unfortunately, it's often the victors that write history.
If Saracens ultimately get away with this, or at least get their way, then in a few years it'll be the "brave Saracens who fought the system to lead us to the new rugby world"
If, as some suspect, their actions result in the abolishment of the cap, and just a few rich clubs surviving, it could well be the dawn of a European Super League.
If that happens, you can bet your life that Nigel Wray will be paraded as the most influential man in NH rugby
I think that is what the writer was alluding to. There are two alternative end games here. Let us take a look.
Wray admits he is breaking the cap. We all know he is also channeling money in all manner of ways to players, current and past. I suspect the total is way more than any here would imagine. He will not change his attitude, but find better ways to hide what he is doing.
In turn, that leaves the other 12 clubs in tough position. Whatever they spend, he will always outspend them. They cannot effectively sanction him, as they need a unanimous vote to unseat him or change the rules. The full details will never become public, unless someone has access to the unredacted report. Even were that to be published, Wray would simply shrug it off.
So, we face a situation where Saracens can pretty much win anything they want to. The other clubs will lose revenue and players. They will lose paying/attending fans (me included). Much as the other 12 clubs are losing money now, they will lose a lot more, at an ever faster rate.
One by one, the owners will give up. Can they find buyers? I doubt it. Look at Worcester and Leicester. So, the clubs will go under. That is the consequence of inaction.
Or, and I don't know if it is even possible, the 12 clubs create a new league. Sod the RFU and PRL, and sod Saracens. Can they pull out. Would they? To me, it seems the only choice. Set a much lower cap, more akin to what the other home nations are spending, something affordable. Probably a half or a third of the current cap.
Otherwise, maybe 2 or 3 clubs, in addition to Saracens will be all that is left. To join some sort of super league. Saracens will have drained talent not just from English clubs, but from all the Home Nations. Maybe only one club will survive from each of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Throw in maybe 4 or 5 French clubs, and you have that League. The other clubs will have been bankrupted.
Money corrupts, and our beautiful game is dying from it.
Topic: Saracens – a gain too far? (Read 5580 times)
Always a Wasp