New clubs have emerged (and allow me to stretch the point a little), Crusaders, Broncos, Toulouse, Wolfpack, Catalans....all the next big thing and great 'for the expansion of the game' just with two tiny flaws



1) They will supply nothing in terms of revenues generated through their away support and

2) owing to their lack of travelling fans the generate little revenues for the clubs they visit.



Now i realise that technically speaking that's only one flaw but it's such a big one I thought it was worth mentioning twice...

On the awAy fans, or lack of, it's been mentioned on these pages for a few topics and I think the biggest negative is in the lack of atmosphere this brings. Clubs shouldn't be reliant on away support money(although every little helps) but games with only one set of fans are not as good to watch either at the ground or on tv. Wether it's Toronto, Catalan, toulouse or huddersfield that turn up with no fans





I like the idea of some of these expansion teams, the more places playing rl the better, but as a spectacle I think we need to be aware of the negatives of having too many teams which just can't provide an away support and the atmosphere that goes with that.



On the topic, clubs have offered help, most notably leeds, and I'm very grateful for the assistance we have had, but let's not kid ourselves that for every loan signing it was equally beneficial to the parent club. Like bullseye says, when our funding was removed and shared amongst our rivals, who then used our money to sign our players from us to help relegate us, you realise the realities of modern sport as a business, and rl is no exception.

Copyright: Kryten 2X4B 523P

Maybe thats the RFL plan.



Relegate the Bulls down all the divisions so that our away crowds can put money into the struggling clubs.

Brilliant idea.



Oh - but if we keep getting relegated even the die-hard fans will say enough is enough

This was early in the season. I don't know why, but I've no reason not to believe the person that told me. We can't have been far from the limit of loan players at the time? Maybe they had better players but the deal that brought Lilley and co was a case of take one, take them all to benefit both sides. I don't know. I'm speculating.

I actually meant 'big' in the sense of being the major club in its area and driving interest and player recruitment. As in the Cougars being the 'big' club in Keighley and Fax are the 'big' club in Calderdale.

It's up to clubs to sort out their own finances and they should do so based on their own support. Visitors are an unquantifiable, and quite minor (especially in our division), addition to gate receipts but certainly shouldn't be something any club relies on for basic income.

Fartown offered to loan you 3 players, including AOB, all 3 said they didn't want to come and went elsewhere!!

That is true but doesn't negate the fact FC want KR back and Leeds want us back simply for that reason alone.



Big crowds generate money and, as mentioned above, atmosphere. It's no coincidence people turn up for Halifax (or Leeds back in the day

) ... there's a buzz there that just doesn't happen with London etc. How strange is it when London score and the there is not a murmur?



So it's my suggestion that no away crowds have an additional quantifiable and detrimental impact on home support attendance and so money through the tills.

Why don't you guys just break out the laser cannons etc. etc.

AOB was desperate to come to us but we said no thanks.

I'd go with too embarrassed..