The big question must be have Rimmer and Elstone any ideas at all about how our game in the UK could function effectively?
Income via Sky is reducing, the likely unemployment crisis is just around the corner. Persuading fans to buy Season Tickets will be harder than ever without something to indicate that the season will be entertaining at least.
There are a few suggestions from fans most of which are better than just waiting to see if anything turns up.
If the availability of funds goes as I anticipate a return to PT generally might result, certainly if the SL cling on to every penny of the Sky package. That lack of unity could, and some would say should, result in a break between to SL and the rest.
BBC sport is reporting that a four man SL committee has put forward a report saying that there is no way the Wolfpack should be readmitted to SL as they are not a strong enough brand and an intercontinental competition is not financially viable. The SL vote is on Monday and there are some SL chief executives, mainly it seems Gary Hetherington, who were banging the Toronto drum.
This is the most common sense statement about the NA expansion fiasco - just what do they offer to RL in the UK other than empty promises of a future NA tv deal. TWP seem to have promoted the game well in Toronto and built up local support, but at what cost? It would be a shame to lose that impetus, but planning to play all games in the UK in 2021 will not help.
If TWP/Ottawa/NY are serious about developing the game in NA, their priority should be to build a NA league and 2021 will give them the opportunity to do that if they aimed to play their games in Canada/NY.
The big question must be have Rimmer and Elstone any ideas at all about how our game in the UK could function effectively? Income via Sky is reducing, the likely unemployment crisis is just around the corner. Persuading fans to buy Season Tickets will be harder than ever without something to indicate that the season will be entertaining at least. There are a few suggestions from fans most of which are better than just waiting to see if anything turns up. If the availability of funds goes as I anticipate a return to PT generally might result, certainly if the SL cling on to every penny of the Sky package. That lack of unity could, and some would say should, result in a break between to SL and the rest.
Interesting that St Helens have written to the Government pleading for additional support in view of the losses incurred as a result of covid, on the same day that they announced the signing of another expensive import from Australia and no doubt others to follow. I am sure that this does not help their case and highlights the folly of clubs offering massive player contracts, that they can ill afford.
I think that SL clubs will each lose £280,000 in Sky funding in 2021 in the new Sky deal, perhaps equivalent to one or two marquee players. Not sure what the impact is for future years or what funding will be made available for clubs below SL, although my guess is that SL clubs will be looking for a larger slice of the cake.
The RFL/SL should take the opportunity to review the structure of the game in the UK and the future funding arrangements, in the light of the impact of covid, both this year and likely in 2021. If this means, SL clubs retaining more of the Sky money for themselves, then I agree perhaps the time is right for clubs below SL to break away and seek a separate tv deal (if possible). I am sure that a deal could be agreed with the BBC for Championship games and the CC, if it was promoted as a competitive and exciting league equal to SL.
Next year will be a difficult year for all clubs. Continuing uncertainty of when the season will start and when crowds will be allowed into grounds, which will impact on season ticket sales and sponsorship. We are fortunate that we have the funding from VIQI and a decent support base.
The club need to be looking to promote and develop the profile of Widnes Vikings and highlighting the planned return of RL in 2021, with perhaps deals on season tickets or match tickets for the unemployed and guarantees of refunds on season tickets if there are games cancelled in 2021. This could start with the announcement of the new coach and introducing the 2021 squad and build up with new signings and the run up to the start of the season.
Sad to say Frank but being realistic a competition without Leeds, Wigan, Saints etc, is'nt going to appeal to a major broadcaster like BBC.
Sad to say Frank but being realistic a competition without Leeds, Wigan, Saints etc, is’nt going to appeal to a major broadcaster like BBC.
You may be right, but have you seen some of the sports shown by the BBC these days? They show the CC games and maybe they could be convinced that the Championship is a competitive league and can provide games as equally exciting as many of the SL games (at a much lower cost)
Do we have to wait for Leeds, Wigan, Saints etc to be relegated from the International SL, before the BBC could be convinced?
Theoretically, throw it forward 12 months:
Imagine the scenario, Toronto have been let in and stay up. Toulouse win the Championship GF, Newcastle and Ottawa win promotion to the Championship. Wakefield get relegated.
You would have the more International flavoured SL that some want. I could see a pause to relegation.
You would have a Championship with Widnes, Leigh, Bradford, Wakefield, Featherstone, York, Newcastle, London, Ottawa..
That's a very marketable Championship at least.
If we are going to imagine what might happen next season, here’s a dream result just for Spelly ....
Despite everything that’s happened Toronto admitted back into SL but Salford are relegated to the championship for failing to fulfill their fixtures!
Anything is possible with our management!
If we are going to imagine what might happen next season, here’s a dream result just for Spelly …. Despite everything that’s happened Toronto admitted back into SL but Salford are relegated to the championship for failing to fulfill their fixtures!
LOLOLOLOL
Spelly.
According to the LE Elstone could become surplus to requirements. If we do revert to the RFL ruling all it will need to look at the game as a whole. Part of that wil require SL clubs to clip their budgets and accept that they are part, only a part, of the game as a whole.
Lower clubs wiill have to market themselves better and become self-sufficient.
Well, hopefully we should find out what the future holds for RL after today’s meeting. But then again any decisions made could prove to be decisive, with the SL ignoring the best interests of the whole game in favour of some short term benefits.
Despite having highly paid people at the top of both the RFL and SL, our game lacks leadership. IMHO the RFL should be in sole charge with Robert Elstone as its CEO.
Super League was set up to emulate the soccer Premier League “money making model” but, again in my opinion, it has failed because there isn’t the same interest/participation from the media and public.
Well, hopefully we should find out what the future holds for RL after today’s meeting. But then again any decisions made could prove to be decisive, with the SL ignoring the best interests of the whole game in favour of some short term benefits.
Despite having highly paid people at the top of both the RFL and SL, our game lacks leadership. IMHO the RFL should be in sole charge with Robert Elstone as its CEO.
Super League was set up to emulate the soccer Premier League “money making model” but, again in my opinion, it has failed because there isn’t the same interest/participation from the media and public.
A fair summation imo. The harsh truth is that our game, in Sky's opinion is not as attractive as it once was. As they hold the purse strings they call the tune, irrespective of what anyone else's view might be.
That being the case the SL clubs have to bear some of the responsibility but our management structure has been very SL biased which has not helped thd lower leagues.
Saving one major salary would be a start but only a start. It is plain that there are characters within SL who do not want to be managed. If they had the wider interests of the game at heart that would be great but I fear that their aims are totally self centred.
Maybe a mangement cttee from the clubs, top to bottom,would work I don't know. However it is achieved a re-think of our game is required asap. Some SL clubs have become over inflated and breaking that will be difficult.
It does seem odd that the RFL (Rimmer - or did the clubs vote on it?) appear to be supporting the retention of TWP in SL and Elstone opposes it as in his view TWP bring nothing to the League. Maybe Rimmer can explain what he believes the NA expansion brings to the game of RL in the UK.
I have asked on several occasions for someone to explain exactly what are the short and long term benefits of the NA expansion. I have not had an answer yet.
I agree that RL cannot afford to have two management bodies running the game. unless the aim is to have a complete split between SL and the rest of RL. If there was one management body, I would prefer Elstone to Rimmer, as the more professional of the two. I really cannot see what Rimmer has delivered - the ill-thought out NA expansion with no long term strategy, the pizza sponsorship deal and what else? The game is in a mess and what did he do in response to the views expressed by Eddie Hearn in 2018? He buried his head in the sand, whilst continuing to pocket his £300,000 salary.
I hope that the clubs see that the NA expansion offers nothing but an empty promise of a massive tv deal and tell TWP that their future lies in Canada and developing the Canadian league. I suspect that they will allow them to remain in SL until Carlo LiVolsi realises that he is not selling his fragrance products in the UK and TWP is costing him too much money to keep it going. He ought to be asked what his position will be when TWP are relegated to the Championship, if indeed the Championship exists in the future; or are we heading for a SL closed shop with no promotion or relegation? I so, just which clubs will be in it - Salford? Huddersfield? Wakefield? Hull KR? Castleford?
The current path that RL is following will inevitably lead to the demise of the game outside a few SL clubs with wealthy owners and even their future will be in question, if the RL supporters in the traditional areas turn away from the game and cancel Sky subscriptions.
The tv package of the same old same old 'big game' leave md cold tbh, and I am RL through and through. The NRL product is a better tv deal, better production and overall better rugby league.
We have said it before but its snouts in the trough. They won't share for the good of the game and they will die a slow but cetain death too if they don't wake up.
SL started as a Sky product and it is sliding from its position at the top. Those clubs have to see tbis and look st the game on a wider front to give it a boost in its original market place.
Maybe something in the streaming line, or local showing on the vimeo style. The game has time atm, and it needs to use it wisely.
The club that gets the 12th SL place, and it won't be Widnes even if we apply,will receive £1m in funding compared to the £1.7m the others get.So as well as having to build a squad and find players able to compete at that level they will have to do so with much less money.The promoted team are unlikely to be competitive and in turn relegation will probably be shelved for 2021.In my opinion.