the_grobs wrote:
In terms of a top 8 spot, or putting it differently Cas having a competitive, middle of the table team...
Every season for goodness knows how many years, we are told that 'this year' is just a building year, and that within the next year or two we want to be a solid top 8 or top 6 without question. If the past 4 or 5 years weren't the year, and this one also isn't...how do we know which one will be?
How realistic do you think Castleford's chances are of becoming a consistent top 6-8 club are, honestly?
There are many factors that go against you, and if the club spat them all out they would alienate or depress half your support.
Look at the clubs in the top eight on a regular basis, or more so the top six (eighth is a lottery but nobody consistently gets in).
They all either have larger income streams, benefactors or are in a much larger geographic area than Castleford and this is hugely important. I would argue that they all may well be run better (one of the benefits of higher income is that you can spend money on making more money) which not only increases income but cuts losses too.
Before anyone jumps on me, i would argue that wakefield is in a similar boat, we have a larger geographic catchment than castleford, but we in the past have done much to alienate that in the past.
If the clubs were honest they would say without a huge shift in our fortunes, it is a huge ask to get into the top eight with any consistency, and generic growth in that direction is an impossibility as the other clubs grow stronger quicker.
Getting a new ground will help both clubs, as it will increase income streams and create some local interest as well as encourage more away supporters to come, sharing one would be even better from a financial point (and thats what we are talking about) though possibly not from a RL point (and that matters less these days) certainly not for us.
Getting additional income through commercial activity of benefactors, also is helped by getting the ground issue sorted and is a huge step on the way to make quick ground on the big clubs and hopefully brings additional income too.
Geography, castleford can't do much about, the only way is a merger between all three clubs as a SL club and with the original teams playing in the lower leagues.
There! thats my synopsis.