Rugby grant - was it "value for money?"

Monday 14 November 2016

The current financial trouble at Jersey rugby club is set to be discussed by the States tomorrow, with one senior politician questioning if a £75,000 grant was "value for money."

Last week Jersey Reds announced a deal involving selling their assets to raise enough cash to complete this season.

And now Senator Sarah Ferguson is questioning the return received by the Island from the public money which has been put into the club. 

"I am a big fan of the rugby club and we all want to see it flourish and do well, but I am interested in finding out whether this grant we made, totalling £75,000, was value for money. Did we get a good return on the grant we gave? The academy at the rugby club does an amazing job and I am certainly not against the club, but the fact that they are in financial trouble is a concern to everybody. 

"I think this grant needs to be discussed. It was a significant amount and taxpayers have every right to ask whether they got value for money."

The rugby club announced last week that they have sold their ground, clubhouse and adjoining car park on a sale-and-lease back agreement in order to raise £1.5million.

The Reds, who are eighth in the Greene King IPA Championship, did not play this weekend, but last week's 27-24 victory over Cornish Pirates was their first win in the league since September 10th.

Coach Harvey Biljon has seen his side, who play Rotherham Titans on Sunday, hit hard by injuries to key personnel since the start of the season.