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 after they have been knowledgeable.
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“This actually did come from left discipline, positively a blindside,” he instructed SEN on Thursday morning.
The ARLC’s rejection was as a result of a choice to not pat a multi-million greenback license price, however Cumins mentioned doing so can be “fully unreasonable”.
The Western Bears consortium was instructed their bid had been rejected in a phonecall from Andrew Abdo. Cameron Spencer through Getty Pictures
He mentioned a licence price had solely been part of “casual” discussions, and claimed the NRL needed between $15-$20 million on prime of the $30 million simply to get the membership up and working.
“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 business 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 price … we felt was fully unreasonable,” he mentioned.
On Wednesday, Cumins instructed 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 large. 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 group might be named the Western Bears or Perth Bears contemplating the logos 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 tens of millions of dollars,” he mentioned.
“I am nonetheless a rugby league diehard from Perth and Money Converters has poured tens of millions of {dollars} into the grassroots recreation over a few years.
“I nonetheless wish to see a Perth group. I need it to achieve success. I am not going to be an impediment. We’re nonetheless there if they need us.”
