24: Andy Mazey on Rochdale Hornets and the Future of the Championship

Rochdale Hornets Chairman Andy Mazey, who has invested time, effort, and a significant amount of money over six years at the club, saying his main focus is on creating a debt-free, sustainable club model.The Rochdale owner supports the need for a new Championship salary cap (to be turnover‑based) and stronger financial controls .He says the clubs all agree that the  RFL should implement robust policing and financial controls to prevent boom-and-bust; noting part-time players earning more than Super League full-time players whilst only training two nights a week.He believes the new Championship salary cap coming in next year will help build a strong second tier and a competitive Championship competition which protect club futures and create promotion-ready clubs.He also believes that the League One clubs benefit from exposure to the newly merged Championship competition, but sustained local support is necessary or clubs risk disappearing in the future.Whilst the Super League may expand to 15 in 2026 to include the London Broncos. Andy says the Championship must be a strong second tier; that cannot be exclusively focused on Super League. Believing that a strong Championship can and will produce clubs that are financially and competitively ready for promotion in the new IMG era.