
Derek Beaumont has offered Toronto any six of Leigh’s players for free to allow them to complete the 2020 season.
The Wolfpack pulled out of Super League last week citing overwhelming financial challenges, with all their league results this campaign expunged from the records.
However the Leigh Centurions owner has taken to social media to offer his views on the matter, stating Toronto should stop with the ‘silly excuses’ while offering them free players.
Beaumont tweeted: “So @TOwolfpack can’t complete SL due to visas and no players! Well whilst I can’t control taking their place for free I can offer them any 6 of my players who are not allowed to play so you can finish the season! I will also still pay their wages! What’s stopping you now?”
So @TOwolfpack can’t complete SL due to visas and no players! Well whilst I can’t control taking their place for free I can offer them any 6 of my players who are not allowed to play so you can finish the season! I will also still pay their wages! What’s stopping you now?
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2020
The tweet ended a two-year hiatus from social media for Beaumont and kick-started a discussion in which he also offered to take Toronto’s place in the top flight.
Featherstone Rovers publicly offered to replace the Wolfpack in Super League last week and the Leigh owner revealed his club made a similar approach to Super League but got no response.
“If you don’t want to take my offer then step down and let @LeighCenturions take your place you can have it back next year if your still going!
“No offence intended just have an issue when people’s try to insult others intelligence !”
When quizzed about Featherstone’s approach, Beaumont replied: “So did @LeighCenturions the same day the official way and didn’t get a response! Sometimes people need to know other times not! I believe on this issue they do and am in constant contact with mark at fev.”
No offence intended just have an issue when people’s try to insult others intelligence !
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2020
So did @LeighCenturions the same day the official way and didn’t get a response! Sometimes people need to know other times not! I believe on this issue they do and am in constant contact with mark at fev
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2020
It’s not a promotion it’s completing a season then going back to champ but gives my players the opportunity to play and my fans to support. No SL money for us no loss to SL Toronto keep their place or take my players and compete!
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2020
Their prerogative to say it and offer their players but they haven’t. I get in very well with both clubs and I am sure both would take the SL spot no problem both clubs have been supportive with me of getting the champ back going. Whether they would pay their players for Toronto?
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2020
The series of tweets marked an angry response from many supporters, with several claiming Beaumont is late to the party in helping to save Toronto’s season.
Leigh’s well-publicised financial problems at the end of 2018 were also a topic for debate, however the long-serving Centurions owner took time to reply to most of the comments.
Paid up contracts not tore up kiddo everyone signed a settlement agreement so was settled that’s why we didn’t go bust!
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2020
Never! I have had control of the club for last 7 years and formed sporting club leigh when as a consortium we took it over in 2002 from memory so not sure where your heads at with your info! Hope I’ve helped straighten it out!
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2020
Borrow my players for free then and complete the season instead of coming out with silly excuses! Your bringing loads to game no travelling fans all players in uk or OZ train in uk it’s a sham simple as!
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2020
Disregard for the sport? Offering them players for free so they can complete the season? It’s charitable not disregard able! Welcome to my next meeting drop me an email be nice to have you there but I feel you probably won’t turn up as we talk in them not type 🙄🙄
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 27, 2020
250k to one team? I doubt it! Life isn’t all about money it’s about moral fibre I am smoking them out for what it is! Short of players and I have lots eager to play so let’s have the truth take them or accept what it really is ……
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2020
Had plenty drowning my sorrows over last few weeks but clear head making my decision to offer Toronto my players
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2020
It remains to be seen whether anything will come from Beaumont’s remarks, although Leigh player Jarrod Sammut showed clear support for the suggestion they could take Toronto’s Super League place, stating: “WE’RE READY!!!”
WE’RE READY!!! https://t.co/mfjA143ES5
— Jam Sandwich (@Jarrod_Sammut) July 26, 2020

Graham Codd
July 29, 2020 at 6:48 pm
It’s obvious that Toronto didn’t bother to have someone properly cost their running costs or look into the possible visa problems. As recently as 6 weeks ago they were still intent on signing every player who became available who had a decent reputation. Personally I believe there are insufficient teams in SL when at least 3, London, Leigh and Featherstone are probably good enough. This makes far more sense than playing some clubs 3 times, others twice.