12 replies to this topic

[ChrisB]

I've seen a declaration from Fax that they are going to make nuisances of themselves by applying for a 2012 franchise spot.

I haven't seen anything public from your club stating that they are going to do likewise? I'm sure there must have been something because in all fairness I haven't been looking that hard.

I was just wondering if that is the case, how is it the case considering you missed out on the minimum crowd figures in the last two years?

Not a pop again and I think I've posted enough times on here to show I am not a troll. Just wondering and I know that the directors occasionally frequent these boards.

Thanks
Chris

[SRC]

Yes, we'll be 'making a nuisance' of ourselves as well.

Crowd figures at other clubs are a bit of a nonesense tbh. Halifax gave away umpteen tickets for their last home game so they surpassed the RFL's 2,500 figure required. They got 4,795 for that match (even though there was nowhere near that many inside the ground). The Grand Final eliminator just a couple of weeks later attracted just 1,490.
Out of interest, our playoff match against Sheffield the week before attracted 2,231.

Not a way to run a business. Many other clubs also give away free or ridiculously cheap tickets to artificially boost attendances. I think Widnes had a 'free' game in 2009 for the match after we tonked them at the Stobart. It added 2,000 to the gate. As you can see, attendance figures can be fudged no end.

At Barrow 99% pay. So what you see is what you get with our attendances. Surely the RFL will realise this.

With what's going on at Crusaders, I think Featherstone would be mad not to apply. There may be more than 1 license up for grabs between now and 2015.

Edited by SRC, 24 November 2010 - 02:32 PM.

[Thirty Three]

I've seen a declaration from Fax that they are going to make nuisances of themselves by applying for a 2012 franchise spot.

I haven't seen anything public from your club stating that they are going to do likewise? I'm sure there must have been something because in all fairness I haven't been looking that hard.

I was just wondering if that is the case, how is it the case considering you missed out on the minimum crowd figures in the last two years?

Not a pop again and I think I've posted enough times on here to show I am not a troll. Just wondering and I know that the directors occasionally frequent these boards.

Thanks
Chris

Chris,

I'm sure you know in your own heart that we will more than likely be getting a place in SL as representation for Cumbria! I'm not saying 2012 But nailed on for 2015! You would not believe the strides we are making up here! Amazing what is going on, but a lot of it is being kept very quiet for the time being and the Club are keeping things very close to their chest for the time being. I'm sure you'll see us on the front of the League Express again before long.

Best Regards

Gary

Edited by Thirty Three, 24 November 2010 - 03:59 PM.

[ChrisB]

Yes, we'll be 'making a nuisance' of ourselves as well.

Crowd figures at other clubs are a bit of a nonesense tbh. Halifax gave away umpteen tickets for their last home game so they surpassed the RFL's 2,500 figure required. They got 4,795 for that match (even though there was nowhere near that many inside the ground). The Grand Final eliminator just a couple of weeks later attracted just 1,490.
Out of interest, our playoff match against Sheffield the week before attracted 2,231.

Not a way to run a business. Many other clubs also give away free or ridiculously cheap tickets to artificially boost attendances. I think Widnes had a 'free' game in 2009 for the match after we tonked them at the Stobart. It added 2,000 to the gate. As you can see, attendance figures can be fudged no end.

At Barrow 99% pay. So what you see is what you get with our attendances. Surely the RFL will realise this.

With what's going on at Crusaders, I think Featherstone would be mad not to apply. There may be more than 1 license up for grabs between now and 2015.

The difference is that other clubs have posted attendances which mean that they are over the 2,500 minimum average attendance apparently needed to win one of the franchise spots. From what I saw and from what has been discussed on here Barrow did not reach that level.
As for Widnes... you're right that the free game was in 2009. In 2010 we still achieved the required figure without any freebies being dished out.

That was my point. How will Barrow overcome this deficit to even qualify to be considered?

[SRC]

That was my point. How will Barrow overcome this deficit to even qualify to be considered?

There's nothing to overcome. Barrow have been invited to apply, so ARE being considered.
You have to remember that we're dealing with the RFL here. Nothing is set in stone.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there could very well be an extra license made available between 2011 and 2014 (over and above the one for 2012). Say Widnes are accepted for the start of the 2012 campaign and then Crusaders go pop (again) at the end of 2012. There's a chance that the RFL would choose the next best application from 2012 to make SL up to 14 again.

Either way, there's no harm in applying - especially given recent events at Craven Park where the clubs' profile has been increased significantly. There are plenty of areas the club needs to improve on, but our turnover is good, we make a profit, have a large catchment area, are established as top 4 Championship team/club, have no SL club within 90 minutes drive and would fly the flag for a new region (Cumbria) in SL.

[ChrisB]

Chris,

I'm sure you know in your own heart that we will more than likely be getting a place in SL as representation for Cumbria! I'm not saying 2012 But nailed on for 2015! You would not believe the strides we are making up here! Amazing what is going on, but a lot of it is being kept very quiet for the time being and the Club are keeping things very close to their chest for the time being. I'm sure you'll see us on the front of the League Express again before long.

Best Regards

Gary

Couldn't agree more. I think Barrow could be nailed on certainties for 2015 with what is happening up there. They are very well placed. If this franchise thing was being decided in another year or two I'd be decidedly less confident.

[ChrisB]

There's nothing to overcome. Barrow have been invited to apply, so ARE being considered.
You have to remember that we're dealing with the RFL here. Nothing is set in stone.

I think all clubs that met the playing criteria were invited to apply and now as part of the application process the following needs to be demonstrated...
The minimum criteria for a Championship club to be awarded a Super League licence are:
a. Club has reached a Championship Final or won the Northern Rail Cup in 2009 or 2010.
b. Club has a stadium with an operational capacity of 10,000.
c. Club has turnover of at least £1,000,000 in financial year ending 2009 or 2010 (turnover of charitable Foundation can be included in this figure).
d. Club has an average attendance of at least 2500 in 2009 or 2010.

Either way, there's no harm in applying - especially given recent events at Craven Park where the clubs' profile has been increased significantly. There are plenty of areas the club needs to improve on, but our turnover is good, we make a profit, have a large catchment area, are established as top 4 Championship team/club, have no SL club within 90 minutes drive and would fly the flag for a new region (Cumbria) in SL.

True enough. How odd that the insolvency rules have vanished from this list.

[holty]

There's nothing to overcome. Barrow have been invited to apply, so ARE being considered.
You have to remember that we're dealing with the RFL here. Nothing is set in stone.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there could very well be an extra license made available between 2011 and 2014 (over and above the one for 2012). Say Widnes are accepted for the start of the 2012 campaign and then Crusaders go pop (again) at the end of 2012. There's a chance that the RFL would choose the next best application from 2012 to make SL up to 14 again.

Either way, there's no harm in applying - especially given recent events at Craven Park where the clubs' profile has been increased significantly. There are plenty of areas the club needs to improve on, but our turnover is good, we make a profit, have a large catchment area, are established as top 4 Championship team/club, have no SL club within 90 minutes drive and would fly the flag for a new region (Cumbria) in SL.

I wasn't aware that the club make a profit Steve. Can you elaborate??? I am genuinely unaware of any produced figures. What did last years accounts say?

[Off! Number Seven]

Why are we applying? Why is anyone but Widnes applying?

I will tell you why, because the RFL is playing Championships clubs like a cheap fiddle!

You may say "but we have been invited to apply", of course we have, but only one club has met the criteria set out by the RFL; Widnes. The rest of the clubs invited to apply have met one or more of them but only Widnes met them all.

We have merely been invited to apply in an attempt to cover up the fact that the entire franchise process is an embarrassing one horse race. But like saps we will play along like good little boys and do what the RFL want to support this charade.

There will be a Welsh club in SL2012 regardless of current speculation, that means one place at the top table only and there is only one club getting that seat. Sky have already intimated that the London, French and Welsh clubs are fundemental to the current funding levels, add that to the fact that no other Championship clubs offers the competition more than any of the current SL clubs and that only leaves one result.

[UnclesUndies]

Say Widnes are accepted for the start of the 2012 campaign and then Crusaders go pop (again) at the end of 2012. There's a chance that the RFL would choose the next best application from 2012 to make SL up to 14 again.

If Crusaders (Wrexham) go pop the RFL will allow them to migrate 900 miles south and change their name to Toulouse...............

[Michael Ashton]

The last accounts laid before the company were for the year ended 31/12/2008. These were passed at the AGM held about October 2009, I think. The accounts showed an overall loss of £71,954 on a turnover of £568,105.

[SRC]

I think that was for the 2008 NL2 season Michael. I'm sure we are due to (or have) posted a profit for the 2009 season.

[Michael Ashton]

Agreed Steve. But 1978 are the last accounts approved by the debenture holders. I'm not aware that the 2009 accounts have been finalized. If they are they should be laid before the company in 2010.