Quins link up with Broncos Cross-code partnership on cards as clubs move to secure future

4:55pm Friday 22nd July 2005

Rugby League club London Broncos are to quit as Brentford FC's tenants and become partners with NEC Harlequins by moving into their Stoop Memorial Ground next season.

A cross-code merger between the clubs should result in Broncos changing their name perhaps to London Harlequins.

The two clubs have both called press conferences for next Tuesday when they will publicly announce the deal.

Asked about a cross-code merger and groundshare, Broncos media manager Chris Warren said: "I cannot comment on speculation, but the club is set to make an important announcement regarding our future direction."

Quins PR and media manager Nick Melton added: "We have had discussions about our future and all will be revealed on Tuesday."

Broncos are recovering from liquidation, which recently enabled them to have debts of around £3 million wiped out It appears that they were not prepared to continue to ground-share with Brentford, who hope to leave Griffin Park in five years time and acquire a new stadium, because they were not offered a partnership' deal with the Football League club.

Quins are expected to give Broncos a partnership with a shared interest in the development of the Stoop as stake holders.

There is even a suggestion that Quins might invest in Broncos and take a majority share in their league neighbours.

Another problem at Griffin Park was that Broncos have had to play home matches on the road during seven weeks of the summer while the pitch is prepared for the new football season.

The move will bring a welcome source of revenue for landlords Quins, who suffered relegation from the Zurich Premiership for the first time last season.

Broncos, who have been without a permanent home since they were formed 25 years ago, previously played at the Stoop between 1997 and 1999.

There was no partnership' on offer then, so they spent two years as Charlton's tenants at the Valley before moving to Brentford's Griffin Park home four years ago.

General reaction about the merger from Quins supporters appears to be positive. An independent messageboard on a fans' website is full of praise for the impending deal.

"The synergy of this proposal makes sense," said one, while another says: "Fantastic. Rugby all year round at the Stoop."

News of the partnership completes a remarkable summer for Quins.

When the threat of relegation became reality in May, doom and gloom merchants predicted a revenue loss of £4-5m and their was doubt over deals to bring in key figures Dean Richards and Andrew Mehrtens.

Instead, Richards is safely installed as director of rugby, Mehrtens will be in the quartered shirt next season and season ticket sales have broken through the 4,000 barrier.