Harlequins link with London Broncos

[DIEHARD]

Harlequins 'to link up' with London Broncos

By Rob Wildman

A partnership between Harlequins and London Broncos is set to be announced next Tuesday, bringing the union and league formats together at the Stoop for the first time since 1999.

The deal, which could see Quins take a majority share in their league neighbours, seems one of necessity after both clubs have fallen on hard times in recent months.

Quins, having been relegated from the Zurich Premiership to National League One, need extra business to keep their rebuilt ground busy, while the Broncos are recovering from liquidation after amassing debts estimated at £3 million.

Broncos, who lie sixth in the engage Super League, last played at the Stoop six years ago when they reached the Challenge Cup final. They have since continued their journey around London and now play at Griffin Park, home of Brentford FC.

For Quins, the deal will enhance their positive outlook since relegation. Besides retaining most of their Premiership squad, they have appointed Dean Richards as director of rugby and persuaded Andrew Mehrtens to help give them a fresh sense of direction on the pitch at outside-half.

Mehrtens will be joined in England next season by his former All Blacks partner at half-back, Justin Marshall. The scrum-half is due to join his team-mates at Leeds next week for a pre-season match against Edinburgh, at Headingley, on Aug 13.

UK Daily Telegraph

 

[bartman]

Cheers Diehard.

I hope this move is a positive one for the Broncos, after being debt-ridden earlier this year they need to be doing things to make their future look brighter than how things have been...

 

[bartman]

Also, they've changed chairman and owner...

Broncos welcome new owner to London
Thursday 21 July, 2005

London Broncos have today welcomed a sizeable investment and new club chairman.

Ian Lenagan, Chairman of the popular Sports Café chain, has replaced David Hughes as Broncos' Chairman and the pair have entered an exciting new partnership as joint owners of the club.

Broncos CEO, Nic Cartwright commented: “This is simply fantastic news for the club."

"For David to attract a man of Ian’s pedigree, enthusiasm and standing, says much about our club and about our former chairman."

This will allow us to take even further steps forward as a club.”

Coach Tony Rea said: "This is great news for our club."

"We are very fortunate to have such great leadership at the top and a tremendous amount of energy right throughout the club."

Hughes, who took ownership of the club in 2001, is delighted to have Ian on board:

“We welcome Ian to the club and I am very excited about working with him to take the club to the next level."

We get on well and I think our attributes are very well balanced..”

Ian Lenagan is a lifelong league fan whose business interests outside of the Sports Cafe include a computer company in Milton Keynes. The Broncos new Chairman commented:

“The time is right for me to get highly involved in rugby league. I can see a big future for both the Broncos and for the game here in London."

I know that a lot of hard work lies ahead. I also know that the Broncos have a great team and group of players, a hard working and talented set of off pitch staff, and some of the best fans in the country."

This is a club that has a great feel about it, one that it will be an honour to lead.”

 

[Sun_Down]

How are they linking? This was reported about 6 months aborigine, but I failed to understand what the deal was?

 

[bartman]

Hasn't been fully announced, expected on Tuesday. But since the above article Bronocs have come out and denied that it is a "Harelequins takeover" but made no further comment.

Harlequins were relagted so will be doing it tougher financially than they are used to, and London Broncos have had plenty of problems with debt, so from a business perspective it might have something to do with cost sharing on admin staff or something?

 

[Sun_Down]

Ah ok. Cheers