Re: Today's big decision : Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:41 pm  

Bull Mania wrote:

EXACTLY, but this structure won't bring that. If my team got into the bottom 4 and ended up in the split, i wouldn't be "devastated" as i know they will be back up next year. We could go on to win the "second tier" and i honestly wouldn't really care as the setup is so lopsided to be in the relegated 4 teams favour. They won't be an open bus parade that's for sure. I genuinely would have to consider whether i would pay on the gate for several weeks, plus a semi and GF (if thats what you want to call it) as i simply cannot afford it. God knows how a family of four will cope.

That financial hit of playing in front of small crowds but still having to operate the full time wage will hurt the next season. So we then get relegated again for several games to be promoted again and so on...

If Fax finished top of the table, a team full of part timers take on full timers. Only one winner. Fax then go back down to come up again, to get hammered by the full timers etc.

If it was a simple 1 up 1 down and my team was relegated, i would be devastated (which every fan should feel in sport at sometime) i would certainly buy an ST for the championship season and if my team got back up i would be over joyed. Yes we may come down again, but the difference is we have a full season playing as full timers against full timers. So we have a chance of survival.

Everyone is assuming that it will be lop-sided, but don't forget, the top teams in the Championship in 2014 will be getting more funding for 2015, which will close the gap...

...plus the Bulls may well be starting 2015 in the Championship anyway...

Re: Today's big decision : Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:44 pm  

HXSparky wrote:

...and that is the most stupidly inane comment I've ever seen on the VT, bar none. You do not have a clue.

That is a massive claim

Re: Today's big decision : Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:49 pm  

HXSparky wrote:

You totally underestimate the passion and commitment from the people running the Championship clubs. Have a look on the Fax website or youtube and you'll see what I mean. These people have lived and breathed the club all their lives, and if you cut through them they'd be like a stick of rock but in blue 'n' white!

I've followed Fax through thick and thin for 40 years, but I have nothing on the individuals that are the bedrock of the club!

For me, I would follow Fax whatever league they play in.

And that's fair enough, working with teams in an elite league doesn't take away any of that identity. And I don't for a second suppose a fax fan or a Leigh fan, or a Wakefield fan or whatever, if on the day the "elite clubs" (for lack of a better name) are announced you to pull on a rhinos shirt because you didn't make the cut. But there have to be some realities, and if you fail to make the cut, you look at those at the club who failed to argue convincingly enough, and have to wait it out (as many in the championship have at the moment) - personally, after Salford went into administration, the application process for there spot in super league goes up for grabs, they drop down and regroup, wait for Bradford to go bust and reapply. You might see some teams in and out in the first 5 years, and championship teams can hold onto that dream, but as time goes in, the clubs 10 15 years down the line fewer clubs go bankrupt, fewer opportunities to apply, other options need to be taken.

I'm the exact same with saints (although I haven't clocked 40 years ,., of life let alone rugby )

Re: Today's big decision : Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:52 pm  

Bull Mania wrote:

Agreed but these are one offs where the championship clubs could prepare all week specifically. While Sheffiled and fax may not have played their best in those games, it could be because they couldn't cope with playing against a full time team. Defensive line speed, the ferocity of each challenge etc It makes such a difference. A one off game against a championship club, i would be very confident, but not certain of victory. Over several weeks, I think they will be blown away.

Then they will be ' blown away ' , whats the problem?

Re: Today's big decision : Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:59 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

To put a business plan together? I'd hope the majority already have one ... That said I'd of hoped the rfl had one and that was clearly an assumption too far on my behalf.

Between the 14 currently in the league and the 5 or so in the championship we must be able to band together a competition of 12 who shouldn't face financial difficulty minus incompetence of their owners.

Unfortunately the incompetence of the rfl puts serious pressure on even the best run clubs

I meant business plans that actually work

Re: Today's big decision : Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:03 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

That is a massive claim

True, and on reflection probably not correct. But still close....

Re: Today's big decision : Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:07 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

And that's fair enough, working with teams in an elite league doesn't take away any of that identity. And I don't for a second suppose a fax fan or a Leigh fan, or a Wakefield fan or whatever, if on the day the "elite clubs" (for lack of a better name) are announced you to pull on a rhinos shirt because you didn't make the cut. But there have to be some realities, and if you fail to make the cut, you look at those at the club who failed to argue convincingly enough, and have to wait it out (as many in the championship have at the moment) - personally, after Salford went into administration, the application process for there spot in super league goes up for grabs, they drop down and regroup, wait for Bradford to go bust and reapply. You might see some teams in and out in the first 5 years, and championship teams can hold onto that dream, but as time goes in, the clubs 10 15 years down the line fewer clubs go bankrupt, fewer opportunities to apply, other options need to be taken.

I'm the exact same with saints (although I haven't clocked 40 years ,., of life let alone rugby )

Sorry, I've read that several times, and you've lost me!

Re: Today's big decision : Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:08 pm  

HXSparky wrote:

Sheffield were gash in that game, and didn't play to their normal game plan - most Championship clubs would have beaten Sheffield on that performance. Ditto for the Fax game against the Bulls in a CC match a couple of seasons ago - it was embarrassing to watch as as a Fax fan as we knew we were so much better.

Fax lost to Cas 34-35 in the CC on golden point, and I challenge anyone there to say that Cas were the better team on the day (it was an absolute cracker!).

Maybe it was the London players trying harder in that game?! They actually had something to play for, for a change!!

Sheffield were poor tht day compared to how they had been performing in the championship.

Also didn't London fly Out Jamie Soward the week before?!

I forget how London them got on in the next round vs SL opposition? Live on the bbc? Cricket score?

Some of you SL fans really do need to get a grip and support the sport as a whole rather than your obviously overgrown egos!

Re: Today's big decision : Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:09 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

If it's a choice between becoming a feeder club and dying, I bet they'd change their minds pretty quickly, less cut their nose off to spite their faces

Why would we have to choose?

Re: Today's big decision : Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:09 pm  

Th'ump wrote:

Reinstating relegation is a ridiculous & backwards step.

We'll soon be back to clubs packing their squads with journeymen (often overseas ones) just because they're experienced, cos the chairmen are terrified of the financial consequences of relegaton. The major plus of having no relegation is that SL clubs have been far more happy to play young players, which is a massive boost for the game in the longer term.

As usual, RL is on a short-termist and totally parochial basis.

The overseas exempt signings by clubs at the expense of development and reserve sides throws that theory out immediately.