humour are a great combination. Thank you.

No 7 wrote: At the risk of repeating myself Ealing Trailfinders Pro side are in a unique situation . They are solely owned by one individual and his company. He owns the ground unencumbered. He now owns dozens of high value houses that are occupied by squad members that surround the ground many with back gates that lead on to the 18 acre site. The commercial elements and Pavilions are a successful business in their own right. The four million pound indoor facility is fully booked and in use night and day. The nursery is fully subscribed.   Mike Gooley created Trailfinders travel agency and during COVID he was able to fully refund every deposit and holiday. He had created  'war chest ' for the purpose of being able to refund. Many many other travel companies collapsed. I refer to this only because his company TRAILFINDERS Is named on his branded rugby club which is part of his legacy. When Ealing Trailfinders make the Premiership I will be one of the first in line to congratulate him and shake his hand on an incredible achievement.

You need to look and disect your own Bedford Blues accounts. Take a look at your directors and how many Ltd companies and failed business ventures they have been involved . It does not read well.

No 7 wrote: You need to look and disect your own Bedford Blues accounts. Take a look at your directors and how many Ltd companies and failed business ventures they have been involved . It does not read well.

No 7 wrote: You need to look and disect your own Bedford Blues accounts. Take a look at your directors and how many Ltd companies and failed business ventures they have been involved . It does not read well.