State of the game

Matt

So Halifax have been liquidated and join Fev after being removed from the competition.

Salford are still struggling - how they’ll do with new ownership is anyone’s guess.

Every day it’s becoming more unsustainable for clubs outside of SL - and even within as we saw last season. I can see more folding over the next few years too.

Hepworth

The average attendance in last year’s Championship was 1,326, with 50% of clubs not reaching that figure. Without increased TV revenue,Sponsorship or a Sugar Daddy it’s impossible to see how all the teams can survive. Even in Super League all the clubs bar Leigh are living beyond their means and it’s only a matter of time before another suffers Salfords fate. The die hard owners propping up the clubs won’t go on forever,realistically we are a minority sport who despite reinventing itself time and time again has remained that. Catch 22,we are paying a premium for overseas players to improve our teams,which without doubt they do,but are they putting enough bums on seats to make that financially prudent. Quotas have been around now for years yet average attendances are still hovering around the same number,income due to poorer TV revenues has fallen yet we’ve increased the number of quota spots for each club,how can that be sensible? Success puts numbers on the gates yet for most that’s just a pipe dream, the better backed teams will continue to dominate but they’re enduring losses to do so. The rest are merely trying to be competitive while minimising losses and praying for a golden season.

RaoulDuke

Leigh are being propped up by their owner like everyone else. It’s him paying for the bands to play and the bills.

Ultimately it’s down to who had the deepest pockets. Mr Jepson keeps going to the bank and doesn’t look like stopping anytime soon, especially as we are still looking at bringing in players for this season

The clubs at risk cannot be kept alive without their owners. Huddersfield are hoping Ken Davy stays fit and well because they won’t find another like him anyone soon. We think of Mr Jepson putting money in but it’s not well over 30m liked him.

Kr cannot keep at the top and wakey will find their limit. What then, when the crowds drop and there’s no interest? Kr took a massive gamble and it’s payed off big. But these money men can’t keep it up.

Interesting times and we are on there up.

pirate

Thank god for Mr Jepson thats all I can say, even though I doubted his intentions early on (too many false dawns)

I think his cautious approach is more sustainable than Matt Ellis at Wakey although i wish them well albeit at least one place below us please

CTID