London Broncos seek funding to secure survival

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, London Broncos won three of their 27 games as they finished bottom of Super League this season - the same record as Hull FC who had a better points difference

London Broncos have said they need to raise 拢350,000 in the next month to ensure their survival next season.

The club finished bottom of Super League a year after gaining promotion and are expected to drop down down into the Championship after only being ranked 24th last year in media giant IMG's new grading system.

An announcement on which 12 clubs will play in Super League in 2025 is expected next week.

There will be no parachute payment for Broncos next season should they be relegated, unlike previous years when the team that has gone down has received funding to help cover the reduction in income from dropping out of the top flight.

"We estimate it will cost circa 拢900,000 to navigate our way through the 2025 season," Broncos chief executive Jason Loubser said.

"So for us to confidently start signing players and be ready for the first competitive game we need to raise around 拢350,000 in the next month," he

Broncos owner David Hughes is stepping down and has put the club up for sale having been at the helm for 27 years.

Director of rugby and performance Mike Eccles said the investment Hughes had made was "astronomical and important for keeping London rugby league alive".

The club has three contracted players for next season - Marcus Stock, Harry Stevens and Lewis Bienek - but Eccles said other members of the squad were keen to stay.

"We feel we are in a position to move forward now and we've put in a lot of time and effort working with the off-field staff to project 'what can we do here?', and we believe we can. It鈥檚 going to be difficult but it's also exciting,"

"In the medium to long term we all want Super League but right here, right now we have to cut our cloth accordingly and generate as much money as we can."