saint at wire wrote:I don't think for a minute that we don't spend up to the cap, but you are ignoring up front cash fees including golden handshakes and transfer fees which we cannot afford.
Mugwump"]How do you know anyone else affords such?
Warrington and Hull to name two seem to be affording it at the moment with their benefactors. The SC isn't the b all and end all, there are other monetary considerations such as golden hello's paid into pension pots etc.
Quote:But the math isn't complicated 5 kids = 2 superstars in terms of salaries etc. The only way we could afford big signings would be to have a very thin squad in terms of no's and strength in depth.
Well, the math certainly isn't complicated when you boil it down to the above. Whether this bears any relation to reality I have no idea. I mean, a "kid" can be 18 or he can be 21. I doubt 10 kids age 18 would add up to one superstar's wage. The truth is more complicated.
I have no problem with this observation; I was illustrating a point about the SC - you can either have a smaller no of superstars and a more strength in depth or more superstars and less able replacements (e.g. journeymen).
Quote:In previous years, we would not have coped with the loss of key players as well as we are doing now IMO.
Which previous years? And in case you haven't realised we're not coping all that well now.
I did use IMO! But I think you will find we will cope OK tomorrow without Wilkin, Lomas, Makinson and Gaskell at least two can be classed automatic 1st choice. In the past we have struggled when Long and/or The king were out.
Quote:McManus warned only yesterday the perils of SL finances
http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480I believe we were only 1 or 2 years away from beng a bradford basket case until the new stadium and the re-financing came along. IF we show a profit this year (the first in over 10 years?) he might loosen up the purse strings a bit.
I'm perfectly well aware that SL's finances are worrying. But again - it is McManus who has driven this - not the fans. If we had money worries he could quite easily have come clean, publicly tightened the purse strings and the fans would be ok. Sure, you'd lose a few glory hunters and such but the core fan base - provided they aren't lied to - would be accepting.
The accounts are in the public domain and when they are released each year, there is a thread on here as well as lots of (largely negative) comments on sporting life and in league express. Admittedly McManus put a brave face on it but what else could he do? With our
then crowds and an old stadium the writing was clearly on the wall.
The last three years losses were £449K, £862K & £1385K. It is not suprising we were not signing players on with big up front fees.
My real point is that this should now be behind us; The balance sheet has been restructured, the club refincned, all external debt paid off, crowds up around 40% (?) and catering and hospitality income way up.
I think you will see us "buying big" next year. Fingers crossed.
