Maybe not strictly related to this subject; but I read that the proposed changes for Super League (and beyond) have caught the attention of Sport England who appear to have 'concerns' about what is happening, and it could affect future funding.
Surely, that has to be a good thing if it means that there is a pause to these terrible amateurish 'back of a fag packet' proposals, without any thought about un-intended consequences in the rush for change.
@darth-vadar I've just read it, you couldn't make it up. Sport England have concerns over Nigel Woods return not being via an open and honest recruitment process. Potentially millions of pounds of Sport England funding at stake and they are seeking re-assurance from the RFL. They must be concerned to do that.
Its an absolute disgrace whats going on. The way Woods appointment was reported it sounded like he was invited to come back by a selection of Superleague chairmen/owners. Its one thing after another.
The whole shambles of Nigel/ Bradford/Odsal/IMG plus Nigel (M2)/on top of repeated £1,000k club overdrafts should make any self respecting govt department question funding and financial probity in our game!!!!
McManus was keen to stress that the whole exercise was to broaden the game and widen its appeal (seem to have heard that before!). I can't quite see the desired change in the picture if two or three northern teams, ( poorly supported but maintained by local businessmen), are added to the existing M56 corridor teams.
To me that emphasises the introspective nature of the game.
After all the years since SL was announced we still have a team struggling in London, a couple of self funding French options, one Welsh and one Cornish struggler.
The Newcastle Magic has lost its RFL attraction somehow, maybe because its not expansive enough? Maybe a move to Perpignan would be a better option?
My (continuing) assessment is that the game needs a complete rewind back to the days when simplicity and honesty were the pre-requisite, whilst entertainment on the field was the main objective.
All we seem to have today, is half-truths, smoke and mirrors, and a (very) poor product on the field, all of which has sadly been going on now for a generation.
Gone are the days, when everyone you met wanted to talk rugby league and the previous weekend's match, and when that conversation was exhausted, people would be looking forward to the next game.
Not any more.
Now, I never hear anybody talk rugby league, let alone have a chat with a new found supporter who has just discovered rugby league and think it is a fantastic product. On the contrary, most of my 'dyed in the wool' fans no longer attend games, who would consider that having to sit through a full day at the Magic Weekend would represent some form of punishment!!
How did things go so wrong?!!! 😥
Quite simply it all went wrong when the clubs still at the top of SL gave players contracts that the clubs couldn't afford, just to be top! Sky saved their bacon and they just carried on spending, regardless.
The same clubs are still spending more than they can afford and rely on backhanders from wealthy committee members to stay afloat.
The game's organisers still believe that Sky negotiators don't know what is happening and will believe a cock and bull story that the game is expanding and getting better!!!!
On that basis they expect a bigger renewed contract!
What possibly could go wrong!!!
Correct!
And whilst the gravy train still exists, the usual suspects will continue to climb on board.
The sad part is, that whilst average supporters can see that 'the end is nigh' warning signs are flashing dangerously, the so called Guardians of the sport do not, and won't realise/acknowledge that fact until it is too late.
Not that I have thought any of it through, but for me, the Sport needs a breakaway. Not of the elite clubs - they have already gone in my humble opinion - but of those clubs who realise that SL is a pipedream built on pillars of salt with no strategy or long term plan.
Get back to basics and its true core values and live within its means.
Correct!
And whilst the gravy train still exists, the usual suspects will continue to climb on board.
The sad part is, that whilst average supporters can see that 'the end is nigh' warning signs are flashing dangerously, the so called Guardians of the sport do not, and won't realise/acknowledge that fact until it is too late.
Not that I have thought any of it through, but for me, the Sport needs a breakaway. Not of the elite clubs - they have already gone in my humble opinion - but of those clubs who realise that SL is a pipedream built on pillars of salt with no strategy or long term plan.
Get back to basics and its true core values and live within its means.
Nice ideal scenario, Darth but you are advocating a non-funded, competition. The little funding that filters down from Sky now, will be gone to the 14 team SL. You would be watching a NW Counties/Pennine League standard comp. Gates will diminish and the Game will be up. There will be no means to live within.
Paulie xx
@pauliewalnuts I don't think there'll be any funding below super league Paulie once they have to fund 2 extra teams that's the championship and div 1 money gone and when wood was talking about our new set up it was as though he was getting ready to cut us adrift!! So the twenty clubs outside sl may as well look for a stream/ tv deal to cover the 50k or whatever we get
@vikingfox71 There will be very little, that's for sure. More worrying for me is the fact if WV application, doesn't get us a place, then recruitment for us, and all other Non-SL Clubs is virtually on hold until pre-season is starting. It's an absolute shitshow, and in my opinion is being done deliberately. Somebody has an agenda, and everyone in the Game can see the WOOD for the trees, in this instance. For what it's worth, we do have a good application, and we are wanted in by more Clubs than you realise. Our home cup-tie, attracting 7k+ put's us in a good light, and if you look back, BB only attracted 2946 v Castleford in their big cup-tie. Not that much Bull Mania, there, was there?
Up the Vikings!
Paulie xx
I must be getting old but the big idea at the start of SL was that clubs outside SL should 'merge' with close SL neighbours (it was Wire for us!!) The so called 'powers that be' didn't see then and don't see now that the local rivalry at the heart of RL is real and won't be 'managed'.
My years of being able to get to the game are coming to an end and it looks like being a sad one! I and many like me will thank their lucky stars that they saw Widnes on the top of the world for some time, and it was good, maybe the best!!!!!!
Don't like going to bed on a sad note, but it is true that the 'orginal' clubs, like Widnes, Salford, Fev, Swinton, Haven, Barrow etc aren't likely to quietly walk away if (or when) they are given no realistic funding from the SL.
Being optimistic, for a change, they are more likely to come back with the question of 'who do you think you are? destroying our game!' They're not likely to go quietly and the bad publicity won't help the SL image.
The game outside SL could well return to its origins and play for the game itself rather than a chance to earn a lot for their retirement. Actual attendance would become important again, simply for the running of the modest clubs expenses.
True the SL will need players and will most likely choose the cream of the crop, but with less cash coming in from Sky how long will that last?
People have been saying SL will be dead without Sky for the last 15 years yet they are still there. Some owners think that they can earn the cash without sky and they know their stuff. We had our chances in SL but blew it badly and it just wasn't just Jimmy's fault. If we where still in SL we wouldn't give a toss about the lower league just as the SL teams are doing now. It's dog eat dog and everybody has got to do what's best for themselves. The RFL have plenty of cash to help out but they use it on unexplainable severance payments the buying of RL grounds and paying fudging idiots to improve the game and clueless idiots to vet clubs on things that mean nothing to a clubs prospects or sustainability. People just need to enjoy watching their team play. The lower leagues need to reinvent cups that we play for as there needs to be something to play for as winning the league means nothing.
In time there will be plenty of room in SL when the lesser supported clubs cannot afford to compete with no teams able to replace them, SL could be down to 10 in the very near future.
@sandgroper I believe mr wood has finally sold his shares in Bradford I'm sure that was originally announced when he took up his new position!!! Obviously kept them for added leverage I can't believe how openly dishonest the game is sad times
Maurice would be proud!!
York will be lucky to pull in 1500 home fans once the novelty has worn off and the hidings kick in.They don't even publish their attendances now with the team top of the table and on a winning streak which tells me the figures are nothing to brag about.