Rumour Mill- Rugby coming to Bescot.

I have been asked by pm to comment on some of the rumours of financial news that Jeff Bonser hinted at in his statement recently. I think such discussions should really be in the public domain so here goes.
The sources of these rumours are various and not all from footballing sources so I very much consider them as rumour.

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The rumour
The rumour is that Walsall rugby football club are about to give up there Broadway home in favour of becoming resident at Walsall football club.
Jorges Thoughts
On paper the prospect of the rugby club coming to Bescot makes some sense. Talking to some one who feels this is a real posibility explained it as follows.

To finance the deal the rugby club are to sell off the land on the broadway, with council consent. Due to the location the site would be prime for housing as happened further along the broadway. The monies raised would be used in part redevlopment of a stand at Bescot. Although unless this is the away end no increase in capacity would be involved but an increase in facilities. These facilities (which could be the banks stand) would be the 'home' of Walsall rugby club. Depending on cost a small cash injection would also be made in the football club. The remained of the money raised would remain with the rugby club to keep them viable.
The long main benifit to the football club is that as tenants the rugby club would pay a rent to offset some of the monies used to pay Bonser pension scheme for ground rent. Walsall would have increased facilities for matchdays and conferences although the rugby club would take any monies raised on their bars,premises etc. Also the posibilities of joint ventures and marketing etc.As well as increased council support if both the local clubs are sited together.

Conclusion
Whilst other rugby clubs work well with football league clubs would this work for us.The benifits are mainly on the side of the rugby club unless the cash part of the deal is sufficent to be a significant incentive in my opinion. I am uncertain of the details of the ownership of the rugby club and I am certainly uncertain if the rugby club has anyone with the drive and vision to push that club forward to the level it would need to achieve. Two or three promotions would be needed to generate the crowds required. I would rate this as only a 10% chance of becoming true.

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