Latest news with #NationalLeague.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
RFU Council faces abolition in proposed rejig
An independent review has called for the of the Rugby Football Union Council, whose 63 members include representatives from England's counties, the military and Oxbridge, to be Council, whose members work on a voluntary basis, but receive expenses, free tickets and hospitality, oversee the RFU's has responsibility for regulations governing the game, giving it a potentially decisive say on issues such as how the Premiership and top-flight clubs proposed changes the Council could be disbanded entirely or replaced with a smaller group of appointed advisors."I've no doubt this will rankle with a number of existing Council members," said Ed Warner, one of the authors of the review. "But I am hopeful that the logic of this streamlined structure, empowering those within community rugby, will win the hearts and minds of the majority."Warner added the RFU's current structure was "clearly unfit for the modern era".The Council also included advocates for referees, players, the Premiership, the Championship and the National League."It represents some very significant changes in terms of how we need to be structured to govern the game," RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said on Monday of the as-then-unpublished reviewThe review highlighted a complex and slow decision-making process, poor communication and unwieldy bureaucracy taking up time of grassroots who survived a rebel coup to remove him from his post in March, has backed more control of the community game being devolved to local a consultation period that runs to the end of June, final recommendations will be made to the Council in autumn when it could rubberstamp its own demise, with members' privileges and perks potentially being phased out over time.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Torquay have promotion belief, says striker Cooke
Torquay United striker Cody Cooke says the Gulls believe they can win promotion back to the National 32, has come off the bench to score the winning goal in both of Torquay's past two National League South matches. He and his team-mates are on an eight-game unbeaten run that has included winning each of their past four away Torquay are three points off leaders Worthing with five games to go in what looks set to be a dramatic finale to the season."I've been in teams where we've been close to promotion but probably within the group you haven't really believed you can go on and actually get promoted," Cooke told BBC Radio Devon."There's a real belief in this group that we can go on and do [it]."At the minute the results are going our way and momentum is key at this time of the season, so we've just got to use that to our advantage."At the moment everyone's in a good place, we're good in terms of form, we're kicking on at the right time with five games to go." Torquay play four sides in the bottom half of the table in their remaining five games - as well as a potentially crucial trip to third-placed Truro City on Good Gulls' recovery has come less than a year after the club was taken over by a consortium of local had been in administration at the end of last season after former owner Clarke Osborne stopped funding the says Torquay, who spent 87 years in the bottom two tiers of the English Football League before relegation in 2014, are capable of clawing their way back into the fifth tier two years after dropping down from the National League."You've got to dream about going and getting promoted and I can't see why not in terms of what we've got and where we've put ourselves," added Cooke."The league's not false, at this time of the season you are where you are on merit."We look around and the other teams who are in around us, if we've not beaten them during the season we've had good encounters with them, so we've got nothing to fear."
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Hartlepool United face 'testing times' after Raj Singh's exit
Hartlepool United face a difficult time ahead due to the resignation of chairman Raj Singh, the club's fans have resigned on Tuesday with immediate effect and cited abuse from a group of supporters as his reason for tenure in charge of the club has proved controversial due to Hartlepool's poor performance in recent years and relegation to the National former Hartlepool defender Ben Clark said Singh's departure meant the club faced "testing times" as it sought a new owner and funding. "You have to be hopeful there are potential suitors out there to take over the club," he told BBC Radio Tees. "Let's face it, it's a fabulous club but one thing it shouldn't be is 15th in the National League."It's a good football club for someone to come and take over as, if you do get it right, it's a magical place to play football." Singh took over Pools in 2018 but has since overseen two relegations to the National League and a promotion back to the English Football put the club up for sale in 2023 after it was relegated back to the National League but a deal has yet to go through. 'Lost heart and soul' Clark's views were echoed by Hartlepool Mail football writer Robbie Stelling who said Singh's resignation felt like the "first step into the unknown".He said fans had felt doubtful over Singh's previous attempts to sell the club but said the former chairman did deserve some respect."Raj Singh deserves some credit for some of the things he has done, particularly early on in his tenure when he saved the club from administration and potential liquidation," he Stelling said watching Pools play recently made it seem like the club had "lost the heart and soul that has made it so special for so many years".Supporter and member of the Hartlepool United fans' panel Mark Caroll said he was "shocked" when he heard the news of Singh's outgoing chairman has promised to pay staff and players until the end of the season but Mr Caroll said a new owner would need to be found to secure its offered a message to those who "proclaimed they were interested in the club in the past"."Now is the time to put up or shut up," he said. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
27-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Former NI boss Baraclough leaves role with Fylde
Former Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough has quit his role as director of football with National League side AFC 54-year-old held the Northern Ireland post for two years before being sacked in October a spell as Cheltenham Town assistant manager, he joined Fylde in November, with his brief stay coming to an end on Monday. Fylde, who are managed by former England and Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips, beat Wealdstone 2-0 on Saturday but sit a lowly 22nd in the National League."It is with a heavy heart that I have taken the difficult decision to step away from the football club after our excellent home victory over Wealdstone on Saturday," said Baraclough."I walk away with the knowledge that the director of football role is one that I am totally comfortable with and the experience will stand me in good stead for the future."It has been an enjoyably challenging, busy few months and hopefully I am leaving the club in a better place. Looking forward to continuing my journey."
