Cardiff: the hour draws near

[UKHamlet]

From Wails Online.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... s-33181236

"The clock is ticking on Cardiff Rugby’s future, with a final deadline for takeover bids looming next Monday as pressure intensifies on senior figures inside the Welsh Rugby Union.
After a long process the WRU had a long list down to the final two bidders shortly before Christmas. One is a consortium led by former Cardiff director Martyn Ryan, which also includes Rhino CEO Reg Clarke and three Hollywood producers.
It is also no secret the Ospreys' majority shareholders Y11 Sports & Media have been part of the process to buy Cardiff.
The WRU initially slapped a £10m price tag on Cardiff, while the successful bidder would also need to take on £6m worth of debt.
In the event Y11 were to purchase the club it would have to take on both the Cardiff and Ospreys debt, which lessens its attractiveness.
WalesOnline understands there is a split on the WRU board over the best way forward for Cardiff, with certain parties keen to do a deal with Y11 because that is the only way the governing body can go to three professional clubs by consensus.
But the Ospreys are confident they have a long-term future in Welsh rugby and are preparing to move into a redeveloped St Helen's for the 2026/27 season.
The consortium, which includes three Hollywood producers, appears to be the best option for Cardiff.
They include British-born producer Gareth West, whose credits include the film Ferrari, who has partnered with Mark Williams, best known for producing the critically acclaimed Netflix series Ozark and hit movies The Accountant 1 & 2, in the bold move.
They are joined by Danish executive Niels Juul, known for his work on major Hollywood productions such as Silence, The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon.
As part of ambitious plans they want to create a scripted TV show based in Cardiff with the aim of promoting the club worldwide, particularly in the US, while it is also an extremely strong financial offer.
The final offers are due on Monday and the WRU are expected to make a decision shortly after."

Two considerations. The Hollywood offer is likely to generate more income for the greatest rugby club in the world, but Y11 have a track record.
Could the Hollywood offer be too good to be true? My worry gland has kicked in.

[Sandydragon]

If W11 are expected to accept the debt of both Cardiff and the Ospreys, they must really see some long term potential risk in the new structure (ie less control and paying the WRU a profit share).

[UKHamlet]

Will Cardiff be renamed as the Cosplays?

[newgalesurf]

So Y11 is the winning bidder, to enter in an exclusivity period. All seems to be selected with the assumption they will get their way to go to 3 clubs.

How quickly can this be reversed (or will it be reversed) if the EGM scuppers all these plans as Y11 cannot really own 2 teams in one league

[Sandydragon]

So Y11 is the winning bidder, to enter in an exclusivity period. All seems to be selected with the assumption they will get their way to go to 3 clubs.

How quickly can this be reversed (or will it be reversed) if the EGM scuppers all these plans as Y11 cannot really own 2 teams in one league

Do we know if there’s enough clubs supporting an EGM yet? I don’t know off hand how long the WRI have to organise one but I’d suspect about a month at most. So how far can they get with this process o that time?

Arguably an EGM would come before this becomes irreversible, although only if enough clubs have supported it.

[newgalesurf]

Seems to be the WRU are setting up this consultation period to negotiate while the challenges go through. So they can then back off with no legal recourse if it goes wrong (or that would be the sensible approach)

[UKHamlet]

Looks like it's going to be a merger between Cardiff and Swansea - Carsea RFC, or Cospreys. I think the WRU have proven conclusively they lack competence. They've also missed a huge opportunity.

It's probably an expedient choice because it saves them from making a decision about who to jettison out west.

[UKHamlet]

On the plus side, at least we'll get to play in Blue AND Black, not light blue and dark blue. What the hell, Swansea will be a suburb of Cardiff in 25 years time.

[newgalesurf]

Cardseath to bring in the historic Neath fans (although I like the Cospreys)

[UKHamlet]

The more I think about it, the more I am persuaded that this is a very bad idea. We need a team in Swansea, and another one in Llanelli. They are the talent foundries. Cardiff needs to exist because of all that's been previously mentioned, not least the salient facts that it is the capital city, it has the biggest support, and it is the most historic team in Wales (and possibly the world). But losing a team in Swansea is fucking madness.

[Son of Mathonwy]

The more I think about it, the more I am persuaded that this is a very bad idea. We need a team in Swansea, and another one in Llanelli. They are the talent foundries. Cardiff needs to exist because of all that's been previously mentioned, not least the two salient facts that it is the capital city, it has the biggest support, and it is the most historic team in Wales (and possibly the world). But losing a team in Swansea is fucking madness.

Absolutely.

And I wonder how many Wales tickets will no longer be bought by Swansea/Neath/Port Talbot fans (or ex-fans)? This is the way to alienate the fan base.

Mad shit. And it's not like they didn't have another buyer for Cardiff.

[Sandydragon]

The more I think about it, the more I am persuaded that this is a very bad idea. We need a team in Swansea, and another one in Llanelli. They are the talent foundries. Cardiff needs to exist because of all that's been previously mentioned, not least the two salient facts that it is the capital city, it has the biggest support, and it is the most historic team in Wales (and possibly the world). But losing a team in Swansea is fucking madness.

We can’t drop below 4. It’s madness