Quote ="M@islebugs"I agree on the whole but it depends on how you define value. The issue per se isn't the length or population along the M62 corridor. It's long and there's millions of people, most of whom find the game drab because there are clubs who survive in SL who haven't won anything since the 50s, don't produce top class players and have few fans despite being in relatively large towns. They bring no value and contribute to the competition having little in the way of actual competition or excitement.'"
Agreed on the first part, 'value' is not just money, it it the intrinsic 'value' that the clubs that haven't won anything, still bring to the game. As an example Wakefield: they have won anything, but do produce 'some' decent young players (Johnstone), but also they do some excellent work in Wakefield and beyond with their Foundation. They even stretch as far as Bassetlaw (Worksop) with their support of a very good junior club with there endeavours. That work should be applauded. The value they bring to the game through that effort is incalculable.
However, they could do that as a part time club in the Championship and allow other clubs that bring more to the game, in terms of attendances, production of more top level players and of course finances, to improve SL. I am not picking on Wakefield, only using them as an example.
None of this is perfect, but we must assess where the game is going over the next five years, and we must do that NOW.
