Bears hopes are over and bombers withdraw
IT’S official — North Sydney’s brave battle to return to the big league is dead.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the Bears have been placed in NRL hibernation after a North Sydney consortium failed in its attempt to win the Gold Coast licence.
The Bears launched an ambitious $7 million bid to buy the Titans in March and formalised their plans last month when they were one of four consortia to submit a business proposal to the NRL.
Under the plan, North Sydney would return to the top flight as the Gold Coast Bears, with the club to play two or three home matches at North Sydney Oval.
But NRL hierarchy has put a red line through North Sydney’s proposal, ensuring Gold Coast fans will not see Titans games taken interstate.
The battle for the Titans licence is now a two-horse race between the Rebecca Frizelle-Darryl Kelly consortium and a secret Gold Coast-based businessman.
The Brisbane Bombers withdrew their $10m bid last week amid concerns over the long-term viability of a Titans club that is forecast to post another deficit next season.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...d/news-story/0533eac561f5d7cf694813d415ff1cec