Toulouse out of pocket again

[Harry Stottle]

53 minutes ago, Tubby said:

Apologies if it appeared I was accusing you of anything untoward.  I understand that you are in neither camp and furthermore I understand entirely that people are fiercely in favour of the removal of P&R and I understand why.  If you look at it entirely dispassionately, it may make sense to have no P&R and concentrate on the top echelon to the detriment of all others.  Personally I disagree because I believe the sport needs strong foundations from age-group rugby all the way to the top, I think if the clubs at any point down the structure are negelected it would be detrimental to the sport at all levels.

But that aside, I can't look at it dispassionately because I want my club (and every other) to have aspirations and the removal of P&R removes that aspiration.  I appreciate that some would say that aspiration to be the best semi-pro club should be enough, without the possibilty of moving up to compete with the professional clubs, but I disagree wholeheartedly and it's no coincidence that the majority of those with that view are supporters of clubs already at the top level.

I've watched my team become first division champions, win the Challenge Cup, get relegated to the bottom semi-pro league, get promoted back the the middle league and finish top of the 'second division' for several years when promotion to SL didn't exist.  I've seen them relegated from the first division to make room for Paris and London.

To then be told "You've had your day, you are now a second tier club and can't compete at the top level" because the decision to restructure happened this year, not next or whenever seems a little arbitrary to me.

And to add to that Tubs, what about the guy's who put money into clubs because they are ambitious, take away that target and aspiration and they walk and I wouldn't blame them one bit if they did so.

I think there may be some resentment from some quarters of the SL fraternity towards Leigh, Fev and Halifax could sneak into that bracket next year, for investing and amassing teams and looking as though they could maybe put a challenge on sone SL clubs. The resentment because if these clubs were just happy to plod along and not having invested in pretty good playing roster's the decision to go Closed Shop again would be far easier, but it is like a fly in the ointment it is causing a problem.

 

Edited August 30, 2022 by Harry Stottle

[Adelaide Tiger]

49 minutes ago, Tubby said:

Apologies if it appeared I was accusing you of anything untoward.  I understand that you are in neither camp and furthermore I understand entirely that people are fiercely in favour of the removal of P&R and I understand why.  If you look at it entirely dispassionately, it may make sense to have no P&R and concentrate on the top echelon to the detriment of all others.  Personally I disagree because I believe the sport needs strong foundations from age-group rugby all the way to the top, I think if the clubs at any point down the structure are negelected it would be detrimental to the sport at all levels.

But that aside, I can't look at it dispassionately because I want my club (and every other) to have aspirations and the removal of P&R removes that aspiration.  I appreciate that some would say that aspiration to be the best semi-pro club should be enough, without the possibilty of moving up to compete with the professional clubs, but I disagree wholeheartedly and it's no coincidence that the majority of those with that view are supporters of clubs already at the top level.

I've watched my team become first division champions, win the Challenge Cup, get relegated to the bottom semi-pro league, get promoted back the the middle league and finish top of the 'second division' for several years when promotion to SL didn't exist.  I've seen them relegated from the first division to make room for Paris and London.

To then be told "You've had your day, you are now a second tier club and can't compete at the top level" because the decision to restructure happened this year, not next or whenever seems a little arbitrary to me.

No need to apologise Tubby the problem with message boards is that posts no matter how well intentioned can still be misinterpreted.  So I readily accept that I may have misread your post.

However your response above is one of the most passionate from the heart posts I have read in a long time and I cannot fault anything that you believe or say.  As a Cas supporter I am not sure if they would be in a 10 or even 12 team closed shop league as I accept that both Leigh and Toulouse have far better stadia and if they are protected from relegation could grow and attract the same attendances that Cas get.

You use the word ‘dispassionate’ and in the business world that is sometimes seen as a key strength for a decision maker.  The difference is that whilst sport is now seen as a business it is unique as we attach ourselves to a club that we care deeply about and not to a company such as BMW, Marks and Spencer or Starbucks.

But a decision has to be made and I do not envy those that have to decide the next chapter for the game.  No doubt some of us will accept the decision and some won’t.