Featherstone Rovers have released a statement outlining the bleak situation that the club find themselves in, admitting that they face a ‘difficult and uncertain winter’.
Much of that uncertainty relates to the fact that the club face a HMRC winding up petition in the coming weeks and that is referenced within the new board of director’s statement.
Plenty of off-field change has happened recently with Mark Campbell returning to oversee operations after previous chairman Paddy Handley stepped away.
This new statement effectively explains that communication has been limited of late because the new board have been in the process of collating as much information as they can regarding the club’s finances and standing.
Much of what they’ve learned spells for a very bleak situation with the statement admitting that ‘numerous bills’ have gone unpaid, as well as the discovery of contracts that ‘don’t make commercial sense’.
Rovers’ statement also admitted to feeling ’embarrassed’ that the club’s IMG score had an asterisk next to it, signifying the upcoming HMRC case, as Featherstone ranked 17th with a total of 9.75.
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Featherstone Rovers facing ‘huge rebuild’ as statement sheds light on club’s struggles
The statement, attributed to the board of directors, started with thanks of support and patience but quickly began to explain the issues the club were facing.
They explained: “Almost overnight we have had to pick up and try and discover what was left at Post Office Road. This has been no easy task and it is one of the reasons we haven’t communicated as we were unsure with what we were dealing with. In lots of ways, we still don’t have a full view of the situation we face. Information is scarce and we there has been no management of accounts.”
Worringly, the club admitted to the fact they face a ‘difficult and uncertain winter’ with ‘tough decisions’ necessary, as well as the admission that some of those decisions may even be taking out of the club’s hands.
Continuing, they said: “Numerous bills have not been paid and we are discovering contracts that don’t make commercial sense. Promises have been made that are impossible to fulfil. People, good people, have been lied to and we are trying our hardest to rectify this.”
In regards the upcoming HMRC hearing, they explained: “With recent IMG gradings released by the RFL we are embarrassed by having the asterix (*) next to our name on the table but we are fully focused on resolving this matter as soon as possible so that we can continue into next season.
“It is a huge job to rebuild and we are having to take some backwards steps to clear the decks first but we are committed to taking the club forward. We are committed to Featherstone Rovers and the future and success of this club.”
The club’s full statement can be read here.
