Select a region
A local finance firm has revealed that it is supporting the Jersey Reds "during their time of need" – while the Government is facing pressure from a former Economic Development Minister to step in to provide enough cash to help the club complete the season.
Deputy Lyndon Farnham is calling for the Government to provide more funding to the club, after it emerged last week that it had ceased trading and stands on the brink of liquidation, having failed to pay September salaries.
The Assistant Minister with responsibility for sport and Government communcations, Deputy Lucy Stephenson, confirmed shortly after the shock announcement that the Government had provided £370,000 funding in recent months. However, the Deputy said it was not felt appropriate by Ministers to continue to support the team – a position she claimed had always been consistent, denying that there had been a Government U-turn.
As Express reported last week, Ministers met on Tuesday 19 September to confirm that they would not be giving the team more money.
A senior club source said that they had been given no reason to believe that funding would not be forthcoming – particularly given that the Chief Minister herself had attended the match with the Exeter Chiefs days after the Council of Ministers meeting – and did not find out until more than a week later.
Deputy Stephenson said she did not know how or when the news was communicated to the Reds.
Deputy Farnham – under whose tenure as Economic Development Minister the Reds received hundreds of thousands in grant funding – is now calling on the Government to reverse their position, and is asking States Members to back him in getting the Treasury Minister to take the "necessary steps" to ensure the Jersey Reds have the funding required to complete the season.
Pictured: Deputy Lucy Stephenson, who has political responsibility for sport, said there had been no U-turn – but that the Government had always been consistent that it would not provide more funding.
His proposal is currently due for debate in the States Assembly in early November – but it is likely a request will be made to bring the vote forward.
Justifying the need to support the team, he said: "One of Jersey’s greatest sporting success stories of all time has to be the rise of the Jersey Reds culminating in winning the RFU Championship title in April of this year. In less than two decades the Jersey Reds have progressed from effectively playing park rugby to becoming the best national side outside of the RFU Premiership."
Reform Jersey's Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, meanwhile, is arguing that funding should only be made available "subject to the provision of a business case" by the Reds, proving that the club can remain operational.
Both Deputy Farnham's proposal and Deputy Feltham's suggested amendment are scheduled for debate in early November – but it is likely that a request will be made to bring the States Assembly vote forward.
At tomorrow's States Assembly meeting, the Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel is due to give a statement on the Reds' collapse, and will be grilled by States Members on the matter.
Numerous supporters of the Reds turned out on Friday evening at the Reds' home turf, the Stade Santander in St Peter, to show their support for the club in a peaceful demonstration organised by long-term fan Dominic Boletta. An e-petition calling for the Government to step in has also bene launched, but is yet to be officially approved by the States Greffe.
While it is unclear whether Ministers will change their position on funding, Hawk Group confirmed this afternoon that they would be supporting the Reds in the interim, and that they had covered the September salary bill.
Rob Morton, Chair of Hawk Group, said: "The Jersey Reds are not just a rugby team – they are an integral part of the island's identity and spirit."
He added: "By offering our support, we hope to ease the burden on the players, support staff, and their families during this challenging period. We believe that investing in the wellbeing of our local sporting heroes ultimately contributes to the prosperity and unity of the entire Jersey community."
There have been numerous estimates as to the value of the Jersey Reds' contribution to the local economy. Chair of the Jersey Reds, Mark Morgan, previously told Connect Magazine that research suggested its value to be worth around £5m annually, while documents since seen by Express valued the economic benefit of the club as being between £5 and £6 million per season. An independent report carried out several years ago – and referenced in the 2020-2023 Government Plan – placed the figure at "up to £2.1 million a year".
Co-CEO of the Jersey Hospitality Association, Marcus Calvani, described the collapse of the Reds as "unbelievably bad news" for Jersey.
"Jersey Reds achieved the unachievable last season, put our Island firmly on the map and raised the profile of our Island. The Reds been a major factor in attracting visitors to the island, especially during the shoulder months," he explained.
Pictured: Jersey Hospitality Association co-Chief Executive Marcus Calvani said the Reds collapse would have a huge impact on the island's hospitality and tourism sectors.
"They have attracted thousands of visiting fans as ‘sports tourists’ who have come to support their teams and enjoy everything Jersey has to offer while staying in our hotels, eating at our restaurants and cafes and drinking in our pubs and bars."
Follow Express for all the latest updates, and get them delivered for FREE to your inbox by signing up to our daily news email here.
Finance group sponsors struggling Jersey Reds
Government denies last-minute Jersey Reds funding U-turn
Airline offers to help stranded Jersey Reds players fly home
POLITICS DISASSEMBLED: Will ministers get a mauling over rugby funding?
READER LETTER: Investigation needed into Jersey Reds disaster
Relief fund set up for Jersey Reds players and employees
Reds loss will hurt Jersey's visitor economy, warns hospitality boss
"No job, friends for life in pieces... how did this happen in 24 hours?!"
Gov ruled out more cash after £370k injection to Jersey Reds
TIMELINE: How a beloved Jersey rugby team got into the 'Red'...and struggled to get out
Jersey Reds stops trading after investor talks fall apart
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.