Consortium’s plan for new era at Hornets
ROCHDALE Hornets this week confirmed an approach has been made to potentially take the club forward into a new era.
A consortium led by Andy Mazey and including Tony Sheridan, Richard Heyes, Peter Smith and current Hornets president Paul Ormerod has held extensive talks with the club’s current board and chief executive Steve Kerr over a formal proposal.
The plan would see Rochdale Hornets move from a supporter-owned organisation to a privately-owned club, but be implemented only with the backing and future involvement of the club’s fans. As a result the club have notified members of a series of engagement explore alternative ownership The club needs the consortium’s investment vision set out by Andy sessions starting this week and funding models investment, resource and will run across all Mazey is a sustainable which may continue over that would more effectively a strategic vision to build areas of the club – including one, which will require several weeks. secure the long-term value in the product, the non-playing activities everyone’s buy-in. There
The consortium – four future of Rochdale Hornets team and the sport in the and infrastructure. All will be no magic wand, of which were directors at - that opportunity is town. investment from the consortium only a promise to do Swinton Lions until earlier now. “The co-operative will be used for things right, grow our this year – have made “Conversations with the model has served us well, strengthening the club – community profile and it clear from the outset consortium have been but it’s unsustainable. not servicing its debts. develop all areas of the that there are no plans to taking place for a couple Given the size of our “The board has a business. move Rochdale Hornets of weeks, and includes membership we have responsibility to do what it “This is an exciting to Manchester, and agreements plans to invest in the first reached the extreme of feels best secures the opportunity for Rochdale are in place to formally two years, and restructure our limitations, and we club’s long-term viability Hornets, and I encourage safeguard the name the club to take it forward are currently over-reliant and delivers future success. the membership to keep and location of the club. beyond what will be an on RFL distribution and It feels that the proposal an open mind and actively
The consortium believe uncertain time for the the generosity of benefactor received from the participate in the engagement there is significant potential whole sport at the end of loans to make us viable. consortium is exciting sessions planned for for a semi-professional the current TV deal in and has lots of potential to the coming weeks.” rugby league club in the 2021. Overall, they have “The consortium are grow Rochdale Hornets Members are encouraged town that can be harnessed presented a five-year plan committed to providing into a club that all members to contact the club successfully moving for development that will coach Matt Calland with a and fans can be via the info@hornetsrugbyleague.com forward. make the club sustainable budget to make us competitive proud of - in a way that should they
A statement from the over the long-term. in League One, can’t be achieved under wish to ask questions. The current directors of the “At present the club is with the longer-term the current ownership questions will be collated club read: “Last year losing money and struggling intention of becoming a model.” before replying to ensure members gave the board to raise sufficient viable, sustainable Championship Hornets chief executive all members have the at the time a mandate to revenue to meet its obligations. club. To do that, Steve Kerr added: “The opportunity to be heard.
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