Manchester Lions

[The Daddy3]

There's a possibility that Swinton Lions could rebrand and become Manchester Lions.

 

[roughyedspud]

Unless they move into man city's Etihad complex then I don't see the point.. ,the 7,500 capacity mini Etihad is a cracking little ground..

 

[adamkungl]

Unless they move into man city's Etihad complex then I don't see the point.. ,the 7,500 capacity mini Etihad is a cracking little ground..

Probably can't afford it, might be an aspiration though.
1 step at a time?

 

[Walter sobchak]

Probably can't afford it, might be an aspiration though.
1 step at a time?

Manchester Rangers played there even though they are are/where an amateur side.

 

[Walter sobchak]

Unless they move into man city's Etihad complex then I don't see the point.. ,the 7,500 capacity mini Etihad is a cracking little ground..

Exactly. Sale is a dead end for the lions.

 

[Walter sobchak]

There's a possibility that Swinton Lions could rebrand and become Manchester Lions.

Do we know if the backers behind the Manchester Rangers bid are involved with the “lions.”?

 

[deluded pom?]

Where’s the link to this claim?

 

[Walter sobchak]

Where’s the link to this claim?

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/9804...-league-club-but-swinton-likely-to-disappear/

 

[The Daddy3]

Exactly. Sale is a dead end for the lions.

It sounds like Swinton, cough sorry I mean Manchester are going to stay in Sale and target South Manchester as a fan base.

 

[The Daddy3]

Do we know if the backers behind the Manchester Rangers bid are involved with the “lions.”?

At this stage it doesn't appear to be the case.

 

[Walter sobchak]

At this stage it doesn't appear to be the case.

That’s a shame then.

 

[Walter sobchak]

It sounds like Swinton, cough sorry I mean Manchester are going to stay in Sale and target South Manchester as a fan base.

So it’s still the swinton lions playing in a dump of a stadium in greater Manchester but with a different name.

Sounds like a winner.

 

[Foreign Legion]

 

[adamkungl]

"Swinton Lions chairman Andy Mazey believes that playing at Heywood Road in Sale is slowly "killing the club" as they move towards the prospect of adding Manchester to their name."

source rugbyleaguehub.com (paywalled)

So it may well be that moving closer to town is the next step after the name change.

 

[yakstorm]

One obvious plus of the club changing its name from Swinton is that the club can stop trying to 'get home' now after departing their historical home ground and region back in 92'. Arguably, for a club that has been forced to play out of other parts of 'Manchester' the new name is more reflective of what they represent now.

Removing that constant desire to remove Swinton will hopefully free the club to draw a line in the sand and say whilst we know our history is from Swinton, but we see our future being bigger than that and move forward, whatever that looks like.

Naturally if all the club does is throw Manchester into its name, this won't do much to remove the rot and the club will continue to slide into insignificance and eventually die.... new fans won't sign up now that it is 'Manchester' versus 'Swinton', whilst I'm sure there will be some diehards who stay away from the club, at least for a season or two, out of protest from the change.

Anyway, if they play the part right, their logo, the name 'Manchester Lions', the colour scheme, having over 150+ years of history, actually are some great marketing assets which they could use to make an impact in the market. Hopefully they can find the right partners / people to fully leverage that, and turn it into a true 'Manchester' club.

 

[Walter sobchak]

"Swinton Lions chairman Andy Mazey believes that playing at Heywood Road in Sale is slowly "killing the club" as they move towards the prospect of adding Manchester to their name."

source rugbyleaguehub.com (paywalled)

So it may well be that moving closer to town is the next step after the name change.

I don’t see why a semi-professional club like the Manchester lions can’t play out of the etihad Campus when a amateur side like Manchester Rangers did it for so many years.

 

[Walter sobchak]

It’s official.https://www.totalrl.com/swinton-confirm-manchester-rebrand-application/

 

[yakstorm]

Official statement from the board:

https://swintonlionsrlfc.co.uk/news/board-statement-the-future/

 

[adamkungl]

Undoubtedly a good move and no surprise accompanied by the usual whinging from backwards people

A really strong statement from the board, a rare moment of forward thinking in Rugby League. The comparison to the Roosters is apt.
Hopefully fans old and new get on board with this after the initial emotion wears off

 

[Foreign Legion]

Swinton Lions have submitted plans with the RFL to rebrand as Manchester Lions for the 2020 season.

In a statement issued by the club, officials claim the club will keep its Swinton identity, but will change it’s playing trading name subject to approval.

The Lions have been considering the move for sometime, with Andy Mazey outlining the club’s viewpoint earlier this week.

The latest statement read: “As well as a moral responsibility to the long-standing heritage of the Club and its supporters. It is clear that with the highly probable central funding decreases post-2021, a stagnant home fan attendance, and a consistent failure to meet the RFL key funding objectives, that it is imperative that the Board act now to give the Lions not only the best chance of survival, but also to grow and be a force in the game.

“The Board firmly believe that there is a significant opportunity to broaden the appeal of Swinton by becoming THE rugby league club of Manchester. However, in doing so we have set out to respect the Swinton name, our colours and our heritage, whilst creating a future facing, financially viable and hungry rugby league club – a Manchester club that appeals to a broader fan base and one that we can all be proud of.”

It continued: “Indeed the Swinton Lions will very much live on via the following:-

• The Club’s legal entity will remain SWINTON LIONS RLFC LIMITED
• The RFL official registration remains unchanged under the title Swinton Lions
• Our financial instruments remain unchanged
• We will retain our colours and sensitively align our badge with our heritage
• We will still be THE LIONS
• We will retain our history
• We will retain the same players, staff and Directors

“The club therefore remains the same in all aspects, other than the adaptation of a new playing brand name, very much along the lines of the Eastern Suburbs RLFC example in Australia, who retain their original legal and historic identity, but play under the branded name Sydney Roosters”


https://www.totalrl.com/swinton-confirm-manchester-rebrand-application/