108 replies to this topic

[mick wilson]

Obviously a Barrow fan here, but why can not a championship club gain a 3 yr license if they are moving in the right direction, progressive and bags of potential, but under the clevet that they must redevelop or build new within this time frame.

Why couldn't any club say for (example) redevelop 1 or 2 sections of the ground ?
While not ideal, its still progress, but very expensive progress while trying to stay competive on the field which would be very difficult with having to also spend massivley of construction projects, So in my opinion you would be expected to loose this license after your 3 yr stint as how can you afford to do both simultaneously, surely its almost a impossible task.
Which leaves you with a half/fully developed or new ground but back to square one on the playing side, where would this leave any side in being viable financially with huge mortgage payments to be met for yrs to come ?

How many SL clubs have & still do play in old tired stadiums ?
Their being lead towards massive redevelopment or build new stadiums, something which is good for the game in the long term.

Take those challenging from the Championship.

Widnes, Fax & Leigh all now have very good stadias, but ALL are rented or leased meaning they can spend much more off the field in strengthening the areas of the club that the license requires but wont gain the money generated by the attending crowds, but in the licensing stakes its advantage them.

Fev & Barrow own their grounds 100% ( surely that means something ? ) but both are in need of serious redevelopment.
Barrow have at least built a new stand in recent yrs and have redevelopment plans and are fund raising to pay for it as we speak.
We are to over haul our 2nd string and youth sides next season which is a given as both are very weak due to our rapid rise up the leagues ((example Worky had TEN Barrow lads playing for them today who all still live in Barrow)) Due to our location is easier to do than most other sides as we have far less compo for players within our catchment areas.

In todays 4 SL games (Four) Barrow lads played & other Cumbrians also played in these games.

Youth level,
Worky, Haven, (have loads of barra kids) Wire, Leeds, Salford & many other SL sides have Barrow kids in their academy's (as) we have concentrated (rightly or wrongly) On the 1st team to try any tick some boxes, get us noticed and regain support on the terraces & become self financing as much as possible.

Again due to our location we can get the majority of the well trained & good young kids back ((if)) we were to be a viable SL side, The kids at our fellow Cumbrian will probably be back home next season when we launch our academy side, but the SL academy kids will be harder to entice back obviously, but if the top 6 SL side kids dont eventually make it there they will probably try again back home and be valuable assets to BRLFC.

Other clubs can also say this but our location makes it easier for us, so I BELIEVE we bring more to the table that way, plus add in the sad demise lately of Haven & Worky means that when our academy & reserves get revamped next term then the best West Cumbrians will come down to us as Historically happens ( best Cumbrian talent travels to the best Cumbrian club )

Our support this eason has sort of tailed off to around 1700+ home fans, we would love more but the consensus seems to be "whats the point we can not go up" sadly a true reflection of society today.

I believe if Barrow get a licence we can really kick on and be the dominent Cumbrian club for yrs to come and be of huge benefit to the sport of RL as we settle back into the top flight.

Fev ( I believe ) also have redevelopment/ new ground plans at the ready, dont know much about them.

Toulouse , I'm not sure about.

Sorry for the ramble but had to end it rapid as im off out.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Certainly remains to be seen whether it will make any difference whatsoever to their profile. I couldn't tell you personally which london football club is currently closest to BBC Television Centre. I think the London clubs are on the whole treated with bias but I couldn't tell you which one.

It could be good for the sport but I don't understand what it will do for Salford City Reds in particular which wont apply to Wigan, Wire or St Helens especially since relatively little Rugby League is shown on BBC.

QPR's the closest to BBC TV Centre. And a fat lot of good it's done them. All the BBC's move means is a lot of free publicity for Sale and possibly Leeds Tykes.

[The Future is League]

QPR's the closest to BBC TV Centre. And a fat lot of good it's done them. All the BBC's move means is a lot of free publicity for Sale and possibly Leeds Tykes.

i don't know how much QPR have tried courting the BBC publicity wise, but surely Salford must have someone at the Club who can exploit, (if thats the right word) the BBC moving to Salford for the good of Salford City Reds and therefore Rugby League?

[Trojan]

QPR's the closest to BBC TV Centre. And a fat lot of good it's done them. All the BBC's move means is a lot of free publicity for Sale and possibly Leeds Tykes.

Time will tell. At least they'll be aware of Salford's, and thus the game's existence.

[Keith T]

I believe if Barrow get a licence we can really kick on and be the dominent Cumbrian club for yrs to come and be of huge benefit to the sport of RL as we settle back into the top flight.

Just imagine having two licences in Cumbria, Mick. One at Barrow and one for west Cumbria (Worky/Haven) what shot in the arm that would be for the county and for those who don't know the geography of Cumbria there is a 60 mile difference between Workington and Barrow.

[mick wilson]

Just imagine having two licences in Cumbria, Mick. One at Barrow and one for west Cumbria (Worky/Haven) what shot in the arm that would be for the county and for those who don't know the geography of Cumbria there is a 60 mile difference between Workington and Barrow.

That would be great Keith, Should we remind then thats while its a 60 mile trip it a trip on one of the worst roads in mainland England with a minimum travel time of 1.30 mins As anyone who has travelled it knows only to well

[goldcard]

That would be great Keith, Should we remind then thats while its a 60 mile trip it a trip on one of the worst roads in mainland England with a minimum travel time of 1.30 mins As anyone who has travelled it knows only to well

60 miles A road, ave speed 40 mph, journey time 90 mins.
Same all over the UK, give or take 2 mph.

Big as Cumbria is, I can't see the scattered population keeping 2 S/L sides viable, tbh 1 is a gamble.
I do take your point about backed pledges of ground upgrades though, especially as a few clubs have led a charmed life so far regarding ground facilities.

Whoever gets the nod/boot this time round, this place will be a mods nightmare for 6 months.
Bet webby and Craig can't wait......

[The Parksider]

Obviously a Barrow fan here, but why can not a championship club gain a 3 yr license if they are moving in the right direction, progressive and bags of potential, but under the clevet that they must redevelop or build new within this time frame.

Well why not indeed........

BUT if you want to come into SL on the basis that you are going in the right direction, how do you square this with the harsh reality that Mr. Johnson will need to inject something like a million pounds a year to make you competetive at least on the pitch.

Because if you haven't got the ground and are therefore not maximising the fanbase you need to ensure you are winning matches to bring the fans in.

Mick - your model is HKR. I think you CAN get crowds like theirs, and I think your ground CAN be tickled up like theirs (spookily both grounds have the same name ) but their Mr. Hudgell is currently £3Million into making sure they win matches to keep the crowds up, with no prospect of any return on that "investment".

Is Mr. Johnson prepared for such losses??

[The Parksider]

Id love to see the competition expand to 16 teams as I feel there are a number of candidates outside SL with strong cases to be included. The only problem is there arent enough SL quality players to go around.

However I feel the following clubs all have good enough fan bases and have good enough youth development set ups to warrant inclusion:Barrow,Featherstone,Widnes, halifax, a South Yorkshire side.........

There are 14 clubs in SL. If sugar daddies pulled out the following would collapse big time - Quins, Crusaders, HKR and salford.

Widnes only warrant inclusion because Mr. O'Connor is rich. They had the Halton stadium when they were last in SL.

Barrow, Fev and a south Yorkshire side do not have a ground of note, do not have a good enough junior set up and do not have a sugar daddy to make up the shortfall with readies of great magnitude.

Fev can't succeed next to Cas who can't succeed next to Wakey who can't succeed next to Fev and so on.

Halifax are skint, and even when doing well have no better a fan base than HKR who are £3M in debt surviving in SL.

Far from trying to promote the feasibility of a sixteen club SL, the serious reality is we have strength in a 10 club SL with 27 fixtures if we are honest...............

[no13benny]

How many clubs in the EPL would fold if their sugar daddy's pulled out?

I think 4 out of 14 is an impressive number.

[The Parksider]

How many clubs in the EPL would fold if their sugar daddy's pulled out?

I think 4 out of 14 is an impressive number.

None would fold if by EPL if you mean premiership soccer.

In soccer sugar dadies make strong clubs stronger in a strong game.

In professional RL a sugar daddy is the difference between a club and no club (Quins, crusaders) or a club who is vibrant and a club descending the way the Bramleys and Swintons have gone (HKR and Salford).

Take out abramovitch, Glazers, Hicks, City's sheiks, etc and you still have BIG CLUBS left in the EPL.

[Dave T]

There are 14 clubs in SL. If sugar daddies pulled out the following would collapse big time - Quins, Crusaders, HKR and salford.

Haven't two of those clubs previously had sugar daddies pull out and gone on to survive in one form or another?

[Pottsy]

Barrow: Stadium could be an issue, shame they cant get together with the other Cumbrian clubs to form a new franchise.

Don't see a merger happening and, given the lack of quality stadia + relatively small population, don't see any Cumbrian club making it alone.

Featherstone: Very close to Cas and Wakefield, could generate a lot of income from sale of land to build a new stadium without council funding.

No disrespect to Fev, but whatever the situation at Wakey/Cas, I really can't see the RFL being in any rush to kick out a small city (Wakey) or small town (Cas) club just to replace them with a village team from down the road.

Widnes: Surely dead certs. Leading the way in terms of stadium and youth development. Great History.

I'd agree. Nailed on.

Halifax: The Shay looks great with the new stand, Im sure many old fans would return if the club got back into SL. seriously doubt the RFL is looking for an other franchise in West Yorks though.

Will probably be capable of a pretty good application now the stadium situation is being sorted. However, I don't think another west Yorkshire franchise will be seen as a strategic priority unless Cas + Wakey get the bullet.

Would love to see a South Yorkshire side but dont think either Doncaster or Sheffield are anywhere near as stand alone clubs, merger? neither fans hate each other so may be feasible.

Honestly don't see a merger being on the cards (the two places are far further apart than people seem to realise) and, seeing as the city of Sheffield only has one grassroots club at the moment, don't really see there being a clamour for top-class rugby in the Steel City right now. IMO the Eagles best bet would be to work harder to develop links with the growing RL scene just down the M1 in the Midlands and focus any future franchise application on this.

[mick wilson]

Well why not indeed........

BUT if you want to come into SL on the basis that you are going in the right direction, how do you square this with the harsh reality that Mr. Johnson will need to inject something like a million pounds a year to make you competitive at least on the pitch.

Because if you haven't got the ground and are therefore not maximizing the fan base you need to ensure you are winning matches to bring the fans in.

Mick - your model is HKR. I think you CAN get crowds like theirs, and I think your ground CAN be tickled up like theirs (spookily both grounds have the same name ) but their Mr. Hudgell is currently £3Million into making sure they win matches to keep the crowds up, with no prospect of any return on that "investment".

Is Mr. Johnson prepared for such losses??

I would have to answer a big DONT THINK SO but........................We would get 3.3 Million just from being in the SL
Our home game gates would be at least 5000+ which would probably cover the wage bill , Sponsorship should rise considerably & the increased revenue from the concessions, merchandise sales, & our lottery etc would stretch a hell of a lot further etc knowing your safe for three yrs an astute manager would have a weaker squad backed by a very strong reserve 7 yoof academy feeding the 1st team with more players every year peaking in term 3 for your big push at survival.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

As far as ground standards are concerned, when it became a requirement for Premiership soccer clubs to have all seat stadia, any newly promoted side was allowed three years to bring their ground up to standard. Why can't there be a similar rule in RL?

[nec]

As far as ground standards are concerned, when it became a requirement for Premiership soccer clubs to have all seat stadia, any newly promoted side was allowed three years to bring their ground up to standard. Why can't there be a similar rule in RL?

Wakefield made promises that weren't kept and they have been more cautious since as a result

[Lobbygobbler]

Wakefield made promises that weren't kept and they have been more cautious since as a result

Perhaps because other clubs in SL also did not meet the standards (and still don't) so it would have been hypocritical.

However now is the time to turf out clubs in SL who don't have the stadium. They've had time. Why didn't Wakey build a proper stand behind the sticks rather than that stupid council flat building - the same goes for Bradford

I'm all for allowing promoted clubs a 3-year stint in SL with the caveat that they do work to get up to an agreed standard

[mick wilson]

Throw out all clubs that have had the time, money & resources and made the promisis to build and replace them with the top 4 , 5 or whatever Champs clubs

[Eagles86]

We would never go for a merger again after what happend last time, so want us to be back in super league one day and with the link up with Sheffield United and use of Bramall Lane it would be perfect.

Just needs more work behind scenes and couple of really good seasons pushing for championship title.

[The Parksider]

I would have to answer a big DONT THINK SO but........................We would get 3.3 Million just from being in the SL
Our home game gates would be at least 5000+ which would probably cover the wage bill , Sponsorship should rise considerably & the increased revenue from the concessions, merchandise sales, & our lottery etc would stretch a hell of a lot further

That's fine Mick, but the reality for several M62 clubs is that 10,000 is the break even figure and so either the boss has to find millions to cover the salary cap, or the clubs run well under the cap and struggle on the pitch.

Your break even at 5,000 is way way down on 10,000 and I think ultra optimistic, but hey - I hope you get in and prove everyone wrong.......