Keep hope alive

Wasps chief executive Phil Elliott declared that First and Second Division clubs are right to guard against Super League becoming a "private members club".

Elliott added that many lower division clubs, including York, would "wither and die" without the backing of the Sky television deal, the future of which was the subject of a seven-hour meeting of clubs yesterday.

New doubts were cast over the revised £44million Sky deal as representatives of all 31 professional clubs failed to reach agreement over the latest offer from News Corporation during the RFL Council meeting in Salford.

Super League chairman Chris Caisley accused the First and Second Division Association (FASDA) of jeopardising the contract by attempting to use it as a tool to retain promotion from the First Division.

Although FASDA clubs are resigned to being phased out of the deal, they are concerned that new franchises in Gateshead and South Wales could gain access to Super League at the expense of existing clubs.

Caisley said: "It's unfortunate that they have clouded the issue in this way. We feel that the hesitancy could jeopardise the re-negotiation of the deal."

Although Super League clubs were unanimously in favour of accepting the £44million five-year deal, the Council decided to set up a new seven-man negotiating team to hammer out an agreement in time for a special general meeting in Huddersfield on July 15.

The present £87million deal does not expire until December 31 2000, but News Corporation were hoping for a response to their revised offer at yesterday's meeting. Under the latest offer FASDA clubs would receive a £10.8million pay-off over the next two years, by which time they would be free to negotiate their own TV deal.

However, Elliott believes FASDA would struggle to find similar backing from terrestrial television companies.

"Without News Corporation money York Rugby League Club, like most other clubs, would not survive," said the chief executive.

"If that lifeline was taken away the majority of Second and First Division clubs will fold. It is a recipe for disaster."

League chairman Sir Rodney Walker, meanwhile, said: "The negotiating team will be asked to bring firm resolutions to the July 15 meeting. In my judgement we cannot delay much longer."

The League are hoping to reach a consensus but Sir Rodney made it clear that he will be fighting the cause of the FASDA clubs over the critical issue of promotion.

"It was decided late last year that the winners of the First Division Grand Final will be given access to Super League subject to meeting minimum standards criteria," he said. "There has been much talk about who will make the decision but as far as I am concerned that remains the policy.

"Clubs like Featherstone, Widnes, Salford and Wakefield voted to surrender their rights to the old First Division in return for creating Super League on the understanding that they retained the right to earn a place in Super League. In my judgement it would be a betrayal if that right was taken away."

Elliott backed the fight over promotion, adding: "Super League is not a private members club. It is an elite borne out of the Rugby Football League and that incorporates three leagues.

"We are all in the RFL. It is often the tail wagging the dog and the RFL needs to be brought to bear."

If the TV deal illustrated evidence of the continuing split between Super League and FASDA, at least clubs were agreed on a recommendation to adopt the principles of the Bosman ruling.

A consultative committee, including representatives from the Players' Association, will bring detailed proposals to the next council meeting for a radical overhaul of the contract and transfer system.

It looks certain that from next season players will become free agents when their contracts expire. The exceptions will be players aged under 24, for whom compensation will be paid when they move clubs.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.