Leeds chief not convinced by EFDR demands
October 13, 2000

Leeds Tykes chief executive Gary Hetherington has branded the latest EFDR demands as a "hollow threat".

Hetherington, whose club have championed the the cause of England's second division clubs, told the Yorkshire Evening Post, "I'm not surprised the first division clubs are using this threat but how successful it could be is a totally different matter," he said.

"The television contract and the major sponsorships are lodged with the RFU, so when they talk about a breakaway, could they breakaway from that?

"It could be a hollow threat. I don't know if they've got the means to carry out that threat but their frustration, anxiety and anger doesn't surprise me."

He added: "It's gone on long enough and people need to know exactly what the position is. Monday will bring it closer but it's a difficult one to resolve.

"It's difficult for the second division clubs but we haven't suffered any financial hardship. The ones who have really suffered are the first division clubs. You can understand their plight."

The row over promotion and relegation has resulted in the RFU withholding the first division's TV and sponsorship money and clubs are currently owed £600,000 of the £1.8million due under the Andrew plan.

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