The chairman of the Western Bears’ push to affix the NRL claimed he was “blindsided” by the bid’s rejection.
Peter Cumins, the manager deputy chair of Money Converters and boss of the Western Bears bid, mentioned he was delivered the information in a “well mannered” telephone name from Andrew Abdo.
Cumins mentioned he was nonetheless holding conferences with potential workers and coaches once they have been knowledgeable.
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“This actually did come from left discipline, positively a blindside,” he advised SEN on Thursday morning.
The ARLC’s rejection was as a result of a call to not pat a multi-million greenback license charge, however Cumins mentioned doing so can be “utterly unreasonable”.
The Western Bears consortium was advised their bid had been rejected in a phonecall from Andrew Abdo. Cameron Spencer by way of Getty Photos
He mentioned a licence charge had solely been part of “casual” discussions, and claimed the NRL wished between $15-$20 million on high of the $30 million simply to get the membership up and operating.
“No different membership paid one, together with the Dolphins … (who’re) in a greater place to afford one,” he mentioned.
“In our view, we introduced a big industrial and whole-of-game profit to the NRL … new eyeballs, new members, spectators, sponsors, and the reintroduction of a basis membership.
“To load us up with a really important licence charge … we felt was utterly unreasonable,” he mentioned.
On Wednesday, Cumins advised The Sydney Morning Herald his organisation’s bid was “wonderful” and felt he had “spent some huge cash for nothing”.
“We’re a start-up in an AFL state, so our start-up prices are huge. There is a $16 million burn earlier than you even kick a soccer. We’re bringing new eyeballs to the sport to assist with negotiating broadcast rights, new sponsorship {dollars} as a result of we’re not competing with east coast sponsors.
“None of it commercially made any sense [to offer a substantial licence fee], which is why we elected to not.”
The autumn of the Western Bears will not put an finish to the resurgence of the North Sydney Bears although, with V’landys confirming he will not ditch the Bears model.
With the NRL and ARLC now in negotiations with the Western Australian authorities, it is unlikely any crew might be named the Western Bears or Perth Bears contemplating the emblems have been taken.
Cumins in the meantime hasn’t given up hope of an Eleventh-hour backflip.
“We’re all rugby league individuals and this was by no means about hundreds of thousands of greenbacks,” he mentioned.
“I am nonetheless a rugby league diehard from Perth and Money Converters has poured hundreds of thousands of {dollars} into the grassroots recreation over a few years.
“I nonetheless wish to see a Perth crew. I need it to achieve success. I am not going to be an impediment. We’re nonetheless there if they need us.”
