Phil Clarke resigns

[deluded pom?]

Phil Clarke has resigned as G.B. team manager after five years citing the lack of support from the RFL . the clubs and to a certain degree the G.B. supporters , in their committment to the international game . He believes G.B. are no nearer to matching the Australians than they were fifteen years ago .

 

[bartman]

He obviously wasn't a happy camper.

Here is the RFL's response to his comments:

On Thursday the RFL strongly disagreed with the criticisms made by the ex-GB manager Phil Clarke over its development of the Great Britain team.

“We are extremely disappointed by suggestion that the RFL has not provided leadership for the international game, an accusation that is self-evidently wrong” said RFL Director of Corporate Communications, Simon Malcolm.

“All members of the GB coaching and management team and the RFL were party to the decisions made over the last five years to meet international objectives and in complete agreement about the direction the sport should take.”

Earlier this month, the Great Britain coaching staff attended a meeting of Super League clubs and secured total support for the following key activities and actions which will benefit the squad in 2006:

Increased coaching resource.
The opportunity for the squad to meet and take part in several preparation sessions during the current season. A mid-season game for the Great Britain team.

These initiatives are all part of planning for the 2006 Tri-Nations and further details will be announced in the near future.

It should also be noted that during 2004 and 2005, RFL expenditure supporting the Great Britain squad has increased by 250 per cent.

Via the Super League strategy and the Academy structure, the RFL is committed to developing more high quality young British players. The performances of our international Academy sides have demonstrated the success of these policies.

The RFL will continue to explore means of ensuring that opportunities remain available to talented young British players.

However, Rugby League is no different from other leading sports and must comply with employment laws which enable players with EU passports, or from nations who have trade agreements with the EU, to obtain contracts in the UK.

Malcolm concluded: “Via his Chairmanship of the Rugby League European Federation and his Vice-Chairmanship of the Rugby League International Federation, the RFL’s Executive Chairman Richard Lewis continues to positively influence the development of international Rugby League.

“The successful introduction of the Tri-Nations tournament and the European Nations Cup demonstrate this.

“The RFL would like to stress that it remains totally committed to providing the Great Britain team with the best possible preparation for the 2006 Tri-Nations.

“The staff who will take forward the GB team into the tournament and beyond will get – as has always been the case – the full support and commitment of the RFL.”

 

[Fairleigh Good!]

He is 100% correct. The whole idea of Great Britain Rugby League is rolled out once a year in order to satisfy the basic requirements set by the likes of Sky and the RLIF. Bar Eddie & Stevo, no one in the sport thinks about it until the Grand Final rings are given out.

No thought goes into any aspect of the set up from the joke of a home competition to the selections of coaches and players. Super League clubs are still allowed to sign whoever they like and there are no requirements to have any local or even British players.

The fixtures are a joke too - GB can never, ever win when they go into the series cold after not playing together for a year.

The locations are a joke - QPR anyone? Australia? Whats that all about?;-)

 

[bartman]

I think the number of games in the season is linked to the current TV deal, yeah?

Maybe when that runs it's course they could take out a few rounds during the year, and schedule some sort of rep games like a home countries tournament or a counties of origin or just something? Anything that brings players together before the end of the year, and anything that gets players combining outside of their week to week Superleague teams occasionally.

Same amount of games for Sky, but the clubs won't like the idea. But someone needs to get serious and put ideas on the table and make the clubs actually talk about it and make some decisions which they then have to justify.

 

[terracesider]

Even when the RFL did make an half-assed attempt at rep football, apeing SOO, the club chairmen sabotaged and eventually sank it.

Anyway, never mind RFL bureaucrats spouting, where are the chairman? I note the guilty men are keeping their heads down.

 

[Pistol]

A man with the class of Phil Clarke is sure to be a big loss.

Who would replace him?

What you reckon about Gary Schofield?

 

[terracesider]

Schoey says what he thinks and upsets the establishment.

BTW, does anybody know precisely what the GB team manager does.

 

[bartman]

:lol: Hopefully more than just book match venues, hotel rooms and sort out player kits for four matches a year...