Nigel Wray: Saracens owner retires as club chairman

[jamestaylor002]

Really interesting stuff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50972053

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Mmmmm

Does that mean no more toxic under the counter deals? I have my doubts.

[jamestaylor002]

My thoughts exactly. I also have my doubts his involvement ends.

EDIT: Now more information has been shared on that BBC link, Wray's statement does say that the Wray family will continue to provide financial support.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

So he still owns it, he's just given the title to someone else?

[wasps]

It feels like smoke and mirrors to me.


If he's no longer involved with the club and isn't chairman, then his co-investments have nothing to do with the rugby club so are nothing to do with the salary cap.


He's now even more free to pay players whatever he wants without it affecting the club salary cap

[jamestaylor002]

So he still owns it, he's just given the title to someone else?

Yes it still looks that way

[Raggs]

It feels like smoke and mirrors to me.


If he's no longer involved with the club and isn't chairman, then his co-investments have nothing to do with the rugby club so are nothing to do with the salary cap.


He's now even more free to pay players whatever he wants without it affecting the club salary cap

Yes and no, they'd still be viewed as benefits in kind. If he was to do it smartly, he'd keep doing it for sarries players, and do it for a few players from other teams as well.

[Neils]

Absolutely no change. If PRL buys this then they are as corrupt. Strange that this is ahead of the supposed big January Owners meeting.

[DGP Wasp]

So he's not put his stake up for sale, just stood down from his executive position?  Strikes me as a symbolic gesture designed to appease critics, but doesn't appear to change anything.

[Neils]

So he's not put his stake up for sale, just stood down from his executive position?  Strikes me as a symbolic gesture designed to appease critics, but doesn't appear to change anything.

Totally

[Raggs]

If he's the one who's signed the salary cap agreement he'd have been removed anyway. Jumping before he's pushed.

[westwaleswasp]

"without benefactors like him, the professional game would not exist".

And with 3 benefactors exactly like him it won't exist either. That is all it would take to bankrupt the game. Good riddance, but this still smells fishy.

[BG]

As others have said, in effect nothing has changed apart relinquishing the title of chairman.. if anything, he's now possibly in a better position to pass extra payments to players. He's still the owner and has said he will continue to offer financial support.

If Sarries think its is going to appease the other 12 clubs then I suspect they'll be mistaken.


Things will only change when he sells his shares but who is going to be able  pay what he is possibly now owed (£40m possibly) having bought Remgro out.

[AKWasp]

There’s a hint of jumping before being pushed imo, but in reality nothing has changed and PRL would be stupid to not consider him still part of the club. Believe the salary cap includes interested parties and their payments and Wray would still fit under that umbrella so don’t think this’ll change anything in terms of finding ways to break the cap.

[mike909]

In the world of politics and politics discussions - this would be classified as a "dead cat" announcement

It looks designed to distract from the issue at hand - and also there is an element of "jump before pushed"

But it does nothing in reality. Until Prem Rugby actually "come clean" and we can see there is at least a reasonably level playing field, I will continue to feel that hard work has been devalued, as have recent Prem titles