David Dockhouse Host

Good post, some good points raised. I'm not sure I would push so much of the blame towards the RFL for potential failure. It seems we blame them when clubs fail but we don't praise them for success. It's no more RFLs fault when SRD struggle than it is their brilliance when Saints succeed IMO. Clubs need to take responsibility rather than deflect blame, I believe a more responsible mindset would aid clubs rather than looking elsewhere for help, handouts etc. Imo that's exactly what SRD are doing, taking control of their destiny and one I support albeit I quite like their current stadium. If I remember correctly they didn't get an academy license because they didn't meet the requirements and when they had one before they stopped running an academy because it was pointless. All the best 14 year olds go saints or Wigan, what's the advantage of running one when you only attract tier 5 or 6 players?

Highlights here below. Sadly been out with covid lockdown then injuries stopped any opportunity last year, so going two years without playing it will take a while to get match fit and up to speed but he loves the club and so do I so fingers crossed a bit of patience and he will do well.

Good players and some really good people at this club, I've a lot of respect for them, hope they go well.

These are pretty much the same points you made before, I don't agree with much of what you've said, it just seems like hindsight criticism to me. I've nothing else to add that I haven't said before so will have to agree to disagree. Otherwise it will fill this thread with a circular argument. Good luck to Cornwall I hope they are a success, even if not I look forward to watching rugby there whilst it lasts. I do know people in that area who really like RL through watching on TV, whether it's enough to generate a decent crowd is to be seen, I hope so but not yet convinced.

It wasn't extra investment money, it's a straw man argument when you present it that way. What is this strategic plan, honest question, it's easy to say after the event someone got it wrong but what is this strategic plan? Who funds it, where do you take money from to focus it elsewhere etc. Etc. 30 years of a development officer wouldn't work without all other aspects being covered. How would you address this? Do you still believe this is good on its own? You haven't addressed these points but have criticized someone else's efforts, people trying to spread our great game need our support. Such as Cornwall, even if it doesn't work out I wish to enjoy it whilst it's here. Continually saying "Strategic plan" isn't addressing these points, all due respect but this just feels like avoidance by continually saying it, there's no substance. Fact is any new team is very difficult and expensive to develop in a new area, particularly when it's a new sport with a northern image. If we have people giving it a go I'm right behind them, it costing the RFL no more than any other team. Personally I wouldn't have voted for a Cornwall team, due to running costs for other L1 clubs, but the person investing wanted it there and they are the ones funding it so I get behind it. Now teams in L1 get very very little money, there's little RFL investment, are you comfortable with this as the cost is minimal and therefore so is the 'wastage' should they collapse as a club?

Not at all, your critisising the efforts of expansion and suggesting central funding has been wasted due to nothing to show. There was entertaining rugby played during that time by those teams, just the same money and same entertainment as teams in the heartlands, so how was it wasted? And you did suggest paying a development officer for 30 years, reasonable to ask you how this would actually work without any other infastructure If it was a different extra pot of money you would have a point, but this wasn't an expansion pot of cash, it was yearly funding the same as the other teams. Keep dropping teams because they add nothing or little chance of long term SL ambitions will leave the other clubs with fewer teams to play. What is this great strategic plan everyone tells me about? I'm all ears, until then I'll support the efforts of those who actually trying to expand the game, I'd rather they try and fail rather than continually demand a strategic plan, yet do nothing.

What does this strategic plan look like? It's mentioned a lot but up until now all I've seen is employer a development officer for 30 years.

1 development officer could do what without other funds? Only so much one employed person can do. I fear people would ask the same question after 30 years, what do we have to show for that, throwing a development officer in without a clear strategy, youth set up or professional club was never going to work... Etc....etc....

Worth noting that all the other established clubs had the same money(central funding), we can ask the question what do they have to show for it, have they developed from before that funding? Lots of people mention wanting a strategy, what is that strategy though? £100,000 on grass roots wouldn't go that far and with no professional club how would it be sustainable? The harsh reality is, to create a new club in an area requires lots of money over a sustained period of time with little to no chance of return for many years. This is also probably the case for many established clubs in L1 also. A solid strategy would be time consuming and costly to create and identify many things needed that we simply don't have or cannot create quickly and easily. The model I Iike is Newcastle and probably the best approach to expansion. We are highly unlikely to get anyone or enough money for this sustained investment so have to take the opportunities we get and try to make them work. More checks are made than people realise from the RFL but again you can have as many strategies as you like but without someone pumping in cash for decades we won't magically get any new club in SL and sustainable with a youth pathway anytime soon, regardless of the efforts from the RFL. If the central funding hadn't gone to those clubs then which? Other new clubs somewhere else, or double money to the same clubs in the heartlands halving your expansion efforts? There is no perfect solution. So Toronto, Cornwall, Wales Midlands etc. Do represent expansion and get my full support even if I accept they may not be around forever.

Ive looked and it says it's only for online, so not on your virgin or sky box ,this right?

I imagine 3k at Moor lane would feel like more than 3k at AJ Bell? If they moved and had a big game, maybe they could use AJ Bell for specific matches?

What crowds do Salford football currently average? May be a guide to what Salford RLFC could expect

Any Salford fans with a view? Do you want to watch your team at the current stadium or at Moor Lane? Ignoring money, which ground would you prefer to go to?

The capacity is less of an issue for me. Parking, public transport, lack of facilities, pit h to short and lack of corporate are bigger issues IMO

If they could buy it and make income from it great. 8k is big enough I believe, 5k should create demand if they can sell out. Corporate, pitch size, parking, toilets, somewhere to get a pint and public transport are key to making it work IMO

Im not saying there are not potential benefits of a move but it isn't as promising as first thought. No toilets - yes these can be added, I do wonder why the whole stadium has been redeveloped yet they didn't add toilets? Drains, space, regs etc. Sure it can be done but may not be as simple as we imagine. Space, looking at maps and Google earth I cannot see any space to increase and expand. Point taken about the amount of supporters but what about corporate, pitch size being too small, parking etc. Headingly is much larger Stadiums are important, not the be all I agree but important. Sponsorships are attracted to a more professional looking product, TV looks better, the overall image of the game etc. There are terrible local transport links, no local pubs, part of a day out is a few beers in local pubs and walk down. If you cannot park how do people get there if they don't live local? I quite like the look of Moor Lane but it isn't without improvement a great long term option.

Interesting read. Seems that there's no toilets, no pubs, no parking and poor links to public transport. Not the promising move I initially thought it was

68 by 112 is the minimum size, could the pitch be adjusted to meet minimum requirements?

Your original post suggested an investor is only interested in a team that can get promotion in one year. I questioned whether that's the sort of investment that would add value and sustainability to the sport.

If an investor is only interested in gaining promotion in year one or walking away are they a good investee anyway? Don't we want longer term investors?

The thought had crossed my mind before, but for some reason I thought if 3 years not 4 and 1 team not 3. Maybe 2 teams on application as they rely do need to have financial stability and a decent stadium. Or Championship teams will continue to neglect that side of things and put money into players that if they don't go up would have been wasted

Unprofessional would you say? Dont think our previous link worked (apologies for bumping) but we cover that point in this week's show

It's been said that the best way to get respect is to beat them. NZ have and England came close last time out, the 2005 test series was 0-3 but could easily have been 3-0 as GB were winning all three games at 70 minutes, so close but not quite close enough. Consistently performing at that level is a bigger issue and sadly I feel we are further way now than we were 15 years ago. SL restructure, long term financing and strong exposure are key to that, but that's easy to say and harder to do.

The follow up Rugby show is complete and ready to watch on YouTube or download on iTunes. https://youtu.be/FbjWAAUNchg

I'm sure there will be a time when we can tell them, for now we have to turn this negative to a positive and create ticket sales and momentum into 2022.