Rival bidders are pursuing Whitehaven Rugby League Football Club (RLFC) as it heads towards administration in the face of a threatened winding-up order due to a £64,000 income tax bill.
Since the winding-up threat, Whitehaven RLFC’s board of directors filed a notice of intent to go into administration. This enables prospective administrators RSM Tenon to receive offers to buy the club during a 10-day period, although any bid would have to prove acceptable to Tenon before the club can actually go into administration.
Dick Raaz, Haven’s American chairman, is leading a consortium to buy the club and a group of local supporters are also bidding to purchase it. Raaz hopes his bid will be accepted by RSM Tenon, enabling a new club to be formed and total debts of around £300,000 wiped out.
But the supporters are planning to make 'a viable offer to run the club,' to give fans a say in the formation of a new rugby league club.
Steering group spokesman Karl Connor said, “We have seen a genuine will in the community for the club to continue and a genuine interest from supporters in getting involved in shaping the club’s future.”
Mr Raaz said, “[The implications of going into administration are that] debts will be cleared at a stroke. New owners will then take over the club debt free.”
