Re: Martin signed for Crusaders : Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:12 pm  

im all for closing the gap between us and southern france, but only if we go there, this climate is far too cold for me!

Re: Martin signed for Crusaders : Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:21 pm  

how many posters on here would vote for expansion if wakefield were the club to step down to the championship to allow a 'new' club to join SL ?

Re: Martin signed for Crusaders : Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:59 pm  

Prince Buster wrote:

how many posters on here would vote for expansion if wakefield were the club to step down to the championship to allow a 'new' club to join SL ?

actually lets look at the facts, there isnt enough money in the game to support the clubs we have without bail outs and suger daddy's, the reported hull kr situation, one story i heard over xmas about us i didnt like the sound of much either etc etc
expansionism only will work if it brings more cash and that means more home and away fans, les cats works cos its a once a year beano for the fans we all love, would as many do it twice, i doubt it, les cats however does not work when they play away, so its a one sided gain.
The facts are wee need to get the fans in both home and travelling for the whole setup to work, otherwise we get th rugby as a sideshow to whichever x factor clown is popular that week to cover the gaps, so in reality the only option is widnes to expand the cash, not even sure a cumbrian club could bring the same impact,hate to say it though but i thin expansion is a bit ambitious at present, survival of the current set-up will be hard enough, can see less clubs rather than more.

Re: Martin signed for Crusaders : Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:00 pm  

chapster wrote:

actually lets look at the facts, there isnt enough money in the game to support the clubs we have without bail outs and suger daddy's, the reported hull kr situation, one story i heard over xmas about us i didnt like the sound of much either etc etc
expansionism only will work if it brings more cash and that means more home and away fans, les cats works cos its a once a year beano for the fans we all love, would as many do it twice, i doubt it, les cats however does not work when they play away, so its a one sided gain.
The facts are wee need to get the fans in both home and travelling for the whole setup to work, otherwise we get th rugby as a sideshow to whichever x factor clown is popular that week to cover the gaps, so in reality the only option is widnes to expand the cash, not even sure a cumbrian club could bring the same impact,hate to say it though but i thin expansion is a bit ambitious at present, survival of the current set-up will be hard enough, can see less clubs rather than more.

Do you not think it should be the home club's responsibility to attract a fan base without relying on away support? How do you think football clubs survive in this country with just a handful of away fans at every game? Absolutely ridiculous argument.

Re: Martin signed for Crusaders : Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:08 pm  

headhunter wrote:

Do you not think it should be the home club's responsibility to attract a fan base without relying on away support? How do you think football clubs survive in this country with just a handful of away fans at every game? Absolutely ridiculous argument.

in the premiership...one word, sky!
outside the premiership either sky/ benefactor or they dont in the majority of cases!

think your is by far the more naive argument try looking at some football club accounts, if you get stuck with the big numbers come back and ill explain them to you!

Re: Martin signed for Crusaders : Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:47 pm  

I have a good idea for developing the game. The team who finishes bottom gets relegated. The top team from the next league down gets promoted.

Just an idea though.

Re: Martin signed for Crusaders : Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:05 pm  

imwakefieldtillidie wrote:

I have a good idea for developing the game. The team who finishes bottom gets relegated. The top team from the next league down gets promoted.

Just an idea though.

When the divisions in which promotion and relegation takes place are fully professional then it's an excellent idea. Perhaps this will happen in the long term but many clubs are financially unstable as it is without the disruption of alternating between full time and part time status. This system has only been in place for one year, lets give it time.

Re: Martin signed for Crusaders : Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:07 pm  

I can't I'm afraid. Sport is based on winning and losing, and sides should be judged on this as opposed to the ground/business plan. By getting promoted, crowds will auomatically increase by playing the top sides and generating cash for a new stadium in the process. Look at any sport, clubs have to become succesesful before they move to flash new grounds. Taking away promotion just means to lower clubs have nothing to play for, and who wants to watch a game where there is no winner at the end of it all? In my opinion more lower clubs will go bust because the fans will get bored of watching teams play for nine months with no chance of promotion at the end of it.

Rant over!!!!

Re: Martin signed for Crusaders : Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:43 pm  

Whilst Sport in the UK is used to a promotion and relegation scenario it doesn't mean that is the correct option. The league's need to be able to support such a set up, so that firstly the club promoted can compete without having to overspend and secondly the relegated side can retain most of their current squad without a financial burden.

Unfortunately it seems, there is such a gulf between Superleague and Championship in terms of income that promotion/relegation doesn't seem a viable option. Unless, we continue with the same sides yoyoing between the leagues, with massive overhaul's of their squads or another teams spends above it's means which i don't believe helps anyone.

That said, Franchising hasn't exactely been the saviour many expected. But it must be said it's still at a relatively early stage. What we must do is support the sides outside of Superleague and consolidate what we have currently before expanding in the long term.

That's only my view though

Re: Martin signed for Crusaders : Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:13 pm  

If we don't get the licence next time round, we won't ever be back in my opinion. And with the recent on field 'success' we have had, I don't think thats fair. I can see Rugby League being just one division in the future.