Mike Eccles firmly believes the project at London Broncos is still one of the most exciting in the sport.
The Broncos currently sit 10th in the Championship after going through a rough period off the field with David Hughes stepping away from the club following their relegation from Super League. In recent months, though, Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington has taken over and it seems fresh investment is on the way.
Darren Lockyer is fronting a consortium which is in the process of a takeover and the Australian great is in London this week to meet officials and complete due diligence. As such, should Lockyer and co complete a deal to become majority shareholders, the hope will be that the Broncos will be able to push ahead with financial stability and strength.
The club have also applied to play in Super League next season and that ensures there is a chance that London could be pushed back into the top flight with the finances needed to make more of a dent.
Plans are still very much up in the air and an announcement on those teams jumping up to Super League won’t be made until October.
However, Eccles is putting plans in place for every eventuality as the Broncos strive to make progress one way or another.
London Broncos boss opens up on the club’s future
“This is still the most exciting project in rugby league but it’s also different than any project in rugby league by some,” Eccles said when speaking after London Broncos’ 34-24 loss to Bradford Bulls. “It’s not comparable to anyone, anywhere or any other expansion team. It’s the most exciting club to be involved in if we can get it right, if we can get the right level of investment and the right plan in conjunction with the RFL and the game.
“They’re not putting a game in London (the Ashes) for nothing as they, in a couple of weeks time.”
On planning for next season, Eccles added: “We’ve got a few players signed up for next year and we’re ready to push the button as and when. We’ve had a little bit more of an indication of the money that is coming into the club but we certainly won’t have the direction of travel because that will be done in October.
“I firmly believe we’re in a good position, I know that might sound crazy but from where we were to be where we are now and competing with other teams and we’re in a position where we’re hopeful that money will come into the club, whether it was the group that was here today or someone, I think we’re in a pretty positive position.
“You have to consider whether those players want to be full-time. There’s a dose of reality here, we can’t just transition this squad as a bottom of the Championship team.
“Just going full-time is not going to transform this. We have to keep improving the players we’ve got but we have to strengthen as well, across the board, on the field and off the field.
“The players I’ve retained for next year are players I know 100 per cent I would have lost if I didn’t get them something down but they’re also players that could stay part-time but want to be full-time. If we don’t get that money through the door and we have to continue as we are, we’re currently propped up by a series of small shareholders, we will do that with those players plus more.
“If we’re in a position to go full-time and we get a big cash injection, those players will be part of that and we’ll work out the rest of the squad and add accordingly.”
