Mystery Money People and Wasps
WASPS' WAY
By Vespulavulgaris
March 4 2013
Vespulavulgaris muses about how he became a Wasp, our run in with near relegation last season, the mystery money people who kept Wasps going this season, and future prospects...
When I moved from the wilds of Yorkshire to the southern pastures of Surrey about twelve years ago I found myself a rugby league supporter in a place where union was king. I'd played union at school, and I always watched internationals so I was no real stranger to the game, but it had never been my passion. However I couldn't get to any league games any more, and so I made a decision to find myself a union team to follow.
My closest team was Harlequins, but for me there was only one real choice, and that was London Wasps. I can sum up the reasons for my choice in two words. Lawrence Dallaglio. He'd been my hero since the first time I saw him play. I was a Number 8 when I played and to watch him was a joy. It didn't take me long to get into the Wasps way of thinking. We had some good years, and of course then we had last year. We couldn't win a thing, all our players injured themselves, and by the end of the year we were facing bankruptcy. Somehow we managed to avoid relegation (sorry Newcastle, I'm not sure we deserved to stay up more than you), and we managed to find someone with enough money to stave off the vultures for a little while.
This year however things seem to be different. We are doing amazingly well in the Aviva Premiership, we aren't losing players to injury faster than we can mend them, and most importantly we are recruiting big names to the club. The fact that we have Dai Young in charge almost certainly helps, and the fact that we have arguably the most impressive pedigree outside of Leicester can't hurt either. But the fact remains that we wouldn't be keeping players of the calibre of Tom Varndell and Marco Wentzel, and we certainly wouldn't be attracting players like Matt Mullan and Joe Carlisle if our future wasn't secure. There is even talk of a new stadium. Yet despite the obvious nature of the situation, no-one seems to know who the money is coming from.
Why should we care you might ask? Well it's pretty simple really. Last year I was thinking long and hard about getting a season ticket. In the end I didn't as I didn't know whether we would even exist at the end of the season. I still don't for certain, and I'm guessing I'm not alone. Why should I spend my money on a club that won't even tell me whether they will exist next year?
So here's the deal mystery money people. The club is more than just the players, it is the supporters. We love London Wasps and we honour the black and gold considerably more than we should. We deserve to know what is going on with our club. The longer you go without making it clear what the situation is, the more supporters you will drive away. There is no point in having the best team in the best stadium if no-one wants to come along and watch.
Please don't make me start watching league again, if nothing else my old team got relegated.
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Facts would go a hell of a long way to persuade people that it is the right thing to do.
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James
For me I would much rather be told that there is a deal in the offing, but it is yet to be finalised so they can;t release any details, rather than simply being left in the dark. I don't want much from my club, just for them to stop pretending what I think doesn't matter.
It's like being in an 'off/on' relationship where no one will commit so you don't know how to plan your future!
Has the new sugar daddy pulled out? Has the deal collapsed? What's attracting players to the club? How can so many players want to join or stay at the club without anything getting leaked?
I'm just a frustrated fan - would really like to know what's going on. Perhaps they're waiting for WWFC to be wound up and then we can have their ground
Quote:Andy1210
It's like being in an 'off/on' relationship where no one will commit so you don't know how to plan your future
Is there something you want to get off your chest?
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James
hence no sponsor, player purchases are being made to keep the team alive and improved the prospect to invest in - against that is how much are Mosss et al going to lose this year and how much will they continue to seed to get investor at price that works for them.
I know nothing but its a theory
Wasps need to increase its number of ST holders, why depart with our money unless it was worth it. The better the deal surely the more takers.
I think they are just trying to put everything in place to make it more attractive