Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont has hit out at the former chair of the Rugby Football League, accusing him of ‘attacking’ his interim replacement, Nigel Wood.
Simon Johnson stepped down from his role as chairman of the Rugby Football League (RFL) in early March as a wave of changes happened at the sport’s governing body.
Among those was the more recent instillation of Nigel Wood as the interim chairman with the former Bradford Bulls chair tasked with overseeing a Strategic Review of the sport which was commissioned by the clubs.
One of those at the forefront of that was Leigh Leopards’ Derek Beaumont with he and Leeds Rhinos’ Gary Hetherington penning the statement confirming Wood’s role.
Since then, the sport of rugby league has appeared fractious with mud-slinging done publicly and talks of major change also discussed by those such as Sky Sports’ Brian Carney.
The latest round of mud-slinging has seen Leigh’s Derek Beaumont hit out at the former RFL chair Simon Johnson on social media, suggesting that he is promoting a ‘conspiracy theory’ and inferring corruption.
Derek Beaumont hits out at former Rugby Football League chair over Nigel Wood ‘conspiracy’
Beaumont’s comments came in response to a post from Simon Johnson where he discussed the two teams ‘next under grading’ who would enter Super League if the competition expanded to 14 teams.
Johnson posted: “The next two under grading would be Toulouse and York. But of course, Nigel Wood becomes Chair and lo and behold, Bradford are catapulted in to the reckoning.”
Wood’s connections with Bradford are well known and Johnson was responding to a rumour that Bradford and London could be in line to become the 13th and 14th teams in Super League, clarifying that Toulouse and York would be next in line.
Under the IMG grades released for the end of the 2024 season, Toulouse placed 13th and York 15th with London actually the 14th team, however, since their long-term owner David Hughes walked away, it is possible they have dropped on certain scores – something Johnson would be privy to given his former role.
That didn’t stop Derek Beaumont from hitting out though, as he labelled it “embarrassing” that Johnson be “factually incorrect”, as he responded in two separate posts of his own.
The first of those saw him state: “Very poor this Simon appearing to allege Nigel could act in a corrupt manner! When are you going to stop your attacks of him and accept he is what the majority of clubs voted in place of you?
“And your grading comment is incorrect and hardly a reliable process given Salfords financial pillar score and what we now know was their position and that they were in special measures. Shame your choosing to lose respect certain people had for you by your actions!”
Very poor this Simon appearing to allege Nigel could act in a corrupt manner! When are you going to stop your attacks of him and accept he is what the majority of clubs voted in place of you? And your grading comment is incorrect and hardly a reliable process given Salfords… https://t.co/HBYojCTHOI
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) April 7, 2025
Beaumont doubled down on the incorrect grading by then sharing a screenshot of the official 2024 IMG grades, adding: “Also Simon probably a bit embarrassing to be factually incorrect about something so important when you was chair at the time.
“Let’s not let facts get in the way of a good conspiracy theory though.. also Bradford added to their score with facilities since that time which you also know.”
Also Simon probably a bit embarrassing to be factually incorrect about something so important when you was chair at the time🙈 let’s not let facts get in the way of a good conspiracy theory though.. also Bradford added to their score with facilities since that time which you also… https://t.co/HBYojCT9Za pic.twitter.com/gSTphikFva
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) April 7, 2025
