Take-over plan dropped in 2005
Shareholders in Whitehaven 1992 Ltd learned in June 2005 that Haven director Tony Ansell was withdrawing his offer to buy out key shareholders as part of investment plan. Mr Ansell had submitted a plan to attract investment to the club in return for a controlling shareholding. But shareholders, including Copeland Council, remained cautious over the strategy.

WHITEHAVEN Rugby League Club have today announced a new management structure which the club believes will enable it to continue the significant progress that has been achieved in recent months and to better tackle the enormous challenges that lie ahead for ‘Haven and all Rugby League clubs in the Northern Ford Premiership.
The Board of Directors have appointed Harry Edgar as the club’s Chief Executive, whilst Barry Richardson has relinquished the Chairman’s role to take over as Financial Director. Ruth Edgar, is now the General Manager, and David Farrell has taken over the position of Company Secretary. Directors Ken Shepherd and Des Byrne will continue in their respective roles as Player Liason Director and Ground Safety Officer.
“We feel that this will give us a more streamlined form of management, and we are all very positive about building the future of Whitehaven R.L.F.C., despite the enormity of the challenges ahead,” said Barry Richardson. “The spirit of voluntary effort that has been brought to the club is an inspiration, and we hope to expand our management team to include more people who can offer expertise

The Merger Near Miss Statement by Whitehaven RL Club Chairman Peter Hannah (left) to 700 supporters at Whitehaven Civic Hall on August 3 2000.

"It has been a difficult few weeks for everyone associated with the club. The proposal to form a new Club with Workington has polarised opinion like no other local sporting issue over recent years. The Board have had accusations made against them as a result of the scaremongering tactics used by the action group, who decided that the merger was a done deal. The Board would have failed in its duty if it had not explored this proposal in the same way they would any proposal. It was never anything more than that, a proposal. Over recent weeks the Club Directors have considered the merger, with the best interests of the Club at the forefront of out deliberations. After exhausting all avenues of the merger, we have decided that a joint venture with Workington is not viable in the near future and therefor Whitehaven will remain an independent club.
"In answer to the critics, if the merger had been found to be viable we would certainly have produced a business plan and organised a meeting for the supporters to air their views. As this was not the case, we saw no reason to make a statement until the shareholders meeting on Monday. Directors have been working hard behind the scenes in recent months on stadium development plans, working closely with other interested parties which we hope will enable potential funding to be sourced from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, European Regional Development Agency, Sports Lottery and more recently the Sports Ground initiative, and thus createsignificant improvements to the Recreation Ground. We have also been working on securing a new Club sponsor, which will hopefully help the Club secure a team worthy of the stadium. We have a commitment from the sponsor, a major national firm, although final figures have not yet been worked out. Another proposal open to the Club was Harry Edgars idea of a community based programme for the club. Following a meeting in April with Harry, David and Paul Farrell. The Board gave their full support for them to pursue the community based programme on behalf of the Board. To-date the Board have not received any firm proposals.
With the new funding I have mentioned above and Harry Edgar's plan for a community Club Whitehaven can build a bright future, but make no mistake, it will take even greater efforts and enormous hard work along with a visionary attitude to bring these to fruition.
"Criticism is part of life but the verbal abuse the Directors and their families have been subjected to has been unacceptable, therefore the current Board of Directors will be resigning on Monday in the knowledge that we leave a Club financially sound and in the capable hands of the single major shareholder, Copeland Borough Council, who perhaps would take up the this opportunity to place a member of their Council on the Board of Directors.''