Widnes may need help, why not give them it.

[Panchitta Marra]

Fraggle posted:

Panchitta Marra posted:
The RFL are quick to assist the way forward for the Capital, French and Welsh teams.

Paris St Germain?

I don't recall similar campaigns to help the likes of Oldham, Doncaster, York, Gateshead and other such clubs who have suffered financial difficulties in recent years. Saying that, I do agree that the RFL is also inconsistent and should not have helped out London but not other teams in the same situation.

The RFL's supposed argument is helping teams out on a lim, e.g extreme distances away from the hot bed. If that is the argument with the RFL, what about Workington & Whitehaven. Either or would be far better supported (numbers why) compared to Harlequins and Wakefield.

[GeoffN]

Panchitta Marra posted:
The RFL's supposed argument is helping teams out on a lim, e.g extreme distances away from the hot bed. If that is the argument with the RFL, what about Workington & Whitehaven. Either or would be far better supported (numbers why) compared to Harlequins and Wakefield.

I doubt that: they never had many fans even when they were in the top flight. I remember going up there (Whitehaven) for a league game in the early 80's (might have been our first season back after being relegated, not sure?) and there were only about 1500 on - and we lost!

[Panchitta Marra]

GeoffN posted:

Panchitta Marra posted:
The RFL's supposed argument is helping teams out on a lim, e.g extreme distances away from the hot bed. If that is the argument with the RFL, what about Workington & Whitehaven. Either or would be far better supported (numbers why) compared to Harlequins and Wakefield.

I doubt that: they never had many fans even when they were in the top flight. I remember going up there (Whitehaven) for a league game in the early 80's (might have been our first season back after being relegated, not sure?) and there were only about 1500 on - and we lost!

i am a closet Towny Geoff, and in the inaugral Superleague season, Workington ended up with an average of over 5500 fans over that season. That was many years ago, that matches Wakey and Harlquins in my books. Haven fans are fickle, needing to win all the time for the terraces to be full. Both have shocking grounds, especially Workington, so i suppose that is the knockers on that suggestion.

[FROM A TO B]

When it comes down to it Widnes took the risk of throwing everything into the players and it has backfired on them.
I pity the demise of such a once proud club, but if they can't manage their finances to such a level that they have to go into administration, then they must suffer the consequences.
If we had been relegated last year, would any clubs rally round to keep us up?
If Stains were finally done for the years of dodging the cap, would we show any pity?
If Stevo ever said anything sensible, would we notice?

I'm afraid RL is no longer just a sport, it is a business and as such if you can't operate at a profit, you end up going under (unless you are a hamster breeder in Botswana, in which case you'll get 500k of the lottery)

[ancientnloyal]

FROM A TO B posted:

I'm afraid RL is no longer just a sport, it is a business and as such if you can't operate at a profit, you end up going under (unless you are a hamster breeder in Botswana, in which case you'll get 500k of the lottery)

Actually Botswana is doing very well economically, a success story, like Liberia but a few years ahead.

As for Widnes, i believe a fund should be put aside to help clubs financially during situations like this. Obviously not to pay off the whole debt but a percentage can be paid off from gate receipts for instance over 1/2 seasons or what is applicable. Widnes obviously have the support, more than Harlequins, Wakefield, Salford (if they are in SL or playing 'big' teams). The RFL should help and make quick decisions.

[gpartin]

ancientnloyal posted:

FROM A TO B posted:

I'm afraid RL is no longer just a sport, it is a business and as such if you can't operate at a profit, you end up going under (unless you are a hamster breeder in Botswana, in which case you'll get 500k of the lottery)

Actually Botswana is doing very well economically, a success story, like Liberia but a few years ahead.

As for Widnes, i believe a fund should be put aside to help clubs financially during situations like this. Obviously not to pay off the whole debt but a percentage can be paid off from gate receipts for instance over 1/2 seasons or what is applicable. Widnes obviously have the support, more than Harlequins, Wakefield, Salford (if they are in SL or playing 'big' teams). The RFL should help and make quick decisions.

Wasn't aware we had a Botswanese expert amongst us What puzzle's me is that Widnes were eligible for promotion. Don't the RFL look into the books before making the decision? Surely their finances and running of the club must be pretty poor if with their decent crowds they cannot survive in NL1 without administration going part time I can understand but Administration I can't.

[Panchitta Marra]

FROM A TO B posted:
When it comes down to it Widnes took the risk of throwing everything into the players and it has backfired on them.
I pity the demise of such a once proud club, but if they can't manage their finances to such a level that they have to go into administration, then they must suffer the consequences.
If we had been relegated last year, would any clubs rally round to keep us up?
If Stains were finally done for the years of dodging the cap, would we show any pity?
If Stevo ever said anything sensible, would we notice?

I'm afraid RL is no longer just a sport, it is a business and as such if you can't operate at a profit, you end up going under (unless you are a hamster breeder in Botswana, in which case you'll get 500k of the lottery)

Thanks for that A TO B, all very valid points in your reply. I guess I am old school at heart and Widnes were one of our traditional top teams, one team I enjoyed watching, with player leaving The Chemics to come to us, Lydon, gregory, Offia, to name only three. Thanks chaps and chapesses, for you valid points, its just a sad day to me if Widnes fold. Thank you.

[FROM A TO B]

Don't get me wrong, a team like Widnes is needed in RL, but not at the expense of inept management.
I feel more for the fans than anyone else. The players will find other clubs to play for, but what about those that have put their hard earned coffers into the club week by week, year after year?
I do hope that this club can get out of this mess and rise again.

[Fujiman]

What was the average gate at Widnes this year Does anyone know. Everytime I've seem them on the tv the ground looked empty. Maybe if more fans turned up they wouldn't be in this financial mess

[GeoffN]

Fujiman posted:
What was the average gate at Widnes this year Does anyone know. Everytime I've seem them on the tv the ground looked empty. Maybe if more fans turned up they wouldn't be in this financial mess

About 3.5k, which isn't too bad for NL1. I think they were gambling too much on getting into SL.