: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:00 pm  

Apparently the guy or people who have been bank rolling Celtic Crusaders threatened to pull the plug on the financing if Celtic didn`t get a franchise this time round, the RFL have obviously buckled to the pressure and went ahead with a sort of now or never thing with South Wales.

Can you imagine the crowd at the Brewery field (with field being the operative word) between Celtic and Quins or Celtic and Catalan, the RFL have been telling us for ages that as a sport we are moving towards modern stadiums with modern facilities yet they have turned down 2 clubs with all this in place already for 2 clubs that are renowned for poor crowds and will have falling down stadums for 2009.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:01 pm  

getdownmonkeyman wrote:

I thought they were being quite generous.

Was just kidding pal, ayee thought they were quite generous considering we have been in and out of the top 6 for a good few years now. And our achievements mount up to one play-off win.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:04 pm  

Mistah Lee™ wrote:

Will be interesting to find out what will now happen to Celtic's deal with S4C, now that they are in the big time..........

Maybe the same with the Catalans with that they can be televised away from home but S4C have home games!!!

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:05 pm  

The Mighty Wires wrote:

Was just kidding pal, ayee thought they were quite generous considering we have been in and out of the top 6 for a good few years now. And our achievements mount up to one play-off win.

In theory, Huddersfield have achieved more in SL than we have. One CC final appearance and one Playoff appearance is probably better than our one Playoff win and one Playoff appearance.

Oh dear god, even Wakefield might surpass us this weekend.

Re: h : Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:19 pm  

Paul Youane wrote:

No. Anything else you want to make up?

They should've been thrown out of Super league but by a vote of member clubs they were allowed to reform, only because 2 clubs abstained, and start a new company with no debts in a meeting with all member clubs, the RFL Chairman and the RFL Financial Controller.
So they did bail them out of trouble.
Something that wouldn't / didn't occur with any other financially troubled clubs from the RL heartlands.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:24 pm  

Paul Youane wrote:

Being self-employed you are at liberty to arrange your working hours around kick-off times etc. so I don't see your point.

However the point being that you was de-riding the crudentials of certain clubs because they do not bring thousands of away fans to games at the H&J yet by admission you do not go to away games yourself. Surely even you can see an element of glass houses and stones in what you say.

If a club has to rely upon away fans paying at the gates to survive then I suggest they themselves are not worthy of a licence.

wrong ! you arrange your working hours around your customer base ! and yes you can arrange them around some ko times but unfortunately you have travelling time from away games and seeing as my industry is in Warrington the travelling time comes into it .If you cant see my point you must just be a very narrow minded person .

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:25 pm  

Wirefan wrote: Feedback on Warrington from RFL Source: http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/spo ... __stadium/ THE RFL have paid tribute to Warrington Wolves' 'excellent' Halliwell Jones Stadium after confirming their place in Super League for the next three years. With promotion and relegation now banished, the current 12 Super League clubs will be joined by Salford City Reds and Welsh side Celtic Crusaders until 2011. That means Wolves' rivals Widnes will remain in the National League. Explaining the expected decision to hand Wolves a licence, the RFL said: "The club plays in a quality new stadium, which in all but one or two aspects is excellent. "Further ground improvements are planned and although financial projections are challenging, the club has a good record in this area. "The club has strong sponsorship packages and a good commercial plan. "The club has performed reasonably well in Super League and has invested well in its playing infrastructure and now needs to start contesting major finals and semi finals. "At this stage it is not yet developing club trained internationals." I wonder what the one or two aspects are?

Wirefan wrote: Feedback on Warrington from RFL Source: http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/spo ... __stadium/ THE RFL have paid tribute to Warrington Wolves' 'excellent' Halliwell Jones Stadium after confirming their place in Super League for the next three years. With promotion and relegation now banished, the current 12 Super League clubs will be joined by Salford City Reds and Welsh side Celtic Crusaders until 2011. That means Wolves' rivals Widnes will remain in the National League. Explaining the expected decision to hand Wolves a licence, the RFL said: "The club plays in a quality new stadium, which in all but one or two aspects is excellent. "Further ground improvements are planned and although financial projections are challenging, the club has a good record in this area. "The club has strong sponsorship packages and a good commercial plan. "The club has performed reasonably well in Super League and has invested well in its playing infrastructure and now needs to start contesting major finals and semi finals. "At this stage it is not yet developing club trained internationals." I wonder what the one or two aspects are?

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:25 pm  

Tut, you lot aren't so long out of Wilderspool to be slagging off clubs for their grounds (especially when some of these clubs are just dotting the I's and crossing the T's on the paperwork to get started.)

Hull have moved to a far superior stadium - and they haven't gone all high and mighty on the rest of us stragglers.

In any case congrats on the franchise and see you at BV next year.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:30 pm  

The RFL didn't bail out the Broncos - the other clubs allowed them to re-enter SL as a new company after winding up the old one. The RFL didn't give them a penny.

They were also only admitted on the basis of the changes that were coming along - becoming Quins, Lenaghan taking over etc.

Crowds are important as they obviously are the main source of revenue - however let's not ignore the importance of widening the talent pool. At the minute it is too narrow and will become narrower - for example Sale I'm sure cut into our playing pool along with Salford's and Widnes'.

Celtic's current average attendance is about the same level as UTC's was before they entered SL.

RL has learnt the hard way that a SL team should be the last piece of the expansion plan not the 1st. CC have the Welsh conference, and a Colts team plus junior development with the SL team as the place for those players to aim.

Does anyone know what Celtic Warriors' average attendance was? I've had a google but can't seem to find anything.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:32 pm  

All those youngsters in Bridgend will now have something to do.