Posted 27 November 2012 - 06:54 PM
I do feel for those old clubs who are now a mere shadow of the ones they were in their pomp. Clubs like Oldham, Rochdale, Workington and Salford.
However, I cannot understand the desire to cut off your noses to spite your collective face. Anyone who thinks that Oldham, standing alone, will ever regain their former glory is deluding himself. And the same applies to all the other clubs I mentioned. And I do include Salford in that list! Alone, we are never going to make it big. Together, we might just have a chance.
I have said before that all the 'Manchester' clubs should be playing in the Championship and some sort of joint venture club should be playing in SL. That is, I know, just a fantasy. It won't work. The joint club would still be playing before 5 or 6 thousand people. Until it started winning regularly, that is.
It is a shame that Oldham are in the straits they are. It is a shame that Rochdale are, that Workington are, that Swinton are, that Salford are. But it is 2012, not 1952. None of these once-proud clubs have really moved with the times and that is the real problem. Sticking your heads in the sand won't solve that.
Rethymno Rugby League Appreciation Society
Founder (and, so far, only) member.