Pearce fears for Shoguns' future
February 20, 2003

Bristol Shoguns chairman Malcolm Pearce today reiterated his fears about Premiership rugby's future in the city.

Millionaire businessman Pearce, whose money helped rescue Bristol from financial oblivion almost five years ago, is standing down at the end of this season.

And there is still no obvious sign of anyone - individual or consortium - taking the club over after Pearce served six months' notice that he would be quitting.

``The fact of the matter is that since rugby went professional back in 1995, our gates have not been large enough to support a competitive professional side,'' he said.

``Perhaps the time is coming when we should bow to the inevitable and accept the fact that the City of Bristol does not wish to support a Premiership rugby team.

``It has been some time since I made any public statement about the future of Bristol Shoguns, but I can assure people that we have been busy behind the scenes evaluating the many options.

``I repeat, that when I took the rugby club on, I said I would do what I could for five years.

``That period is up at the end of this season, and I thought it only right to give six months' notice of my decision to stand down, allowing ample time for others to come forward from the Bristol community.

``Bristol should be able to support Premiership rugby,'' he added.

``So far, there has been interest shown from only one local consortium. We were bound by a confidentiality agreement from releasing any details of the proposal, but the truth is I am very much in the dark myself about what was being offered.

``For example, I don't know who were the members of the consortium, and whether they had the financial standing to take on the club.

``Subsequently, it has been impossible to reach agreement based on the unrealistic proposals presented by the consortium. Not only is this disappointing, but has caused consequential delays, which is irritating.

``Curiously, there has been much more interest in the club from outside the Bristol area, including, somewhat surprisingly, from North America, where top-class sport is administered by way of regional franchise agreements.

``It has been reported that Mr Kassam would like to stage rugby at his magnificent stadium in Oxford, and it may be that Premiership rugby would generate more support in this new area.

``Other clubs have prospered by moving to new homes that offer spectators better facilities. One only needs to look at the fortunes of London Irish, Wasps and Saracens, and we can also see how Northampton has benefited following the redevelopment of Franklin's Gardens.

``Conversely, our gates continue to be among the smallest in the Premiership, and while there is some growth, we lag well behind the rest of the league.

``Is it any wonder we decided to try the experiment of playing the Bath game at Ashton Gate (on May 4) that offers an all-seated environment much more suited to top-class sport in the modern age?''

Bristol are currently 10th in the Zurich Premiership, just three points above bottom club Bath, but with a potentially critical game in hand - at home to Harlequins - on their closest relegation rivals.

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