Reds keen to save Bay
Members of Penzance club Bay voted that the club should fold an Extraordinary General Meeting on Thursday night, but former president Michael Leah has since launched a last-ditch bid to save the club.
He has approached National League Two Redruth in the hope of forming a partnership. Officials from both clubs will meet tonight to discuss an arrangement that would see Mounts Bay play their home matches in National League Two South at the Recreation Ground on alternate weekends to Redruth's home fixtures.
Bay, who are now thought to have just three players on their books, would also rely on Redruth for players from their second XV squad to make up their numbers each week.
The Reds' up-and-coming players would benefit from exposure to National League rugby every weekend, while the host club would also gain financially by having the Recreation Ground open for business every weekend of the season.
Leah expects to make a public announcement regarding the outcome of the talks tomorrow, in advance of Bay confirming the decision to fold constitutionally at their annual general meeting on 23 July.
Penberthy, who is also Redruth's executive committee chairman, will be present at tonight's meeting, alongside head coach Nigel Hambly and other club officials, and he is cautiously optimistic over the outcome.
Speaking on his club's official website, he said: "It will be a sad day for Cornish rugby if Mounts Bay fold. Their success has been phenomenal over the past ten years and, if there is something that we can do to maintain good standards of rugby in the county, then we will."
However, Redruth will be keen to distance themselves from any off-the-field problems associated with Mounts Bay last season. Bay have debts in excess of £30,000 and made the decision to fold at last Thursday's EGM on the basis that their continued existence was "financially untenable" and they would be unable to field a team for the new season.
It is still unclear how their financial problems would be resolved, and Penberthy added that any deal between the clubs would have to be in the best interests of Redruth. He said: "Commercially, it is a good proposition on paper, with National League rugby at Redruth every Saturday throughout the season. Again there are many things to consider, and we must ensure that there is a sound infrastructure in place at Mounts Bay to enable it to continue as a club.
"You can rest assured that any decision I and the rest of the committee make will be in the best interests of the club and we will ensure that neither the club's nor its players' future will not be put in jeopardy. Our development and fringe players need to be playing a good standard of rugby. An opportunity such as this presents that solution. However, there are many rules and regulations that have to be adhered to, so it is not as simple as it may look.
"It will also involve the co-operation of other clubs carrying out a similar exercise with their players. There are lots of things to consider and I and the rest of the management team will make the correct decisions that benefit the club and its players."
Comment on this story