Broncos admit: There's no place like home

Nic Cartwright, the new man at the helm of Super League side London Broncos, has pledged to help the nomadic club put down firm roots in the capital.

As the Broncos prepare to kick off their eighth consecutive rugby league season in the top flight, they find themselves in new surroundings once again after moving 20 miles from Charlton to Brentford. They have signed only a 12-month lease at Griffin Park so could be on the move yet again this time next year.

However, Cartwright, their newlyappointed chief executive, insists every effort is being made to secure a permanent home. He said: "Until we find a home of our own, it's always going to be a struggle for us.

"We have to have it sorted within two or three years. We've got a good deal with Virgin so we're fairly safe financially but if, at end of three years we're still moving around, we'd be very concerned."

London, who have had seven 'permanent' homes and many more temporary ones since they were formed as Fulham in 1980, are believed to have opened exploratory talks with rugby union's London Wasps about sharing a purpose-built stadium.

Cartwright, who stepped up from commercial director when oil man David Hughes bought the club from Richard Branson's Virgin Group in the close season, admits the lack of a permanent base has proved to be the biggest stumbling block in the Broncos' attempts to achieve the big breakthrough in London.

The club failed to reap any benefit from their 1999 Challenge Cup Final appearance at Wembley and their average crowd of 3,177 last season was the lowest in Super League.

While Cartwright plans for the long term off the field, head coach Tony Rea is charged with bringing success on it, starting with Friday's visit to Leeds.