about as popular as giant eagles

I am sure that this has been discussed to death, but why not share a new stadium? The two towns are 5 miles apart and trying to build 2 stadiums just doesn't make any sense at all, especially in the current economic climate.
Before we go down the "we hate each other" route, Milans 2 soccer clubs aren't exactly best pals...yet they seem to get along OK on the business side of things.
An 18,000 seater RL stadium that get's used 16 times a year instead of 2 stadiums that get used 13 times a year....it has to make financial sense.

=#8000FFLocation, Cas won't go to Stanley Wakefield won't come to Glasshoughton (even though it's in the middle of one of the busiest visitor attractions in the UK), hence why a merger makes more sense then a ground share, bizarrely.

When teams merge you lose something from fans PASSION Rovers went to Warrington in the cup on sunday and our fans swamped that towns pubs from 12 noon. Every pub full of fans and nearly all proudly wearing flat caps, we drank the town dry and sang all day all the rugby songs came out alloweta, the music man the lot. Loads of warrington fans told me they hadnt seen anything like it for a long time, in the ground we sang for 80 mins. if teams merge you lose that and Rovers proved on sunday there is passion and life in the championship even though the RFL want to kill the game below super league and turn us into feeder teams

As much as I appreciate what your saying, a few hundred fans on a cup jolly doesn't equate to a competitive Superleague side capable of competing for honours! I'm not playing down the importance but I really think that your on the wrong track with that comment.

Glad you enjoyed your day though.

apart from rubbing salt into their wounds,your point is?

And i know what your saying but surely being passionate about your club is what its all about and keeps the club going in bad times. No fan would be passionate about a merged team at least not for a couple of decades, if celtic get kicked out of super league, would they carry on or fold? same ? about harlequins i know these teams are not merged but a merged team would be very similair to those 2 clubs

merged teams in this country wouldnt work

I'm not sure tbh. Being passionate about a club certainly helps keep it in existance in the lower leagues but, on it's own, won't achieve a stable and competitive team at the highest level. I'm sure Cas, Wakey or Salford fans, for example, are passionate about their clubs. I'm sure yourselves or Leigh fans are passionate about theirs too. In none of those cases has it managed to create a successful club by any real definition of the word. I asked in the OP whether having a 'your club' is more important than having a successful club. Whether fans would rather watch a side competing for honours or watch one with the town name on it. I could also ask whether being able to hold on to the talented juniors was better than seeing them come through the ranks only to see them snapped up by bigger clubs or having a franchise 'in the bag' rather than constantly worrying about whether you meet the criteria was a greater consideration than having your own town's team even if that has to be in the lower leagues.

I appreciate it isn't the same answer for everyone. For you, the town name is obviously more important than the level at which it's represented and, in some ways, I applaud you for that. Others might be more able to see the bigger picture and be able to put aside club prejudices and,again, I applaud them for that. Each opinion is as equally valid. It all depends on what you want from your sport.

this should of been done when the game went full time, the country had the money at the time to pile into the game. it should of been built in normy and shared by all 3 clubs. the game has changed cas,wakey and fev won stuff with largely local lads who worked part time at the pits and various other jobs. playing was part time so they didnt have to relocate. now if either team has any good players they have to be sold for the clubs to continue,we exist and thats all we do, wel never win anything again baring a miracle. no club can make enough money,the product is poor and crowds are poor.this area cannot sutain 3 teams,at least the locallads could stay with a large local team instead of being cherry picked. feel that this maybe the only way forward to survive.

I think the problem at the time, as I said earlier, was that the Superleague was a new venture the last time it was proposed and everyone thought 'their' club would be one to flourish. With a 15+ year history, this is no longer the case and many are prepared to face up to the realities of the situation. I think it's fair to say there is a straight choice between 'your club' and 'successful club' (if you'll pardon the oversimplification). I genuinely think it's only the hope that 'one day it will turn around' that stops the formation of a potentially massive club in this area. I admire that attitude to a degree. By the same token, I really don't think it's very realistic and the choice is more straight forward than that. If the occassional shot at the play-offs with an equal shot at relegation is the limit of your ambitions and you'd support your team no matter which league they played in, then the choice is to stay the same. If you want a club able to compete for honours, be guarenteed a franchise to stay at the highest level and know that the first choice for the players in the area is to stay with the club rather than look for success elsewhere, then a combined club is the obvious answer. It all depends what you want in the end. Many people are already voting with their feet. How long before the choice is no longer there to make?

Now correct me if im wrong BUT Trinity isnt a nickname they were called Wakefield Trinity, and now Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, the wildcats is their catchy nickname, like ours is tigers..sorry but if its a new start its a new name one that no one side can argue about...................... Calder colts. will do fine.

but lets just hope eh that we are as lucky as the lucky man from luckybridge and stay in SL cant see it myself but stranger things have happened..

dont understand that comment

I think he means that history would get in the way of a commercial decision. I agree that it would, but disagree that in the long run it would make the merged club stronger, more viable financially and as a bi-product, more competitive.
The Sport is a Business now and you can't base commercial decisions on your uncle albert spinning in his grave.

I really don't know why we keep coming back to this old chestnut, we fought long and hard to keep our identities and until our relegation we played our part. All that would happen with a merger is we would lose over half our support, trinity would lose over half their support and the result would be a similar sized club to what we already have, with the loss of two famous clubs who still contribute a great deal to their local communities. Do you think that Castleford schools would continue to dominate schools RL if there was no Castleford club? no way!

There's no reason why both clubs can't still flourish and in fact one reason they do is because of the local rivalry, you might as well say lets merge both Hull clubs, it's well known that KR are struggling with finances, of course FC have been down that road before, haven't they and that didn't work other than to line FC's pockets and get them out of a great big hole!

The divide between Castleford and Wakefield is wider than ever these days, time was when it was the cappers or loiners who were the arch emeny, but I can tell you these days that position is reserved for Wakey these days! I for one would never watch a merged side and I can tell you there are many thousands more who feel the same.

What we need is the RFL to relax the stadium criteria until this recession is well and truly over, then both clubs (and others such as Salford and Bradford) can get on with playing competitive rugby instead of chasing the dream with every bit of cash, ideally we would all like a sugar daddy such as Wire have, but unfortunately they are few and far between.

Mergers eh, mmmmmmmmmmmmm Huddersfield / Sheffield mmmmm Gateshead / Hull

Now they really work dont they

Quote ="Speedy"Mergers eh, mmmmmmmmmmmmm Huddersfield / Sheffield mmmmm Gateshead / Hull Now they really work dont they'" I think we can all see that they were takeovers and not mergers, however, both clubs are now a millions times better off then they were prior to the takeover/merger. In respect of the thread title, steadygetyerboots-on perhaps has made the most sensible comment I’ve read yet viewtopic.php?p=15126058#p15126058 Quote ="steadygetyerboots-on"As soon as wakey announced the location of Newmarket Lane I warned both Cas and wakey fans that a merger would come and I still don't see anything to make me think it wont happen. As I have resigned myself to this I have mused over the prospect for quite a while and I think the majority of people, myself included, could follow a merged team under the following conditions: 1. No professional rugby league team henceforth to be allowed to have the following words incorporated into its name; Castleford Tigers and/or Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. The names must die with the merger; it's the only way it could work. 2. The newly merged team must play in completely neutral colours (no black, amber, red, white or blue) difficult though this may be. There aren't many left as I'm sure neither of us wants to play in blue (spit!) 3. The newly formed club must be named independently of the two places. Who says a team has to bear the name of a Town or a City? It has to be something completely synonomous with the area; the only thing I can think of that alienates no-one, but incorporates almost everyone is the moniker "Miners" or some other mining industry name. This, in my opinion, could appease some of the older heads too as well as allowing the heritage and identity of the whole area to blossom and engender a lost sense of pride and community which has otherwise been consigned to the rubbish tip by successive Tory and (more shamefully in my opinion) Labour governments. Apologies I digress! If these three points were applied, more importantly point 1, then I, as gut wrenching as it would be, could support a merged team with the pride and passion with which I have followed Castleford Tigers. You may have noticed that I have left Featherstone Rovers out of the equation, this is purely as the thread appears to me to be talking about Cas and wakey only. They could easily be placed into the equation I have outlined above with little or no problem should they choose to.'"

Quote ="Speedy"Mergers eh, mmmmmmmmmmmmm Huddersfield / Sheffield mmmmm Gateshead / Hull Now they really work dont they'" I think we can all see that they were takeovers and not mergers, however, both clubs are now a millions times better off then they were prior to the takeover/merger. In respect of the thread title, steadygetyerboots-on perhaps has made the most sensible comment I’ve read yet viewtopic.php?p=15126058#p15126058 Quote ="steadygetyerboots-on"As soon as wakey announced the location of Newmarket Lane I warned both Cas and wakey fans that a merger would come and I still don't see anything to make me think it wont happen. As I have resigned myself to this I have mused over the prospect for quite a while and I think the majority of people, myself included, could follow a merged team under the following conditions: 1. No professional rugby league team henceforth to be allowed to have the following words incorporated into its name; Castleford Tigers and/or Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. The names must die with the merger; it's the only way it could work. 2. The newly merged team must play in completely neutral colours (no black, amber, red, white or blue) difficult though this may be. There aren't many left as I'm sure neither of us wants to play in blue (spit!) 3. The newly formed club must be named independently of the two places. Who says a team has to bear the name of a Town or a City? It has to be something completely synonomous with the area; the only thing I can think of that alienates no-one, but incorporates almost everyone is the moniker "Miners" or some other mining industry name. This, in my opinion, could appease some of the older heads too as well as allowing the heritage and identity of the whole area to blossom and engender a lost sense of pride and community which has otherwise been consigned to the rubbish tip by successive Tory and (more shamefully in my opinion) Labour governments. Apologies I digress! If these three points were applied, more importantly point 1, then I, as gut wrenching as it would be, could support a merged team with the pride and passion with which I have followed Castleford Tigers. You may have noticed that I have left Featherstone Rovers out of the equation, this is purely as the thread appears to me to be talking about Cas and wakey only. They could easily be placed into the equation I have outlined above with little or no problem should they choose to.'"

You would be better served sorting out your own pussies

Quote ="Khlav Kalash"I think we can all see that they were takeovers and not mergers, however, both clubs are now a millions times better off then they were prior to the takeover/merger. In respect of the thread title, steadygetyerboots-on perhaps has made the most sensible comment I’ve read yet viewtopic.php?p=15126058#p15126058 '" That million times better is because they both received a £million for merging, when you say both clubs are better off, of course you mean Hull FC and Huddersfield, but where did it leave rugby league in the outposts of Sheffield and Gateshead? on the scrapheap! It was an absolute travesty when that happened and took a couple of £million, no doubt without that money Hull and Huddersfield wouldn't be where they are today, but I'm sure with such a handout the Tigers would also prosper. I say a big NO to mergers!!! It's a stupid idea and won't happen, but if you want a merger for Wakey, then you would be better off merging them with Dewsbury and ploughing any money they get from selling their ground into upgrading Dewsbury's tidy little stadium!

Quote ="Khlav Kalash"I think we can all see that they were takeovers and not mergers, however, both clubs are now a millions times better off then they were prior to the takeover/merger. In respect of the thread title, steadygetyerboots-on perhaps has made the most sensible comment I’ve read yet viewtopic.php?p=15126058#p15126058 '" That million times better is because they both received a £million for merging, when you say both clubs are better off, of course you mean Hull FC and Huddersfield, but where did it leave rugby league in the outposts of Sheffield and Gateshead? on the scrapheap! It was an absolute travesty when that happened and took a couple of £million, no doubt without that money Hull and Huddersfield wouldn't be where they are today, but I'm sure with such a handout the Tigers would also prosper. I say a big NO to mergers!!! It's a stupid idea and won't happen, but if you want a merger for Wakey, then you would be better off merging them with Dewsbury and ploughing any money they get from selling their ground into upgrading Dewsbury's tidy little stadium!

In fact there were four clubs mentioned. How are the other two getting on since their Super League days?

I'm not in any way convinced that a truly equal merger of two businesses could happen without one becoming dominant and the other subsumed. Hudds/Sheff becomes Hudds.. Hull/Gateshead becomes Hull. With that in mind, entering into a merger means little for the dominant business and death for the other. It happens all the time, not just in sport.

It strikes me that, while both businesses have stengths and weaknesses, Trinity would assume dominance in a merger purely because their name encompasses a larger geographic area. Personally, while I'm not knocking Wakey in any way, it's just not a place name I identify with to any degree. I'm not interested in following a side with Wakefield in it's name, especially when - once the dust has died down - it will likely end up with ONLY Wakefield in it's name, just like the two examples above.

There's already an example of something like this Disco, Emley Football Club moved to Wakey's ground a few years ago, after a couple of years there, they changed the clubs name to Wakefield and Emley, then Emley was dropped altogether from the name and it's now Wakefield FC (a new Emley club has since been formed, but of course, this was well down the leagues).

I'm sure we would eventually finish up with Wakefield in the name, if ever this happened to us and I very much like you, don't identify at all with Wakefield, in fact I would go as far as to say I identify more with Leeds than the merry city (as some call it).

Indeed both Gateshead and Sheffield were left on the scrap heap, Gateshead however were going bust so chances are they would be were they are now anyway and Sheffield the same. Perhaps right now both clubs are better off then what they would’ve been had they kept going . Sheffield in particular seem to be developing nicely and with the move to Brammell Lane perhaps in time they can bid for a SL license as a much stronger entity.

Any merged club can not have any reference to the existing clubs as per steady’s post. It would alienate any existing supporters open to the idea of a merger. The name and colours would need to be completely neutral. There can be none of the ‘Wakefield-Castleford Miners’ compromises as you say the Castleford name would be dropped eventually which would naturally drive away support from that area.

Calder Miners is an option or instead of Calder perhaps another name which encompasses the area. My only hope that if this situation ever arises I hope it’s done right and not halfd where we end up with a name like West Yorkshire Rage or some other equally horrid Americanised moniker.

[size=200build one stadium and share it[/size......i don't care who uncle albert supported when he was stuck up a pit donkey after 14 double diamonds.......just make sure BOTH CLUBS survive.

That may end up being the case.

I think the fact is if the new team didn't have Wakefield in the title people from Wakefield won't be interested and the same for Castleford and to be honest with a name like Calder Miners that would have no meaning for me personally.