Midlands Clubs Meet, But Are Not Sold On Super 6

I BEGIN today's post with a quote:

• “They (the SRU) seem to be making this up as they go along.”
  
  
  
  Mark Dodson - is he busking, or, is there a plan?

That, in 11 words, is how and why we have come to be in such a moger, in trying to figure-out where Scottish Rugby is going. I accept, plans do not always work-out, occasionally they fail totally, often they require tweaking as events unfold differently to what was first envisaged, but, on any journey, it does help to have a road map, and a definite destination.

The (English) RFU is currently working on 'The Game of our Lives' a strategic plan for up to 2021, unveiled in November last year. In January 2017, the Welsh Rugby Union unveiled their ten-year: 'Strategy for Welsh Rugby', while, having seen through their last strategic plan, which ran from 2013-2017, the Irish RFU are now finalising what they have called their: “2020 Vision for Irish Rugby”, which will presumably take them through to that date, and perhaps beyond.

Murrayfield meanwhile, has not updated their strategic plan since “the Journey to 2016” ended that year. There was the 2014 Club Working Party Report: “a Strategy for Working With Clubs”, but some of the ideas in that document have been dumped, while others, such as the notion of an eight-club “Scottish Super League” have been amended.

I cannot help thinking, maybe if Murrayfield had consulted more-widely, informed the clubs of what they were thinking, and been a bit more transparent, they would have avoided much of the uncertainty around Super 6 and Agenda 3.

Rob Flockhart - would you buy a franchise from this man?

The quote at the top of this post comes from a Midlands club official, who attended Monday night's meeting at Howe of Fife, at which SRU President Rob Flockhart, past-president and now co-opted Council member Ian Rankin, Graham Kerr – the Caledonia Midlands Regional League representative on the Council, John Halliday – Rector of Dundee High School and the Schools representative on the Council, and Charlie Simpson from Heriot's, who is, apparently: “Mark Dodson's bag carrier”. Mr Dodson was otherwise engaged, while Stevie Gemmell, who was billed to appear, was a no-show.

My contact was somewhat disappointed at the attendance, with only some 20 clubs represented, but, since he felt the object of the meeting was to garner support for the Dundee HSFP-led joint Dundee bid for a Super 6 franchise – apparently one of 13 being considered – the small turn-out was hardly surprising.

There appears to be a lack of interest in Super 6 in the Aberdeen area, while, the Dundee bid does have the laudable aim of trying to ensure the Midlands is involved in Super 6, which might indicate some cold feet around the Stirling area.

What, if anything new did the clubs learn. Well, according to President Flockhart, Super 6 will be: “part-time rather than semi-professional, there is a difference???” He also expects, seemingly, there to be some players in each franchise who are playing purely for expenses, while others are on-salary – now that could be interesting.

Gerry Tosh of Dundee HSFP outlined the club's plans, as the drivers of the Dundee bid, but, clearly, from the numbers they have crunched, the numbers do not add-up from the initial SRU documents. These numbers are Dundee's business, but, the estimated shortfall is well into six figures.

Gerry and the Mayfield guys are keen to get other clubs from the City of Discovery on-board with the franchise plans, but, one or two Dundee clubs at the meeting said, they had either not been approached, or did not wish to be involved. Clearly, Gerry and his mates have some serious selling to do.

One of the reasons given for Murrayfield springing Super 6 on the game was touched-on by Rob Flockhart. This is the continuing failure of the Premiership clubs to find common ground in their dealings with the Union. This internal squabbling, which has also involved the National League 1 clubs, is cited as the reason why the SRU has acted. As more than one commenter has said to me: as the governing body, they have a duty to act when the clubs cannot, which seems fair.

However, as Rob Flockhart said on Monday: “We have the bye-law to act.” Now, that could be a point of conflict.

Charlie Simpson, carrying a ball rather than Mr Dodson's bag

(Picture courtesy of Offside Line) 

Charlie Simpson, who is, of course, currently playing in the Premiership, suggested the franchises may be expected to do a fair bit of self-regulating and policing! I don't really see this from the Murrayfield control freaks, but, we can take it at face value.

Finally, here is what my contact took away from the meeting:

“Still a compete lack of information and the franchises and the SRU are making things up as they go along. To be fair that is perhaps to be expected given they are in dialogue with the potential franchises.

“Good luck to Dundee - I do believe they are trying to make this work and have the best interests of Midlands rugby at heart. However lets not kid ourselves - this is about Dundee HSFPRFC. They are keen to involve others but can't really articulate how or why.

“Everyone is big on vision and possibilities but the real devil will be in the details and realising these possibilities. Just saying it will be so is not a plan!

“I'm left quite frustrated. In the drive to make this happen the SRU are trampling over any criticism. They have convinced themselves that they are responding to the requests of the clubs - which clubs and what did they ask for?

“Lets hope the franchises have good professional and legal advice - they are really going to need it.”

I have a feeling this particular story has some way still to run. Hopefully things will become a bit clearer, after the final bids go in at the end of the month, and more-so once the final six bidders are named in May.

But, to me, this is still a huge mess.