Leeds Carnegie vs Leeds United

[monkeytennis]

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/Leeds-to-freeze-debts-as.6430845.jp

Are they taking too much debt on?

[bob s]

Looks very risky to me. But perhaps "who dares wins"!

[Rob Parker]

Interesting article.

It seems like a bit of a gamble to me. Do the rewards really merit the risk? Especially when even with a few more signings I would suggest top 6 may take some doing.

The best way for them would be to take the Amlin seriously. They could realistically win that as let's face it, for all the hype about the winners getting a HC place, hardly anyone really cares do they? Plus getting through the group stage is generally a given for a Prem club as they a generally lumped in with a crap French team (the top 14 have nots are a similar standard to our Championship clubs), and a couple of random Spanish/Romanian/Italian sides.

[prawn cocktail]

As regards the Amlin Cup, Leeds have drawn probably the biggest club in the Competition, Stade Francais, so the chances of progression are limited.
Regarding the budget at Leeds, it must be remembered that, for the first time, the Club receives the same central funding as the other teams (apart from Exeter) and that with ESPN the TV income is rising by 40% this season.
Neil Back explains the press release published in the YP somewhat differently http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/rugby/neil-back/article/1613/. The biggest difference between Carnegie and Leeds United (apart from the scale) is that the debts are owed internally.

[dave]

I went to a Leeds Carnegie open training session on 24th which was a very well run and interesting event during which John Bentley, who now works in marketing at the club, made the statement "if we had been relegated last season our benefactor would have pulled the financial plug on proffessional rugby union at Leeds" which, given the consequences makes you think about the thin line between success and failure.

[prawn cocktail]

Had Leeds gone down last season they wouldn't have received the parity in funding now in place (and for the future should they get relegated again).

[prawn cocktail]

I believe Leeds Carnegie also receive £800,000 per annum for the next nine seasons from Leeds Metropolitan University. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Uni-chief39s-plans-for-tough.5965537.jp

[Rob Parker]

It sounds like it's coming together nicely for them.

Thanks for the info about the Amlin draw Prawn Cocktail, I had no idea! That said, going back to my point, will Stade care? If there's an important Top 14 game coming up next week or even the next few days (they play quite a few midweek matches in the Top 14) I have no doubt they will rest the big guns and a second string may well still be competitive, but shouldn't provide a massive headache for Leeds.