I would suggest teams like Wigan and Hull do add a lot to the competition - as Leeds have found out upgrading a new ground needs both the space/opportunity and the finance.

Central Park/Boulevard both had limited development opportunities same goes for Wakefield/Castleford/Widnes all legacy grounds of the "good old days" that every one seems to remember so fondly.

Would the money given to the Championship clubs be better invested in a serious marketing campaign for the Elite competition would it be better invested in trying to get a better headline sponsor?

Something needs to be done - the game is dying I cannot see how maintaining the current status quo is going to improve the state of the game - but I am interested in understanding how others think it will.

i agree with your principles, and i am pro franchising, but i am sure the likes of Fev Halifax would say they are better and stronger clubs than leigh and widnes and possible Hull kr, there is also no way they would kick Huddersfield out, and lets face it if Cas had not been good on the field for last 3-4 years they would be for the chop too, after all been relegated twice since 2014.

any more info, what was said

leneghan gave a presentation with a few ideas, no more than that. they all agreed to think about it and meet again but had a gentleman's agreement to keep quiet. next week leneghan has hijacked elstons press conference to announce what he intends to do.

there is no reason why semi closed shop franchised super league would not work pretty well, look at how well fev are doing as Leeds feeder club, fev doing well on and off the field, pretty sure Leeds are seeing them alright. fev still have long term ambition but they see having a close tie in with a super league club like Leeds as a benefit to there long term plans.

Interesting point - How would you suggest Fev & Fax bring more then KR?

Average attendance - Nope
Commercial revenue - Nope
Success in the last 10 years ( play offs and finals) - Nope
The opportunity for regular 10,000 plus crowds - hmmm probably not.
Highest engagement on social media across all sports - KR at number 1 in the country - So Nope.
Big events ticket sales ( let's say summer bash as equivalent based on 2017 figures) - Nope
Away following - Nope

Other then that though, I can see the argument

I agree with some of this: Hull and Wiigan do add value to the comp BUT they have put themselves in a position of financial weakness. Should the game really be led by such hamstrung clubs?

Wilderspool and Knowsley Road had limited development potential too - Wire and Saints took the long-term view.

As for spending the additional on a marketing campaign, don't you think it much more likely it'll be blown on a couple of inflated player salaries - or on outstanding demands from the Inland Rev?

The financial weakness of Wigan has very little to do with its current chairman nor does the position at Hull. To suggest that the current chairman are inappropriate to make a sensible contribution to the debate because of what Maurice did at Wigan etc. is ludicrous.

If paying a player like Sonny Bill helps to secure an improved TV deal or a major sponsor I would suggest that is a better use of the money than giving it to a championship club. Unlikely I know

Not the point. Is it realistic that they're in a position to make the best decisions for the game as a whole when short term cash flow is always gnawing away at their businesses?

How do you know they have short term cashflow issues? I think that is a massive assumption. I would suggest Leeds probably have greater cashflow issues than most given the inability to even sell out a stadium holding 2/3rds of its full capacity.

Leeds make there money through the corporate side. iirc anything over 10,000 is a profit.

Corporate have to sit somewhere not sure if I were entertaining I would want my guests sitting in a temporary stand?


Revenues from corporate will be well down - as will game revenues due to lower crowds, lower programme revenues, lower beer revenues etc.

is the Carnegie temporary?
more corporate in there this year

No difference to previous seasons - there is only one suite. So where do all the corporate from the lomg bar and the North stand go in a stand that holds <50% of what the old stand did?

Corporate continues to do well - the entire centre section of the temporary stand is corporate from top to near bottom.
Sal just can't cope with giving any credit to anyone in the Leeds management though. Comparing it to Wigan is like comparing a Rolls Royce to an A-reg Ford Fiesta. Do Wigan even keep all their corporate receipts? They certainly don't know how to maintain a sponsorship portfolio - how many title sponsors have they been through in the 20+ years in which Leeds have had just two?

Congrats on winning the corporate battle as you slide down the table. Straws, clutching and all that....

back on topic please - Empty stands next season if McD does not go at the end of the season !

Depends whether you think Sounthstander.com forum is a true reflection of the whole supporter base (it's really not!)

Not being reliant on a fairy godfather rich owner gives me a certain assurance that one poor league season won't drive the club out of existence like could happen to clubs like Wigan and Huddersfield who need their owner's regular cash injections.

The remaining fixtures that count are

Leeds
Wigan A
Castleford A
Wakefield H
Widnes H
Salford A

Catalans
Castleford H
Wakefield A
WarringtonA
Salford H
Wigan A


Huddersfield
Hull KR A
Hull H
Wigan H
Castleford A
Wakefield H


Salford
WarringtonA
Hull KR A
Castleford H
Catalans A
Leeds H

Definitely a year in the South Stand seats for us next year. The terrace this year has been horrendous. Not because of the building work but because of the amount of idiots. Throwing pints on Wednesday. Someone threw a bottle from the back downwards on Friday.

Western or Carnegie?

Same for me, although I suspect the seating area will be sold out pretty quick. So might not be so easy to obtain decent seats. Like an ejit I gave up two cracking seats in the north stand, purely because I did not like Friday night games ,at that time it was pre super league. The majority of games were Sunday afternoon , used enjoy a few beers before and after the game.

anyone who thinks the changes are not about money and money alone should watch this weeks backchat.greed.

No need to watch back chat there have been plenty of articles this week that back your point. Pure greed and desperation.