Bedford Blues are one of a number of clubs in English rugby’s second tier to have shared a collective statement asking for the RFU to convene a Special General Meeting, in which a vote of no confidence can take place to dislodge members of the RFU’s executive.
The vote of no confidence would specifically be for the Chairman of the RFU Board of Directors, Tom Ilube and the RFU’s Chief Executive Officer, Bill Sweeney, who has faced heavy criticism for accepting an annual bonus of £358,000 despite the organisation posting huge losses.
The criticism also comes off the back of large cuts to the annual funding of Championship clubs. Sweeney’s bonus alone is almost three times that of the reported figure of £133,000 per annum that each club now receives, down from £650,000 per year in 2016.
A statement shared on the Bedford Blues website and social media pages says, “they could no longer stand by and allow the current situation and the unaccountable decision making that led to it, to continue without challenge.”
“The decision to send the letter to the President was taken following a vote at a meeting of club chairs on 5 December in which all 12 clubs were represented”, says the statement.
“In the letter, the clubs stated that they could no longer stand by and allow the current situation and the unaccountable decision making that led to it, to continue without challenge.
“[We will] be urging all other clubs and members of the union to support their call for an SGM and a vote of no confidence, so that the first steps to fundamental change could be taken.
“The clubs will act individually when it comes to arguing for or voting on any no-confidence motions that might arise at an SGM, but acted collectively in their call to hold that meeting.”
Opinion: The first steps to fundamental change
This escalation is the latest in a series of developments in recent years aimed at the RFU, with its CEO, Sweeney at the heart of it.
In the Summer, Championship clubs had sensed there was to be an upturn in fortunes as a new RFU deal outlined relaxed promotion rules, new broadcasting and media deals and the creation of a new Tier Two board.
Coventry are the first, and so far only side, to apply for Premiership promotion this season, and are currently top of the Championship with seven wins from seven games.
While the new board has been set up, with the experienced Simon Gillham MBE appointed its Chair, there have been further snubs for the Championship, beginning with the proposed Professional Game Partnership deal that only includes Premiership sides.
Read: Bedford Blues “remain optimistic” despite Championship clubs losing out on funding increase
That deal gives Premiership clubs up to £3.3m each, up from £2m from the previous deal. With Sweeney reportedly receiving a total of £1.1m in remuneration this year, there is widespread anger amongst Championship clubs about a perceived lack of financial support.
Now, their patience has run out and they want heads to roll, saying a vote would allow “the first steps to fundamental change” to be taken.
Bedford Blues told the Bedford Independent in September that there was “no need to panic”.
“Fortunately we are in a stable position given the fantastic support we receive from our stakeholders and fans”, said Chief Operating Officer, Gareth Alred.
That support has been evidenced with a shade under 3,000 fans present at Goldington Road for the Blues’ cup fixture against Bath despite the presence of Storm Bert, and almost 4,000 against Ampthill a week later.
Three former RFU Chairmen, (Martyn Thomas, Graeme Cattermole and Brian Baister), also threw their weight behind the calls for the RFU senior leadership to resign last week.
Their open letter claims there is “enormous & irreparable damage” being caused at the RFU, with six executives sharing a bonus pot of £1.3m whilst simultaneously making over 40 members of staff redundant at Twickenham.
All of this feels like the perfect storm that could see the end of not just Bill Sweeney’s RFU tenure, but also that of a number of senior leaders in English rugby.
Bedford Blues are back in Championship action this Sunday (15 December) as they travel to the Richmond Athletic Ground to face London Scottish.
