Saturday 11 August 2007
Manchester is awash with rumours that Chevron Action Flash may move south. Speculation was sparked off by comments from a representative of Kenny Stevens, Chevron board member and long time lynch pin of the club's administrative function. The spokeswoman is quoted as saying "Kenny has been very excited and looking forward to the prospect of moving south from the first moment I told him to be." It is thought that Bournemouth is a possible new base for Steven's operation.
Such a move is likely to be opposed by Stu Mitchell who still wields a significant influence over the board. However Chevron historian (meaning he is living in the past) William Smythe believes Mitchell's power base is slipping away from him. "Mitchell is following a pattern laid out by his predecessors" says Smythe "one minute you are GB captain and things are rosy, the next you are winning Euro's from the O line and your wife is up the duff, before you know it your knees are shot from pushing a double buggy around Fletchermoss gardens and your Ultimate career is limited to calling lines for the masters."
Franchise moves are not unheard of in Ultimate. In the late 90s Catch 22 declared 'Screw the North we are off down London village to increase our earnings yet reduce our quality of life' and in the last 5 years the Clapgun crawled from out of one American's arse into another's.
An alternative for Chevron would be to have two bases, but history shows this formula has not proved successful for the club. In 2001 a Manchester / Rotherham partnership fell apart when the team realised they were too good to need to practice. There was brief success in 2003 with a North / South split but this soon collapsed when the B team decided to go their own way and form Fire.
When asked to comment on the rumours current player Fragile Matt Mgchlohglgin said 'It's not fair.'
Harry Golby