I didn’t know that. I always thought funding for either away travel was funded by the IRFL. Perhaps that is something the RFL and NRL should look at. Becoming WCC’s or even playing in the final is a huge achievement and one which should lavish each team (more so the winner obviously) with a decent financial return.

Is this such bad news? Aren’t most sporting clubs run at a loss and funded by an owner? The way people are going on you would think we are on the brink, IL is clearly still happy to put money into the club as is shown by the recent investment in the club.

This is just what we thought at Widnes!!
Beware the slippery slope!

It's the magnitude of the loss that is the major concern, there is no RL club that can continue with those kind of losses every year.

Will they have the same love of the club that Lenegan clearly has?

All to easy to say a yes the family will carry on when he’s in rude health but when he’s gone the urge to prop the club up could soon disappear,I think he knows that without a stadium (and before anyone starts I don’t need or want a lecture I think any club without a ground struggles)and that’s what he’s trying to do at robin park create revenue for the club at the cost of short term hurt.

I don’t think there will be a huge increase of season ticket sales but I do expect an increase across the season on the gate each match but the club needs them to return for as long as possible not just a one season wonder and that’s the magicians trick right there,to turn walk ups into season ticket holders year on year

If Wigan are struggling how are the rest of the league going on? Leeds must be in a dire situation.

Of course, for the second-most watch team sport on Sky you would think more money could be generated from Sky. If not, then they are going to be looking for something to fill the gap.

Hull fan here...

First, please beat Cas tomorrow so our bunch of disinterested idiots don't have the "it was a dead rubber anyway" excuse.

On the SKY issue, SL is the second most watched AVAILABLE team sport on Sky, there are many more sports that are either not team sports (darts) or not on Sky (RU).The RFL have never achieved top backing, is the boxing guy still involved?

We’ll do our best



Eddie Hearn? I haven’t heard anything in a long time about his involvement. From what I recall he had some pretty radical ideas and the Chairmen weren’t too impressed. I’d imagine his interest died there.

The chairmen have just won freedom from the rfl,they weren’t ever going to surrender it to Hearn

Why would Leeds be in a dire situation? They’ve been the best run club for a couple of decades now. Highest turnover, most profitable. There’ll be a hit next season with fewer season tickets and merchandise sold though.

True. I just think it’s a little sad and possibly short sighted not to have had some input. I wouldn’t advocate the “selling off” (if you will) of the game to Eddie Hearn but I’d like to see what he could bring.

When we had the World Cup series concept...Moran acted as guarantee for game to go ahead...of course he got that back...with knobs on. Sure it was a sellout, or pretty darn close to it.

To be honest, their performances and achievements for the last few years are pretty dire. How that doesn't translate into a downward revenue would be rather puzzling.

However, their filling is rather opaque... Leeds Rugby Limited: Administrative Expense, £32. Profit just under £5k, just like last year. Income from fixed assets, £4,992 just like last year. Leeds Rugby League Limited, dormant.

According to Bilko Wigan have lost 50,000 pounds for staging this game tonight rather than Friday no wonder the Club is losing money

Try Leeds Cricket Football And Athletic Company Ltd

Interesting that there isn't just one legal entity! Running at a loss too.

I read the other day that lancashire cricket club will make over 8 million this year from gate reciepts from the tests and odi's plus a further 2 million from providing matchday hospitality for man united, thats on top of reciepts from t20 and other lancashire matches plus reciepts from concerts held at the ground and the central funding from the mcc from tv deals etc, kind of confirms that rl clubs are very much second class citizens when it comes to sports finance, god help us if the likes of leneghan,moran,caddick and macmannus/coleman decide theyve had enough

Quote ="goobervision"Interesting that there isn't just one legal entity! Running at a loss too.'" You might not be aware but millions has recently been spent on ground redevelopments. Last year was the first loss making year for a long time. https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yo ... al-triumph

Quote ="goobervision"Interesting that there isn't just one legal entity! Running at a loss too.'" You might not be aware but millions has recently been spent on ground redevelopments. Last year was the first loss making year for a long time. https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yo ... al-triumph

Quote ="Les Norton"You might not be aware but millions has recently been spent on ground redevelopments. Last year was the first loss making year for a long time. https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yo ... al-triumph'" You'll pay it off in no time if you keep charging 27 quid for the away terrace, fook me that was a surprise last night, and not a good one

Quote ="Les Norton"You might not be aware but millions has recently been spent on ground redevelopments. Last year was the first loss making year for a long time. https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yo ... al-triumph'" You'll pay it off in no time if you keep charging 27 quid for the away terrace, fook me that was a surprise last night, and not a good one

Having read the thread I am surprised more has not been said abut that idiotic trip to Australia. It made a loss and for it to break even they would have needed a totally unrealistic crowd of 40K for the friendly. Whoever planned it and came up with the business case that had that crowd figure in it wants shooting. The accounts state the loss on the trip counted "very significantly" to the overall financial performance.

I suppose it means next year the loss will at least be reduced because I can't see that being repeated any time soon.

As to IL ban rolling the club I am obviously glad he does but I don't think it's great one man owns 89% of the shares and is the only backer who is an actual stakeholder ( as in not just a sponsor). If he got knocked down by a bus tomorrow where would that leave the club?

Maybe next year we'll see a WCC Vs Canberra. Complete pipe dream, but that's a license to print money imo.

Have to disagree on the IL situation. Name me one other successful sports team that isn't owned by one person/family. The one that stands out is Barcelona, but that's a different kettle of fish to Wigan. If IL drops dead tomorrow then his wealth will pass to his family. They might sell or they might continue, either way I'm confident we'll be ok.

Handed down to his next of kin(Wife)

I know Saints have one major backer bit I am pretty sure the other directors have put money into the club.

I’d prefer it the ownership of the club was such that if IL did drop dead it’s not what his family decides that counts.

Then there is always the idea that two heads are better then one. We could do with a proper board of directors invested in the club IMO. Not only could they put money in as I believe happens at Saints but IL is not infallible as the Oz trip showed. I also thought pre IL one of the criticisms was it was just DW who owned the club with his sidekick Mo Lindsay running it. Well it’s IL and Rads occupying those roles now.

They have also spent a small fortune upgrading their ground to ensure it retains its test match status.

Owning your own stadium in the right area can offer huge financial rewards - sadly we will not see the likes of Bruce Springsteen or Robbie Williams performing in Wigan, nor can we offer executive parking and pre-match dining for Man Utd home games.

As we don't own a stadium to utilise, the only way our club can generate income is through winning trophies, gate receipts, sponsorship, merchandise and sky's handouts. The only way we remain profitable (and viable), is to ensure our outgoings don't exceed income. That means daft ideas like playing a home fixture outside of Wigan don't happen.

Why not? Elton John and Lionel Richie have both recently played at LSV and we've seen guys like Rod Stewart and the Killers playing at BWFC.

It's a challenge managing a stadium, but it can work imo. I'd say some of the people who wouldn't want to see us having our own ground are slightly defeatist and short sighted.