Yesterday, it was announced on the club’s Facebook page that the Halifax Panthers have entered compulsory liquidation, following a High Court hearing. The club had been facing a winding-up order for quite some time, and it has become the third rugby league team in just over two months to fold because of financial issues.

While the winding-up order has been public knowledge for quite some time, the announcement yesterday came as a bolt from the blue, with no talk in the run-up to Monday of the club’s future being in any immediate danger. In fact, they were less than twenty-four hours removed from playing their last game, where they were dumped out of the Challenge Cup by the Goole Vikings in surprising fashion.

Halifax Panthers Club Statement in Full:

Following today’s High Court hearing, Halifax Panthers has been placed into compulsory liquidation.

We know this news will be very disappointing for our supporters, players, staff and sponsors. The winding-up relates to a long-running dispute with HMRC, and despite efforts to find a solution, we were unable to conclude a deal in time to prevent this outcome.

As part of this process, the directors are no longer in control of the company, and responsibility now passes to the Official Receiver, who will oversee the company’s affairs and determine the next steps.

Discussions will now begin around the future of the club. Our focus is on working with all parties to secure the best possible outcome and a sustainable future for Halifax Panthers.

This is not necessarily the end of the club, and we will provide further updates as soon as we can.

Thank you for your continued support.

Halifax Panthers

As stated earlier, the Panthers are not the first club in recent times to go under due to financial issues. In December, Salford Red Devils and Featherstone Rovers were liquidated and entered administration, respectively. Salford have since founded a phoenix club, Salford RLFC, whereas Featherstone Rovers were denied re-entry into the RFL Championship in January, after concerns surrounding their financial viability remained.

As stated in their statement, this may not signify the end of rugby league in Halifax, and, according to a short RFL statement released on their website yesterday, which indicated that meetings will be held this week and a decision made soon, it still leaves the immediate future of the second tier in limbo. The Panthers are still listed to play the Sheffield Eagles this Sunday afternoon, but it remains to be seen whether this game will go ahead, and what the long-term impact of Halifax potentially having to drop out of the league might have on the Championship.

The question, in the aftermath of this unfortunate situation, is to what extent the RFL is responsible for failing to provide subsequent support to a club that was so clearly struggling. In the last month alone, Featherstone and then Halifax have gone to the wall, two proud teams with decades, if not a full century, of history behind them, have been allowed to slip out of the professional game, whereas Salford were fast-tracked back into the competition. Why is this? Is there some element of favouritism from those in charge? Are they guilty of reckless neglect? I don’t have the answers, but it paints a sorry picture of the current state of rugby league below the Super League.

Written by Nathan Major (Site editor & Hull KR fan)

Source: https://www.facebook.com/FaxPanthers