Last updated 07:36, Friday, 30 May 2008

Dear Times & Star Sport, I refer to your article of May 17. This article purports to be written by and I quote “A journalist and rugby league fan for more than 50 years”. I wonder how many times in the past few years has the writer attended a game at Workington or Whitehaven, or if indeed, has he directly solicited the views of any of the directors at either club?

I refer to your article of May 17. This article purports to be written by and I quote “A journalist and rugby league fan for more than 50 years”. I wonder how many times in the past few years has the writer attended a game at Workington or Whitehaven, or if indeed, has he directly solicited the views of any of the directors at either club?

If he had bothered to do so, he may have produced a more rounded and factual article. As far as I’m aware he is known to no-one at either club, such is the enthusiasm referred to in his article.

Let’s clarify one issue at once. Although Haven came very close, to their great credit, in being two minutes away from a super league place, no one really believes that without the help of a “Roman O marra rich” that a place in Super League is achievable or sustainable for a single club.

No one is dreaming of the miracle he describes in his article or dithering, it is an outrageous assumption to make.

In fact nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is a fight to keep professional sport alive in West Cumbria.

I can assure him that the pragmatic business approach referred to is what saved this club five years ago, brought it out of CVA and doubled its turnover, with very little increase in the traditional gate revenue.

It has taken years to re-pay some of the debts but business-like it has certainly been. The club indeed made profits in three of the last five years, something of a rarity in the game as a whole.

It was community club of the year in 2005, is recognised as having the best sponsorship and match day hospitality package in our leagues and our players have regularly featured in national league players of the year. We feel no shame in that.

But of course we haven’t got everything right as a club, nor do we pretend we have, far from it, and we do get things wrong. Our board consists of volunteer accounting and business professionals who give to the sport at the expense of families but it is likely we cannot take the club forward much further with this structure.

The increase in rugby league funding in 2009 may enable us to develop additional full time professional staff, a pre requisite if we are to exist and develop further in the modern game.

And while we are talking facts, the headline attributed in your paper inferring that as chairman I had stated that the club would be in Super League by 2012 was a misquote by the Times & Star of the highest degree. It was not what was said at all.

I must confess to being astonished at the inaccuracy of the headline. At that point I knew the criteria for selection and said it is highly unlikely that any single club in Cumbria can sustain a successful franchise but that we were looking closely at the criteria as a guideline to future expansion.

I cannot speak on behalf of the Whitehaven board but no-one at this club makes excuses for not being in Super League, none are needed, for it is virtually impossible for any single Cumbrian club to maintain a franchise for the reasons we need not dwell on again,

The game and society has changed beyond recognition in comparison to the halcyon days Mr Pledger refers to and of course our geography and population are limiting factors.

Mr Pledger states that Cumbria has a proud rugby league heritage. Indeed it has but being pragmatic and hard nosed - yes we can be! - that counts for little in the modern environment where heritage will never be a driver in the modern game.

The fact is we are now part of the leisure and entertainment industry, and as such we are bound by the same rules, to succeed top class entertainment in first class surroundings must be provided.

If he bothered to venture out of his armchair he will indeed find that over the years the standard of the National League has risen immeasurably and provides some top class games at Workington and Whitehaven, albeit in our neck of the woods in stadiums now well past their sell by date, something we are determined to resolve at Workington.

Yes, it does hurt Cumbrian rugby league fans to see the unfair advantages handed out to clubs outside of the Lancashire/Yorkshire hotbeds in Bridgend, Gateshead and London.

Attracting players to this county is both difficult and expensive which is why we are battling to establish player pathways and desperate for the facilities to address and inspire local talent in our area.

Come down from behind your computer and talk to our coaches about their plans to develop sport in our community and the desperate need for the facilities to nurture it. Something we hope will come out of the Derwent Valley Project

I attend Rugby League council meetings, meet and listen to experienced people in the game every week with far more knowledge than either of us and recognise completely the groundswell for a consolidated Cumbrian offering. They all know my feelings on the subject.

But to be constructive what is the way forward, because I agree there is little doubt that change is necessary.

The annual debate regarding the consolidation of the sport into a single club has emerged yet again but it may have more of an edge on this occasion.

In 2004 with Haven emerging as a real force there was no appetite from the fans to support it. But times change and the emergence of a franchise system does not close doors but indeed may open them.

I agree that rugby league in West Cumbria is now in real danger of being by-passed. 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.

I don’t believe either club is dithering, being on the board of either club does not mean that there is any reluctance to discuss the future of rugby league, they are the ones closest to the difficulties associated with the current landscape, and the increasingly difficult task as each season approaches.

We agree that we must move away from the parochial and realise the battle in the very near future is not between Town or Haven but West Cumbria and the survival of this fantastic game at a level sufficient to build a new heritage.

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

First must be the establishment of stadia in the area with top class support facilities to build on the development work done by both West Cumbrian clubs. The responsibility to deliver solutions does lie with the directors of each club, they indeed have to be open minded and put aside the passions we feel for our respective clubs.

The fans of all Cumbria’s sides are passionate indeed and to describe this passion as “petty differences” shows a lack of understanding, but I agree it has to be overcome.

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, dare I say it, at least understands the issues and communicates with those concerned.

The fact that nothing has moved on in 10 years is because the challenges are not insignificant.

So if the Times and Star and sister papers are serious, and wish to play a role in developing our sport then I look forward to receiving details of your contribution in becoming part of a team ready to progress this issue.

What an opportunity to put all that rugby league knowledge and expertise to some use. Or are you simply raising the debate to fill a back page, take the morale high ground and do absolutely nothing? We shall see.

In the meantime if you wish to discuss further then please pop down and chat to officials at either club. I must warn you it will involve neglecting your families, leaving your office and working beyond 5.30 and weekends!