Dan Sarginson: "This is a fantastic opportunity for me to join the biggest name in the competition" 18/10/2013
Tony Clubb: "This is a new exciting chapter of my life signing for Wigan and I couldn't be happier" 18/10/2013
Romain Navarrete: “I’m very happy to have signed for Wigan Warriors. As soon I knew that Wigan were interested, they were the only team that I wanted to sign for. To me, Wigan is the biggest Club in Rugby League and it will be an honour to pull on the famous Cherry-and-White jersey next year. I look forward to working with Shaun Wane and the players at Wigan.”
I actually think it's a very good idea. IL yesterday on backchat discussed the reasons, with a focus on 3 main points;
-Looking at gaining a major sponsorship deal as a high percentage of leading business is in London -Building a brand identity in London (which is massive) -Tapping into the potential talent pool in London
All are more than valid. I rate IL, in him we have an owner who understands both the business and the game itself.
I don't think after listing to IL this fixture will be a one off, but an ongoing opportunity to promote the club and sport in London.
I actually think it's a very good idea. IL yesterday on backchat discussed the reasons, with a focus on 3 main points;
-Looking at gaining a major sponsorship deal as a high percentage of leading business is in London -Building a brand identity in London (which is massive) -Tapping into the potential talent pool in London
All are more than valid. I rate IL, in him we have an owner who understands both the business and the game itself.
I don't think after listing to IL this fixture will be a one off, but an ongoing opportunity to promote the club and sport in London.
Spot on.
I think IL has ideas for a Wigan team that's more than just being a big fish in a pond full of backwards looking clubs.
I don't think it is a good idea at all, if there are 5k there I will be surprised and that will be for a home match in the play offs, I don't get this about tapping into the London talent how will this game help that , just get a southern based scout , probably already got one , how many season ticket holders have we, say 10k, so 9k are being asked to shell out a lot of money and time to see a home game , there is absolutely nothing to do near the ground, do you think London based sponsors are going to come up to Wigan on a Thursday or Friday night , no , our crowds are falling as it is ,should be trying get them back up, if we lose this this game and the 2 points IL will have a lot to answer for, I for one think this is a crazy idea ,
I don't think it is a good idea at all, if there are 5k there I will be surprised and that will be for a home match in the play offs, I don't get this about tapping into the London talent how will this game help that , just get a southern based scout , probably already got one , how many season ticket holders have we, say 10k, so 9k are being asked to shell out a lot of money and time to see a home game , there is absolutely nothing to do near the ground, do you think London based sponsors are going to come up to Wigan on a Thursday or Friday night , no , our crowds are falling as it is ,should be trying get them back up, if we lose this this game and the 2 points IL will have a lot to answer for, I for one think this is a crazy idea ,
I trust IL's judgement and business savvy. This is a starting point, a work in progress for Wigan, I wouldn't expect a large crowd at the start.
Also, you know, Millwall? I realise The Den wouldn't have been ILs first, or even second choice, but if there was all that was available, rather than QPR or Fulham etc, was it worth bothering?
As both the Super 8s and the relegation/promotion battle both seem to be working g pretty well, despite the nay-sayers, the result does matter.
I'll be happy to eat my words if we're awash with blue-chip sponsors next year, but I just can't buy into this idea. I normally like listening to IL about issues with the club but I think he comes across a bit stubborn and arrogant when he's talking about the London game.
I think the 3 issues he raises are very worthwhile but I don't think this is the right method to achieving any of them. 5/6k on in Millwall is hardly going to blow any potential sponsors away and I can't see it drumming up too much "local" interest. I think on the balance of things he's done more damage by alienating current fans rather than generating new interest. On the backchat program he said something along the lines of "it's difficult to grow attendances" - but the problem for us at the minute is not that they're stagnating, they are actually falling. Getting the home attendances back up to the 16k mark is surely more important than the game in London.