Sorry, I was referring to the mergers as a whole and not just the "Calder" merger. There was a huge amount of negativity from the fans that was directed at the RFL which caused them to abandon the plans wholesale.



See my reply to coco's post (above)

Weren't they good in NL1 because there was a recognised route back into the top flight? If one of us goes down next season and are facing 3 years in the Champo, with no clearly defined opportunity to get back in, I can't see either team retaining anything like a decent supporter base.

Perhaps.

I have no doubt that they would depreciate more knowing we'd have three years outside the top flight, perhaps longer. But we do have an extremely loyal base and I do find it hard to believe that all fans would walk away. I think we could remain like Widnes if we went down.

Fully if we went down we'd be on 4.5 to 5 thousand a home game, it's human nature. I'd be there though.

You're optimistic. We have average 5469 in 2005 and I think 5.1k in 2007.

Given our lowest attendance of this season was 4.9k v Catalans, I think our attendances would be about the 3.5k-4k mark.

Whether that is sustainable over the course of three years I don't know. If we went down, especially in this position, I've said I would turn my back on the game. It is not justified removing us when we've moved forwards, not backwards. When we offer things and others do not on the same scale.

Regardless, I probably would still be on the terraces come the start of the new season, though.

I think that 3.5k - 4k would be about right.

As for the last bit, I would say that is why Wakey will not get near that figure in the Championship, they do not have anywhere near as many core fans as we do.

I think they do have a similar core fanbase. I think they've just got fed up of everything and it's a case of loyalty coming at a price. Maybe we're just more gullible gits?

I often question the loyalty of Leeds Utd fans but despite a lot of them being total prats giving their club a bad reputation, boy do I bow down to their support, which is nothing short of phenomenal. Sorry if I offend anyone with the prats comment.

We may find out, one way or the other , next season.

Different circumstances. From reading their forum a lot of the regulars seem like they're giving up if they lose their licence.

That's my point.

I know. If a lot of the older guys give up then so will the kids. Either that or the kids will go watch Leeds or us. Catch 22 situation for us, Wakefield going down. We lose our main rival and one of the biggest attendance pulls of the season. But we could gain in fanbase and strengthen our own core support.

From reading the Wakey board that is what may happen. For me and my 2 kids, we would be there with Cas next season - Whatever!

I'm sure you would, but this time round there's no possibility of a quick return so it would affect the thoughts of many Cas fans as well, added to that the feeling of injustice at the decision.
I think many would fall out of love with the game more than their club, and i find that both totally understandable and very sad.

I don't post on the Cas board but on this rare occasion,

My view, and I've said this for a long time, is that if EITHER Wakefield or Castleford are removed and Crusaders remain then I am done with the game at all levels.

If the RFL find some convoluted way of justifying the above then that's all the confirmation I need that the sport (ha) is no longer that which I've been associated with for most of my life and I will find other things to do with my time.

Call it overdramatic, doubt me if you wish but I've had my fill of the RFL and it's agendas.

Not really, I couldn't give a toss as long as Cas stay in super league, if you do go down for a few years and the stadium comes along for us ,it's our chance of stamping Wakefield into the ground for good with no return into the big time.
A bit harsh?.... The other way round and 80% of you lot would feel the same.At the end of the day if any of us go down, the other one will be rubbing their hands hoping their going to go the same way as fev and the district is all theirs for the rich pickings

I actually do agree with you to an extent

However, kicking either of Cas or Wakey out at the expense of keeping Quins and Crusaders (and possibly even Salford) is laughable and something which we all know the RFL won't think twice about doing

As long as Cas get the gig i couldn't care less and neither would the vast majority of Wakey fans if the boot was on the other foot.

Some Wakey fans are trying to blame everybody for the position they have found themselves in.

I think the general miss-management of the club for donkey's years from the 1970's to Father Ted as the main problem.

Some of them are clearly having a mental breakdown.

It's not pretty.

Quite funny though

No.

One of the longest founding members in the game, but in the last 30 years one of the poorly debt ridden, hand outs to the council run club in the game ...yet they can't see the truth ... It's all Mr Boxes fault, the RL hates us, Leeds council and so on and on they go

I am not laughing although I am very confident about staying up but no matter what happens on the 26th I hope both sets of fans show more class when we next play than the individuals who waved wooden spoons in the faces of wheldon road faithful the first time around when Cas were relegated.

I'm taking 3...one for my extra inbred arm

You really expect that to be the case?

There are some fans still bitter of that night and whilst I do hope the fans show some decorum, I cannot see it being the case. I hasten to add that it won't be myself and I'll be going purely to watch Cas hopefully grab two points to secure our play-off position.