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Ospreys player Sam Parry has posted a public statement on behalf of the Ospreys players who say they have been left in the dark
The Ospreys players have issued a stark public statement, revealing they have been left completely in the dark by the Welsh Rugby Union and the club’s owners, Y11 Sports & Media.
Senior star Sam Parry posted a statement on social media on Tuesday afternoon, with players concerned for their futures and that of the region they represent. It comes less than 24 hours after the WRU board unanimously chose Y11 as their preferred bidder for Cardiff – a move that plunges the Ospreys into great uncertainty.
The two parties have now entered a period of exclusivity, with the aim of striking a deal by next week. While nothing is set in stone, an agreement is likely to be the WRU’s path to reducing from four professional teams to three, whatever that looks like.
The statement from Ospreys players reads: “As players we want to address the current situation and offer supporters our point of view. We have been left in the dark by the WRU and Y11.
“We ourselves have had no information regarding the ongoing situation. We struggle to believe the most successful Welsh team to exist with the biggest history is on the brink of non-existence.
“We will continue to play for the fans and for the people who have stood by the Ospreys over the years.”
The Ospreys Supporters’ Club has demanded Y11 make clear their intentions in the wake of Monday’s developments. A statement read: “This is hugely concerning for Ospreys supporters. At this time, we call on Y11 to address the concerns directly and without delay. After a prolonged period of uncertainty culminating in this news, the least our supporters deserve is a full explanation.”
It added in further comments: “From the off, this shambles of the WRU board has screwed us all right over and taken Welsh rugby for fools.
“From that ‘extensive consultation’ in which the presentation pack was littered with errors and self serving misinformation, the survey which wasn’t even GCSE standard and was skewed, leading and biased to provide the response they wanted, the car crash interviews, the leaks to the media and now apparently making the choice of buyer for Cardiff as one which only they wanted and which serves their agenda.”
The WRU said on Monday night: “The WRU board met for its January meeting today and considered the recommendation from the Executive Leadership Team on the sale of Cardiff Rugby,” read a WRU statement.
“The board reviewed in detail the final two bids and unanimously approved the proposal to move forward with a preferred bidder into an exclusivity period.
“Following this decision, the WRU has obligations to liaise with a number of stakeholders over the next few days.
“We will then discuss the decision with the two bidders and the management of Cardiff Rugby and we expect to be in a position to have completed this by next week.
“The WRU hopes to finalise the detailed negotiations with the preferred bidder and sign a binding agreement within a matter of weeks.”
