Halifax announce they WON’T be running a reserve side in 2020

The Halifax Board of Directors have revealed they have taken the decision for the club not to run a reserve side in 2020.

The club had been praised in recent years for it’s successful second-string team, with several current first team players having benefitted from being part of the system.

‘Fax had been granted a place in the new 15-team reserve league for next year but will now not be competing, citing “financial security of the business” as the primary reason.

In a statement released on their website, the Halifax Board of Directors outlined four key points considered when making their decision:

“We have calculated, as best we can, what the additional costs of running the Reserve Grade team will be over the next year. This has included the vastly increased costings for salaries, doctors and physio costs, transportation costs and additional ground costs to name but just a few. To be candid our recently amended business plan and forecast shows we are not in a financial position to commit to these additional costs and with no additional funding from the RFL to help run the Reserves, we are not prepared to place the club’s future in jeopardy

“Recruitment is also proving to be a major issue this year. Now that all Super League clubs are also in the competition, the smaller playing pool of experienced players at this level means we are attracting inexperienced amateur players and, as keen as they are, they are unfortunately not up to the required quality to compete at the level at which this competition is going to be played.

“Following on from the last point and directly linked with it are our concerns over player welfare. Were we to go ahead, we could find 16 year old amateurs coming up against professional Super League players coming back from injury. This is not something we feel we can allow to happen for the sake of these young players’ health and welfare

“As a result of the extended competition we are also having retention issues around last year’s squad. You cannot blame a player wanting to play for better money at a Super League Club.”

To read the original statement in full, click HERE.