Parsons: Championship figures don't add up

1:39pm Thursday 13th November 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Former Keighley skipper Nigel Parsons is pleading with the Rugby Football Union to change their mind.

The governing body are set to give the green light to a fully-professional Second Division (Championship) at their council meeting tomorrow.

But former Yorkshire second row Parsons, whose son Steve plays on the wing for Otley – one of the clubs affected by the proposed league – says the figures don’t add up.

Parsons, speaking at Keighley Rugby Union Club’s annual dinner in their clubhouse last night, said: “The economics just stink.

“You need a squad of at least 30 players, and probably more to cover for injuries, at National League One level.

“If the average gates are say 1,500 and the RFU have £2.3m per year to give to the league and PRL (Premier Rugby Ltd) £1m per annum, the figures just do not work.

“I worry about the players – £30,000 a year per player might sound good but you cannot retire on that.”

Parsons added: “Look what happened to Wakefield, look at what has happened to Harrogate and what might happen to Nottingham. If the latter don’t get a sugar daddy, they will go bust.

“But union is a fantastic game and I have loved being back at Keighley – a proper club. I had a cracking time of it when I played here in 1989 and 1990.”