Here's the transcript of the chat:
12:04
Hello and welcome to the Express webchat with Castleford Tigers' chief executive Richard Wright.
12:06
[Comment From Stuart Main]
Are there any plans to send out any youngsters on dual contract basis this season? If not, why not?
12:08
Hi Stuart. At the moment there are no plans to send players out on dual contracts. The plan is for all members of the first team squad to play first team for the Tigers in the coming season and all players outside the first team squad are eligible for under 20s football. We intend to wait to see how things progress in the first few games before we look to put players out on dual contracts. We will have to be mindful of the quality of coaching they will receive before doing deals with other clubs.
12:09
[Comment From Jimmy Walker]
hello
12:09
Hello Jimmy. Do you have a question?
12:10
[Comment From Gareth Main]
Hi Richard, first obvious question is: what funding IS in place for the stadium? If we started the build today, how much could we build?
12:14
Hi Gareth. All elements of the funding package are in place and in the longer term we believe we can deliver the 15,000-capacity stadium. However, the recession is slowing everything down and it is harder to unlock the elements of the funding package. We have considered phasing due to the time scales of the RFL and the minimum standard we believe at the moment for the next licence will be between 10,000 and 11,000. We are focused on delivering phase one by 2012 to meet the timeline . For clarification, phase one would include all corporate facilities, better facilities for the fans with regard to food and toilets, the new Tigers bar and it should give us an opportunity to get 10,000 in every week. The best way to phase a stadium will be considered by the architects and achieving atmosphere will be a priority. Once they have developed the plans we will put them on view for the fans to look at and I think they will be happy with the outcome.
12:15
To answer the second part of your question, we cannot start to build today. We do not have a detailed design or detailed planning consent. Our focus is on delivering for 2012.
12:16
[Comment From Jeremy Style]
Have the club looked at the feasibility/cost of using temporary seating areas such as those at KR and Quins at Glasshoughton
12:16
Yes, it's something we have considered and if appropriate it could be a cost-effective way of achieving minimum standards.
12:17
[Comment From Peter turner]
What plans have you got to add some new board members?
12:18
Hi Peter. We are actively looking for new board members and recognise the need to strengthen the board both from a skills level and also from a financial perspective.
12:19
[Comment From Nigel Rock]
Good Afternoon Richard,
12:19
[Comment From Nigel Rock]
Sorry meant to ask if you could confirm if the architects have been apointed yet ?
12:21
There has been some delay in the appointment. It has been narrowed down to four firms but they all have very good concept designs and are good quality so we are having to do more research and developers Waystone are also involved in the process. We expect to make the announcement as soon as possible but it is absolutely crucial that we make the right decision. We will only get once chance.
12:22
[Comment From Andy G]
So have the RFL said they will accept a proposal below a 12,000 capacity??
12:24
Hi Andy. We intend to develop the designs in more detail once the architects are appointed and then go to the RFL to discuss the plans and the timescales.
12:24
We're getting a lot of questions, so if you have sent in a question please bear with us.
12:25
[Comment From Stuart Main]
Richard, in % terms, how confident are you that Castleford Tigers will be playing in round 1 of Superleague 2012?
12:27
Hi Stuart. I'm very confident that we will be playing in Super League in 2012. Obviously facilities seem to be in the headlines but we are making considerable progress in all other elements of the club which are just as important. In particular, attendances and commercial income are a priority for us and if we can grow and develop these areas of the business we will be much stronger year on year.
12:28
[Comment From James Nutley]
You said that architects would be appointed before Christmas, but there has been no word a month on - have they been appointed? When will we see detailed designs and when will detailed planning permission go in?
12:30
Hi James. I've covered the architect's appointment, but from a time perspective we anticipate the detailed designs will take around three to four months to complete and then the planning process will take a further three months so we expect to receive a detailed planning consent by around August or September.
12:30
[Comment From Mick Worrall]
Hi,with the new crush barriers at the railway end and the removal of the portacabin have we been able to get the capacity raised to 12,000 ?.
12:31
Hello Mick. Yes, the installation of the crush barriers at the railway end by Paul Greenwood from Trade Barriers has increased the capacity to in excess of 12,000.
12:32
[Comment From Phil Thornton]
Didn't the RFL licensing dicate that we increase the current stadium capacity to 12000 to tick another box? if so will that mena a capacity of 10,000, even in a new stadium will lose us points on the franchise?
12:34
Hi Phil. I think that if we have a capacity of 10,000 and plans to increase the capacity to 15,000 then this will be acceptable by the RFL and it will be a priority for us to continue to increase the capacity as soon as possible. Again, the RFL will hopefully be looking at the wider picture rather than just one individual element.
12:35
[Comment From Andy G]
What will the RFL accept as minimum criteria to meeting the stadium element, for example will it be that we need to have laid a brick to qualify this time?
12:37
Hi Andy. It is unlikely that all clubs will meet every element of the criteria. With regards to the stadium, I think they will be looking to make sure that we have made progress from the last application and that there is clear evidence that we will achieve the plans. Obviously we hope to provide physical evidence of construction by the time they are considering the applications.
12:37
[Comment From Sean Wilson]
Hi Richard, I think the main concern of many fans is that we will get to the next round of franchises without a brick being laid and lose our place in Super League. At this stage, when would you estimate that building would begin?
12:39
Hi Sean. I think I've already answered part of your question but realistically the stadium will take around 12 to 14 months to build.
12:39
[Comment From Stuart Main]
Any predictions, expectations, hopes for the coming season?
12:45
Hi Stuart. This season will undoubtedly be very tough and our objective is a top eight play-off place, we want to be a consistent top eight club which will give us an opportunity to go further at the end of the season. We were predicted last season to finish 12th by most of the media and I think it was a good season for us, a season of progress. I hope the coming season will again be a season of progress, both in the Challenge Cup and play-offs in terms of junior players coming through and hopefully one or two more players being involved in internationals. I also hope that we can grow attendances and it will be great if we could average 8,500 over the season.
12:47
I would like to assure fans that we do want to become a consistent top six and ultimately top four club. To do this, we will need to spend the maximum under the salary cap and to continue to strengthen the junior development. We are getting closer each year to the maximum cap and the investment in juniors is reaping rewards and with a little more time we will get there.
12:48
[Comment From Stuart Main]
Just wanted to add, many thanks for taking the time to face the fans in an innovative and direct manner. Hopefully this will be repeated in the future.
12:48
[Comment From tigerman1]
Why have we after a great top 8 finish last season have the clubd not invested and built the sqaud stronger for this season, the recruitment in the off season has been woefull and many many people can see we have a small squad and one possibly weaker than last season
12:52
We believe the squad is stronger this season and we also believe that the squad from last year, which was very young, has much potential to improve. Added to that, we have some young players coming through who are determined to make their mark. We have been looking at additional players and have identified some opportunities. We do want some of the young players to get an opportunity and we would prefer to bring in players for the longer term than as a stop-gap. Time will tell, but we have every confidence in the quality of the squad.
12:52
[Comment From Sean Wilson]
Richard, are we looking to sign up the likes of Michael Shenton and Richard Owen to long term deals similar to Joe Westerman? I feel both of these players will have caught the eye of some so-called "big clubs" last season and it is worrying to think we may lose them.
12:54
Hi Sean. Yes, we do want to sign Michael and Richard to long-term deals and I think we have shown our commitment with the deals done on Joe and Rangi Chase. We are trying to build for the longer term so Michael and Richard are priorities for us.
12:54
[Comment From Adrian Liggins]
Good afternoon Richard - Seeing has a SL club can now just "up-sticks" to a new area to meet the ever changing criteria regarding ground facilities (ie Crusaders) could we look at somewhere like the Keepmoat at Doncaster until we have fully developed the new site? Or would you consider spending money on the Jungle to get us to the minimum standards?
12:57
Hi Adrian. I guess the answer is that we will do whatever we have to do to make sure we achieve a licence. The focus is on the new stadium, but we will be looking at other options such as the two you have mentioned if they become appropriate to the circumstances. At the moment we have not spent much time on alternative plans because as I said we are focused on the new stadium.
12:58
[Comment From Nigel Rock]
Hi Richard, I understand that a project of this magnatude is very complex and inevitavely timescales are sometimes going to come and go. The problem is when this happens and no announcements are made rumours take off. Do you think there is a better way to communicate to the fans rather than the long periods of silence ?
1:02
Hello Nigel. Yes, I do believe we have to find better ways to communicate to the fans. At the end of the day we need the fans' help to succeed, they are so important in achieving a licence next time. I would welcome ideas on how best to achieve this, we have been discussing this in our stadium group meetings in the last few weeks. It is important that we all pull together to meet the challenges that we face.
1:04
[Comment From Mark Enright]
There is talk of Super League being reduced to from 14 to 12 teams. What are your views on that and is there a danger a new stadium could be built and the Tigers might still find themselves out of the top-flight
1:08
Hi Mark. The possibility of a reduction in the number of clubs has hit the media this week. In our view, it would be a huge mistake and a typical knee-jerk reaction. We made a decision to go to 14 clubs, it is the ideal number of clubs, and we should collectively as a game help all clubs to achieve their potential. There is a Super League meeting coming up in the next few weeks to debate this matter and we will be strongly against any ideas to reduce the number of clubs in Super League. It is time to stop the scare-mongering and get on with building the game and the Super League brand.
1:09
[Comment From Rich_1]
Sorry to finish my question, does this mean that 2010 is being treated as another 'gap year' in order to prepare for our licnese application in 2011...the same excuse that was used for poor recruitment in 2008?
1:10
Hi Rich. Absolutely not and all the talk at the end of last year was the opportunities missed in the Challenge Cup and play-offs. We are determined to do well this year and continue the progress made in 2009.
1:12
[Comment From Sean Wilson]
I would also like to thank Richard for taking the time to come on here and answers questions. I still have a number of questions and I'm sure you've received many more than has been possible to answer. I feel it would be good if this could take place again sometime soon.
1:14
Thank you for all your questions. Unfortunately there were so many I couldn't answer them all. I would like to thank the P&C for the opportunity to speak directly to the fans.
1:14
[Comment From Stuart Main]
Well done too to whoever at the club came up with the idea of £4 from every away shirt going to Help For Heroes. Is there any indication, based on average away shirt sales over the past 5 years for example, how much this may raise for the charity. Also, surely with the media support for our troops there is the opportunity for some national coverage for the club out of this? I can't think of any other sports team that has already done similar?
