We can all see it John, so how come the RFL cannot.

they must have far better things to do than to waste a couple of hours thinking about the championships.
without being really cynical i cant think of anything else.

Agreed,
So why can't the fixture planners see the blatantly obvious


I hope the Championship club owners raise this question with the RFL.
If I was losing a potential £8,000 (and thats being generous) and a chance to attract supporters to a decent looking fixture then I would be banging on the door asking why our biggest fixture has been ignored on the day we can attract a larger than average gate.

As I've said before on here - do you think Saints/W*gan, Leeds/B'ford, Cas/Wakey, or the Hull clubs would wear not getting their 'nice little earner' from the Easter fixtures? Would they hell!! They'd be up in arms - so why are the Championship clubs not raising a stink over it??

the question by Leigh was raised and ignored

How would Leigh/Widnes local fixture work in who gets the gate money - ie the home game? Was this possibly a problem for having this fixture? Seems strange to not allow clubs input on fixtures - unless clubs currently getting Widnes or Leigh as their home fixture didn't want to move on a bigger than normal payout etc etc.

Well here is my fourpenneth on this.

The RFL' you would think' would want to see bigger crowds for all its' member clubs. Now what is the biggest potential crowd that a club like Leigh would draw on a Bank Holiday weekend other than a game with its' nearest neighbour in the Championship.

The fixture planners should be asked for an explanation but what is the point as they would not respond.

Well I will tell you the painfully obvious and that is that these fixture planners are braindead as are the management of the RFL for not reviewing the work of the fixture planners before sending out draft fixtures.

Mind you never forget the RFL chairman did say on National TV that the LSV did not exist even though he had been there. Now was that because he is a liar or because he is forgetfull or is it just that he is an overpaid underperforming moron ?

Do they frank ? , do they really ?

It makes you wonder doesn't it ?

Fixture planners? Lets see what you have to say when the fixtures come out on Monday

Aye, not half!

A trip to Leigh on a sunday aft would bring a few hundred of us over to your gaff! Especially for the season's opener and after the season we've just enjoyed!

A thursday night after work and running the gaunlet that is the 62 at rush hour??? Be lucky to get a bus full!!

Be fair RFF, you probably brought the second biggest following to the LSV in 2010 (after 'Fax), and that was on a Tuesday night!

If the RFL plan it right, which they won't, we could have some massive crowds in our league this year.

Stop adopting your usual role of RFL apologist, and use a bit of common sense!!



The Leigh/Widnes fixture should alternate season on season on Good Friday - with the reverse fixture on either end of May or August Bank hols - as should the other suggested 'local' fixtures.......the whole game should be about maximising revenue and profile - not just for those on the top table!!

Of course - once Widnes are 'elevated' - and we end up in the 'Yorkshire' league, we'll have to hope that either Salford get chucked out of SL - or Oldham/Rochdale pull their fingers out this season!!

and I'm looking forawrd to it again. I always do enjoy me Leigh trip - I just enjoy it much much more on a Sunday, in the sun with a couple of jars and talking sheeite for an hour to anyone who'll listen rather than having to 'leg it' over the hill like a numpty after work on a thursday evening!!
But as we are in rupert's pocket........

So for just trying to fathom out why there is no common sense on these fixtures mean I have no common sense?

Get over yourself and read again what I put. We have one side to all this, and don't have any reasons why we can't have games that we would prefer - apart from RFL are trying to destroy Leigh themes.
I do agree you know that our fixture against Widnes would make sense on good Friday - home or away would make sense. But just maybe because we had Gatesheads fixtures last year, the alternate thing is difficult because just maybe Widnes/Leigh would prefer the home game etc. Just throwing possible reasons up in the air because I don't accept the view they are plotting against us.

So, as a compromise, one gets Good Friday at home and the other gets the other Bank Holiday at home, with the two switching for the following season - that ran for several seasons in the NFP if memory serves me right where the two alternated between Boxing Day and Good Friday?

Total sense - or "common sense" which I didn't see because I am lacking it appears.


So why give fixture lists in advance to clubs only for clubs to be ignored? What did RFL say in response? Did we seek the other 3 clubs involved in these possible changes to back it? Surely we would need to do that, otherwise its stalemate.

I think last seasons game against Fev was the highlight of last season my me. The game build up knowing we are battling for top of table - great atmosphere and game.

What do the fixture planners get paid to do??
If, and I am willing to accept this was the reason, that we got Gateshead's fixtures last season - then what is the reason for us not getting the obvious fixture this season??

How come the SL get their local derbies every season at Easter, yet clubs outside SL don't? Surely the SL planners put these fixtures in first, then work out the rest of the season round them - why can't the same 'level of planning' be adopted for the Championship/Champ1?

As Fred has stated - Leigh asked the question, and were ignored!! (I suspect the only reason Fred would post this is that he knows it to be true.)
If the RFL aren't prepared to explain to one of it's member clubs the reasons for it's decisions, then what else are we expected to think, other than that the RFL are not as bothered about the clubs outside SL as those inside??

As I put earlier , do they [ RFL actually want Championship clubs to increase their attendances and their income streams ?

I seriously have my doubts , and I find myself questioning my sanity making such a seemingly ridiculous statement

But in all honesty it is the only conclusion I can reach , they do not want a Championship made up of clubs with support bases that can in any way challenge any club in the tier above

They want us to remain where we are and to struggle financially , they know that at the level we are at there will always be somebody willing to keep us ticking along , this allows them to bring through who they want in the future

Walt Mooney Fan Club - Do you know if RFL force derbies on days the clubs don't want? Or just maybe clubs request this. There is no point say W1gan wanting a Good Friday and Saints turn around and say they want Warrington.
Now I ask you did Leigh and Widnes together ask for a "common sense" fixture? Yes or no? I suspect you don't know, like me and most on here.
Did Leigh and the other 3 clubs contact each other to agree to move to a "common sense" fixture of Leigh/Widnes on Good Friday? Yes or no? Again I supsect you don't know, like me and most on here.

Its common sense for a sport that is losing clubs and is struggling for finance at all levels.
You put the best fixtures on the best days to optimise support, I agree clubs should be asking the question but equally how hard is it for someone at the RFL to step in and say to the fixture planners that we need all our derby fixtures on these bank holidays to maximise exposure and revenue.

The only logical reason I can offer for all these attractive fixtures not appearing on Bank Holiday dates is that SKY will be showing them on Thursday evenings at a later date (Leigh v Widnes, Fax v Fev , etc, etc so have told the RFL not to put these all in one day.

Absolute rubbish. The very least we do is keep them clubs in SL on their toes. A club is coming down from SL, and more than likely Widnes will be replacing them. Having strong clubs outside SL ready to replace a SL club is a absolute must.

Thank you Jenky for some more "common sense" there. I didn't think of that to be honest

Yes it is , best tell the RFL then , because they dont want it , it would seem , if it is because of the TV games , then the sooner the TV deal ends the better