After reading about gh over the weekend I write knowing that I will probably get a slating but its all about opinions,so here goes.I personally am not against a groundshare but believe in the long term we would disappear if we went to gh.If this is the only option for us to stay in sl I would prefer we dropped into the championship where the rugby is entertaining as alot of it is kids wanting to prove themselves.Also add to this we may win some games,may not get tonked every other game and I would not go to games wondering by how many we are going to lose by.If we face facts while we are in sl we are never going to win anything,we are just there to make up the numbers and eventually we will be kicked out cos richard lewis,gary hetherington and co dont want us there.This may sound negative but all this fighting is not good and I believe wakefield need to survive in their own right.We cant compete in sl financially and with the board we have,believe this will not change.Feel free to start slating.

I don't think anyone will slate that, its an opinion that has a hint of realism added.

I think we all have felt like this or are feeling like this at the moment. A groundshare in my opinion will result in a loss of identity which will see the crowds fall further, which obviously is another criteria on the franchise list...whichever way you look at it, it doesn't seem good for the long term future of our club.

But as we've sold belle vue and cala homes aren't going to wait forever to get there hands on whats rightfully theres, where would we play?

I see where you are coming from bit its all about opinions.

I want to watch Wakefield play in SL. I want that to be at Newmarket but if that is not going to happen then I want to see what our options are. If its playing SL at Glasshoughton I'd prefer that to the Championship but in reality playing at GH would probably end with us in the Chamionship or nowhere so the end result is the same. If its playing at Oakwell whilst Newmarket is progressing then thats preferable to GH and I would go with that.

I will not watch us play in the Championship and I'd rather merge than that but thats my opinion.

We have sold Belle Vue so we are pretty much up the creek without the paddle so as I see it we have to stand by Newmarket.

I wouldnt be at all suprised if they pull out of it and ask for there pennies back. That is a massive concern, like you said, they are not going to wait forever.

We can't pay them back, we have used the money to pay debts and the day to day running of the Club.

It looks like Newmarket or bust to me.

If barnsley is an option why not there?Will open up an option of appealing to a wider fan base and also we will still be watching wakey and not some merged team in gh that has no connection to wakey at all.At least the proud name of wakefield lives on albeit in a lower division.

Sandal,

I never said we could pay them back, but they would be in there rights to do so.

Newmarked isn't going to happen?... is it?

Oakwell it is.

Do we actually know that we could play at Oakwell. Do Barnsley want us? Could we afford the rent?

Its wishful thinking and hoping on my account.

They will not want their money back, just the completion of the Contact and the land to build on.

I have my doubts about Newmarket also but we must stick with it. If it fails then can we afford to play at Oakwell. We are in deep doo doo and I think Newmarket is the last throw of the dice.

I genuinely believe that if the Council gives Newmarket its full support it is deliverable but there lies the problem.

Is there any harm in asking/trying or have we all resigned ourselves to the option of being pushed around by cas/mr box etc and ending up at gh only to disappear forever.

Merger gets my vote as well as the only viable way to see a successful SL side in the district. True merger that is - no senior partner.

Come and join us in The Championship.

£300k salary cap
Northern Rail Cup
Byes
Bonus Points
Irregular fixtures (Fax's first home Championship match 28th February, next one 21st March)
(Fax's previous home game 11th July. Next one 29th July. One home game in August)
Fixture switches at a moments notice
The whole competition undermined by Franchising

It's a gas.

Featherstone are awaiting planning on there massive ground re-developments, which should be given in a few weeks. They include moving the pitch towards the railway end, extending both stands at the pitch side the full length and covered terraces at both ends, wouldnt Wakey be much better off sharing with us, the work is due to start Winter 2011. The money will come from Doctors and Dental surgeries being built on some land behind the railway end

groundshare is the way forward.

yes but to keep our own identity or to merge?

own identity just like all other major sports teams that happen to groundshare.

What date was the planning application received by the council? and what is the Application No.? I would be interested to look at the proposals.

Correct. It's been stated time and again that our only hope of strengthening the club and competing on a more equal footing with the richer clubs was the move to Newmarket. Without this, and with our present structure, we have no long term, or even short term SL future, IMO.

I could be wrong here.

But dont i recall with regards the sale of our ground -- some connection to Sport England??

That the ground could only be sold upon condition that Trinty had firstly secured a new home to play from??

Thats also my view if Cas had to go to NM, no slating here mate , well said

I have no problems with sharing a ground, I just feel Glass Houghton is the beginning of a merger and the loss of identity for sporting Wakefield.

Myself and many others I know are in favor of sharing Oakwell with Barnsley FC, just not sure how viable it is. If it was done properly, there would be scope for increasing crowds at both Wakefield rugby league and Barnsley football games. If there was some incentive regarding season tickets/entrance fees, I'd probably go watch a few Barnsley games and that's coming from someone who gets bored senseless at just the thought of watching 90 minutes of football! No doubt it could work the other way.

I could live with either Barnsley or Glasshoughton. In the long term Barnsley might be the best option as if a big effort went in to promoting the club in the local schools I could see new fans coming. Problem is if attendances drop off and we have rent to pay plus lose ancillary income streams such as refreshments, corporate etc then might mean the club become unviable in the short term. Also, the fact we are called Wakefield Wildcats may also put Barnsley folk off watching someone else's team.

thanks,finally we agree on something