14 replies to this topic

[ornit4ever]

Well, Town have now signed Mark Calderwood, that makes three super league players on their books including Jamie Thackery and Peter Lupton.
How on earth can they possibly afford to pay these players on our divisions gates??

[bomber is god]

give es a kiss and i will tell ya xx

[topladtownie]

Peter Lupton has a job with sponsers, so won't be costing a lot through Town's payroll.

While Town have been prudent for a number of years, making profits while near neighbours
over spent. Also have income coming in on weekly basis from speedway, while have a
long established successful lottery. Also there was talk recently of some fans
prepared to back signings. Assuming that Calderwood will just be on a
pay as you play deal, and just to the end of the season.

So I've got little concern that it will end in tears, more likely to end in tears for whoever doesnt
get out of this division, which of course could still be Town, but at least the Town board are
pulling out all the stops to try and avoid missing out on top four.

[DavidM]

Plus Olstrum ( Wakefield ) & Petersen ( Hull KR ) ... And lots more tasty talent. Great isn't it!!!

[houndpup]

and there's me thinking only haven were jealous of town

[jananbillingsbarmyarmy]

cost alot more being in that new division it will be the death of hornets

[wonky]

Off recent performances I don't think you need worry about playing in the championship next year. I've heard Hemel is nice this time of season though. As for calderwood, he's an EX super league player who was playing village rugby, so he won't be costing nearly as much as people think. As has been said luppy is working for town sponsors so he is on an average wage For this division. And as for thacks he is worth every single penny that town are paying him, as you will find out in 3 weeks. But thanks for your concern.

(null)

[Snoopy Loopy]

Well, Town have now signed Mark Calderwood, that makes three super league players on their books including Jamie Thackery and Peter Lupton.
How on earth can they possibly afford to pay these players on our divisions gates??

Well done to em - always liked a bit of ambition

Worky don't have to justify themselves to us do they?

[wonky]

Well said!

(null)

[ornit4ever]

Well done to em - always liked a bit of ambition

Worky don't have to justify themselves to us do they?

MOST of the clubs in the championship that have been ambitious have ended up bust and that includes us. AMBITION OR WHATEVER ELSE YOU MAY CALL IT COSTS MONEY, end of.

[dkw]

Our BOD have been magnificent over the past few years, we were one of very few clubs to actually post profits rather than debts so we are in a very good position financially for this season. You have no idea of the situation at our club so to try and insinuate something beyond your understanding is unnecessary and just makes you come across as very bitter. Worry about your own club and let us get on with worrying about ours.

[ornit4ever]

Hang on a minute you Town folk, I am not having a go at your management and I am in no way bitter towards your club, I was merely pointing out that just about every club in these lower reaches have gone bust chasing the holy grail and that includes some super league teams. No-one, but no-one wishes to see any member of the rugby league family disappear like Blackpool did. I sincerely hope that all the west Cumbrian teams are a success..........but not when we play you of course.

[DavidM]

Yes chasing the holy grail is a big risk... Just look what it did that geezer in Indiana Jones

[Keith T]

Ornit4ever, you say you were not having a go at the Town management but your first post asked the question "How on earth can they possibly afford to pay these players on our divisions gates?". As dkw has already said our board of directors have done a marvellous job with the finances and in four out of the last five years we have shown a small profit. If you have been to our ground you will have noticed the speedway track running around it. Many rugby fans don't like having the track but it brings in over £1,000 per week for over 40 weeks in the year from the Workington Comets speedway, in rent, bar takings, car park, etc.

On top of that we have not just one successful lottery but two that are both earning good money for the club. We have some excellent sponsors and our main sponsor being NES (Nuclear Engineering Services) who have recently renewed their sponsorship for a further 3 years. Every home game has several smaller sponsors for man of the match, top tackler, etc, as well as the gate receipts, bar takings, catering, etc. Peter Lupton works for our main sponsor and therefore Town can pay him match fees only. Calderwood signing is on match fees and travels with Jamie Thackray so there is no extra cost for travelling. There has also been money from individuals and our two supporters clubs to enable the signing of players.

What fans of clubs like Rochdale and Oldham don't see is the problems the two clubs in west Cumbria have in recruiting players for semi-pro RL. At your clubs you can pull players in from just a few miles down the road whereas we find it easier to get antipodeans to come and live her than persuade players from the Lancashire, Yorkshire areas to travel. In the whole of Cumbria I think there is about 24 amateur clubs and they can't supply three clubs with all their players, although they do a good job. I hope that answers your question which is basically we are good at keeping all the plates spinning at the same time!!!!

[dkw]

Fair play, I apologise for jumping all over your post. I sincerely hope we arent risking our future by overspending, its one thing our current board said they would never do after many hard years of getting the club back on an even keel. Though the fact clubs do feel the need to do this at the moment is a down to the RFL deciding to treat us like 3rd class citizens as usual, its SL they care about and damn the rest.