Newcastle Thunder are at risk of folding after the club’s investment group decided to pull their funding from the club. Chronicle Live understands a statement will be released Friday outlining the club’s plight, with real fears they could go out of existence.
Players are thought to have been informed about the situation, which, unless a new investor is identified, is likely to see the club withdraw from League 1 next season. Thunder were relegated from the Championship this year, and the club are now at risk of not existing whatsoever next season.
The situation has been described as “grim” by sources, thought there is still faint hope that an investor could be found to help salvage the club, who had once outlined bold plans to become a Super League club.
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After being promoted to the second tier, Newcastle went full-time. However, they quickly reverted back to part-time status after a disappointing season and were relegated this year.
Further details are set to be outlined tomorrow, but without new investment, the club are not expected to feature next season, which would leave League 1 with just eight clubs for the 2024 season. What that would mean for the third tier is at this stage unclear, with questions inevitably set to be asked of the RFL on the matter.
The club was formed in 2000 under the name Gateshead Thunder, which came after the previous club merged with Hull FC. When Newcastle Falcons took on the ownership in 2015, the club rebranded. In 2020, they were selected to play in the Championship after Toronto Wolfpack went out of business.
