League 1 - what is the solution : Wed Oct 18, 2023 3:03 pm  

League 1 is now just 8 Teams which is not substanible what is the solution. This has been caused by greed from super league clubs with IMG removing pr left less to play for in the championship. Championship do not want to merge that would be 20 team league but a solution is needed to save the grass roots clubs

Re: League 1 - what is the solution : Wed Oct 18, 2023 7:15 pm  

The central funding has been cut so thin that the league is not sustainable as a national one. Super League is taking all the money just to keep running, and I suspect several Super League clubs are trying to find hundreds of thousands of pounds to fill unexpected budget gaps next year, saved by the gradings I suspect several squads will be running on fumes next year to save money. No relegation may see a drop in quality in the short term at least.

I don't think there is a good option really for League 1, some of the expansion clubs can't afford to travel to the heartlands every other week and even if they did what will 100 point wallopings do for development? I don't think we have a strong enough leadership to steady our crumbling foundations, so every club for themselves?

Re: League 1 - what is the solution : Wed Oct 18, 2023 11:19 pm  

The championship clubs voted against the merger of L1 and the championship. So it's not the greed of SL clubs in this instance.
Merging the competitions is the only viable solution, but the clubs hold all the power, and will always act in their self interests. Unless that changes, then most clubs outside SL will die a slow death.
The other major frankly is, there is almost zero interest from sponsors and broadcasters in the championship/L1. You can talk about 'greedy SL clubs' all you want, the fact is they're the clubs that generate the only meaningful income for the sport. No business or wealthy individual is going to want to invest in a club that barely attracts 1500 fans a game and bleeds money.

Re: League 1 - what is the solution : Thu Oct 19, 2023 10:07 am  

Been discussed elsewhere, but I think the best option is 4 or more super league teams enter their reserve teams into league 1. Develops those younger players / keeps squad players fit and also stops the problems of when certain teams keep cancelling their reserve fixtures and players don't get a game that week

Re: League 1 - what is the solution : Thu Oct 19, 2023 10:16 am  

Wouldn't that mean promotion from L1 would need to be scrapped?

[Pumpetypump]

Re: League 1 - what is the solution : Thu Oct 19, 2023 10:58 am  

16 team SL, 18 team Championship.

The top-tier Championship sides that would be elevated would struggle in SL but not catastrophically. The remaining championship would be more level and have less cricket scores. And before you type that there aren't enough players for a 16 team top flight, just know that you are suffering from a brain injury and need to go lie down.

Re: League 1 - what is the solution : Thu Oct 19, 2023 9:25 pm  

L1 needs binning. Hunslet arlfc would beat any team in that league. Fact

[Mild Rover]

Re: League 1 - what is the solution : Sat Oct 21, 2023 8:34 am  

Steve0 wrote:

Been discussed elsewhere, but I think the best option is 4 or more super league teams enter their reserve teams into league 1. Develops those younger players / keeps squad players fit and also stops the problems of when certain teams keep cancelling their reserve fixtures and players don't get a game that week

Asking fans to pay to watch reserve teams feels like it could be a stretch, like you’d be asking L1 to help out SL more than the other way round.

Maybe if the reserves of the clubs involved were at least quasi-independent?

Re: League 1 - what is the solution : Sun Oct 22, 2023 6:38 pm  

Just needs to be 2 divisions.

SL needs to be 14 team (or 15) with no loop or magic weekend.

O and R based on criteria

[Pumpetypump]

Re: League 1 - what is the solution : Mon Oct 23, 2023 7:50 am  

Snowy wrote:

Just needs to be 2 divisions.

SL needs to be 14 team (or 15) with no loop or magic weekend.

O and R based on criteria

The problem is that would equate to more than 20 in the Championship. That's too many games, particularly for players with a job. It would double the away games that the little clubs would have to fork out to get to as well (cornwall etc).