Realistically, the Championship has no long-term viability. The ruling body don't want it, there's no media interest, fans are low numbers, the clubs can't afford to pay even low-end, part-time wages. I'm not sure it will be here in a couple of years, the teams in it will fold or move to amateur set-ups.
Let's face it, our elite comp has no money and can't afford itself, what chance does the Championship have?
@gpo1971 I estimate 5 or 6 will go bang in the next 18 months.
NWC
Whitehaven
Workington
Swinton (will just be a Women's team)
Dewsbury, Batley or both.
All have no/little money, and an extremely low fanbase.
The Game is up below SL, and SL will die if the NRL don't get involved, and if the NRL don't get involved will Lockyer and Wechsel pull out? London Broncos are just Wimbledon Broncos, they don't really represent the Capital, only in name. Just my thinking, how about yours? Come @ me.
Paulie xx
Batley are fine well run lots of commercial things at there stadium concerts etc
Workington fine as they sold stadium to move into brand new stadium 5000 capacity with the football
@gpo1971 I estimate 5 or 6 will go bang in the next 18 months.
NWC
Whitehaven
Workington
Swinton (will just be a Women's team)
Dewsbury, Batley or both.
All have no/little money, and an extremely low fanbase.
The Game is up below SL, and SL will die if the NRL don't get involved, and if the NRL don't get involved will Lockyer and Wechsel pull out? London Broncos are just Wimbledon Broncos, they don't really represent the Capital, only in name. Just my thinking, how about yours? Come @ me.
Paulie xx
SL are banking on the NRL and Lockyer only in London to feather his own business needs because he is not a London fan. Think he will want to lose millions each year and eventually pull the plug. Ken Davy is getting old now and he wont be at Huddersfield too long pumping in money with a low fan base. Teams are still struggling and we just have to keep stable with the best team possible can achieve. The good thing teams like Oldham will cut the cloth soon and then we can fight for 1 or 2 of their players too. We need more WVIPs members and lets hope some big business investor buys the stadium and loves Widnes, 😂👍 Have we had any North Wales fans take up the deal? Personally I do not see anyone but worth a shot.
@pauliewalnuts Batley are ok as they dont have a big budget and own the stadium. They finish mid table but dont push the boat out on wages. They may say different but I think Batley and Hunslet would be ok staying in the Championship, part time and being feeder clubs to Leeds.
The same cannot be said of Widnes for Warrington or Saints. It would just not be acceptable to become a feeder club with no chance of ever getting promoted.
I think the Championship will exist but to suppprt the SL sides. Especially if the NRL get involved as they already have the same model. York have had success with Newcastle this season being the first club to really become a proper feeder club.
The team I think will now struggle are Oldham, no home stadium, a massive playing budget by Championship standards and a chairman thats stepped down. Before he took over they were on the brink playing in front of 400 fans at Bower Fold, I wonder what they will do now.
I think if the NRL take over, the Champ clubs will get support financially in excange for supporting the SL sides. In the current climate I bet many will be happy to take the money. But it doesnt suit Widnes who are too big to be a feeder club but dont have the financial backing for SL, stuck between a rock and a hard place so to speak.