There's an argument that they have done. After all, there's the big new building at the Eastern end of Headingley and a giant crane currently stood at Kirkstall Lane.

There's also the argument that, with their link to professional sport, they're providing their students with a real-life model of sports science, nutrition, conditioning and fitness working at the very highest level. I'm guessing that there aren't many Universities in the UK that offer students the opportunity to see how their theories and ideas can be applied in an international sports arena.

Ssh! The mob are lighting their torches and sharpening their pitchforks.

Are our country cousins preparing to invade the big city? Thought they weren't due til the middle of August.

Yes but as his Lordship posted earlier they are using money from the Carnegie Trust which is can only be spent in certain ways. In the end its a simple choice. If you dont like what Leeds Met Carnegie are doing dont enrol on a course.

As for it affecting the Rhinos, I cant see it affecting us at all. Yes the Union teams wages will have to rise as they get better players but the crowds will increase too, not to mention TV money etc. It may actually help us get a new South Stand quicker.
I'd also heard that if they hadnt got promoted this year Caddick would have stopped funding them altogether.

The attendances were still poor last time they were in the Premiership so what makes you think it will be different this time.The club have constantly made losses so again why would it be different this time, especially as they will probably have to spend far more on players this time to survive.
If they get relegated again there probably will be no way back.
Yes it could affect the Rhinos- have you not heard of inter company loans.

Leeds' (will they still go under the Carnegie suffix or will they adopt yet another) relegation from the top flight was effectively confirmed the day their promotion to it was confirmed.

Northampton have managed to establish themselves this year. What is to say Leeds Carnegie (and it will still be that) can't do the same in the forthcoming season?

Northampton are an established club with a long history, and a good hard core support

But you could have a team that draws over 50k crowds a week and are still sh*t (i.e. Newcastle United). It's not about who and what crowds are watching, it's about what the team does on the field.

Northampton went through the whole season unbeaten (Leeds lost 3 games), looked several classes above the opposition (Leeds didn't), had players of proven Premiership quality (Leeds haven't), bought new players wisely when promoted (Leeds don't seem to be able to do this) and are in strong RU territory (Leeds aren't). Apart from these features . . . . .

That more or less would cover my concerns for Leeds 'Whatevers', not that I personally care one way or the other, on the assumption that their effect on Leeds RL is neutral at worse.

straight back

Let's see who they manage to sign this time.

Last time they recruited NL1 players. This time they need to be getting proven Premiership players in.

That was a huge mistake last time but they seem to have set the recruitment bar higher this time and key and back are no mugs imo!

And at what cost though ?

The Salary Cap is a lot higher in the Premiership. I think it's in the region of £4million

And to who?

I suppose it depends on the level of hand out the clubs receive centrally from the governing body.

I havent suggested it would be any different this time. I still dont see how Leeds Carnegie getting promoted will negatively affect the Rhinos.
I dont see any possible reason as to why the Rhinos would loan money to the union team. And does Caddicks funding of the union side mean he'll put less money into the Rhinos? I seriously doubt he's stupid enough to subsidise a part of the business making a loss at the expense of a part of the business making a profit. Not to mention the costs of the ground, training facilities etct that if the union side went under Leeds Rhinos would have to bear on its own.
As I said, the extra money from the Guinness Premiership and TV money MAY help us get a new South Stand quicker.

The accounts are online if you fancy having a wander over to the Companies House website and finding some evidence of this financial interaction between the two trading arms of Leeds Rugby Limited...?

I never said any loans had taken place - just suggested that it was possible from one of the "profitable" companies in the group which could/would put a strain on the lenders company.Do you dispute the Union side make losses ?

I dont quite see what your point is?

I can't be bothered to go through the thread again,but I believe it was mentioned if the Rhinos were holding back on spending the cap limit because of the costs of Leeds Carnegie.I was merely pointing out this was a possibility because of the amount of funding the Union would require to be competitive - far much more money than last time.

Actually it was only you who mentioned this. No-one else did. Plus you've already admitted there is no evidence of the Rhinos funding Carnegie.
Caddick may be funding Carnegie, but does that really have a negative effect on the Rhinos? I doubt it and there is no evidence of that whatsoever.
Why would it cost the Union team more than the last time they were in the Premiership?

the club will now revert to being the Leeds Tykes, as the GP has a ban on sponsors names (which is all Carnegie is).

Tykes average crowds in 07-8 were in the region of 7k, which is part of a consistent increase over the last few years. With Back & Key in charge, the signings seem to be being made (lock from Leicester & back rower from Bristol) so far to keep us up.

There's also a hardcore of honest GP level pros in the current side, such as MacDonald, Rawlinson, Murphy, Fourie, Barrow & Hinton. It simply remains for the attraction of a few extras in key areas-Chris Whittaker and Henry Fa'afili have been mentioned-and I'm confident leeds (now by agreement the fittest side in the GP due to Backy's conditioning regime) will stay up. Especially as Newcastle look so shocking.