Last updated 07:53, Friday, 30 May 2008

WORKINGTON Town chairman Dave Bowden is backing plans to discuss the creation of a united rugby league team to press for a Super League franchise in Cumbria.

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Speaking exclusively to Times & Stat Sport the Town supremo said that a united team would be the way to go if the game is going to evolve in West Cumbria.

He said: “Rugby league in West Cumbria is now in real danger of being bypassed. In years to come it is likely that it will be necessary to have a single club to enable to be at the top of what is an entertaining national league ready to fight for a super league franchise.

“At the very least we should seriously explore a possible blueprint for the future involving all sections of the community within Allerdale and Copeland.”

While simmering in the background for some time, the latest debate on Super League for Cumbria has been kick started by a TImes & Star article which has gained a big response from fans.

Mr Bowden outlined the key areas which he feels need to be looked at.

He said: “First we must establish a stadium with top class support facilities. The responsibility to deliver solutions does lie with the directors of each club, they have to be open minded and put aside the passions we feel for our respective clubs.

“Responsibility also lies with the local authorities in providing those facilities, the RFL to give serious support and guidance, the sponsors to support the clubs, the community to get behind a club and a newspaper that understands the issues and communicates with those concerned.”

See below for Bowden’s full response.

Barrow Raiders vice chairman Tony Colyer has already stressed that they would be interested in talks.

He said: “I wrote to the RFL to test the water to see if they would support plans to unite the three rugby league teams in Cumbria.

“If they would be willing to help us that would be great because we don’t want to start anything that we cannot finish.

“I can tell you now that Barrow won’t be part of any talks if the RFL say that they won’t help us.

“If they do want to get involved then we will get together with Workington Town and Whitehaven and discuss the matter.

“It will be a difficult thing to bring about and we are always looking at ways to move the club forward, but we are all individual clubs, who are striving for success and it might be a case of ‘are we willing to give up our dream of making it on our own?’

“If we did unite this might be the best chance we have of getting to the Super League.

“It would be a loss of identity for three clubs but the financial gain in the long run would be good.

“The plans for us to unite would not mean a merger, as we would want to keep some of our identity, but we are willing to explore this Cumbria product.”

The last time any of the Cumbrian clubs were in the top flight was in 1996 when Workington finished bottom of the Super League.

Whitehaven almost made it into the Super League, winning NL1 in 2005, but losing the Grand Final to Castleford.