Heck I didn't realise Leigh were out there as well - no wander we lost !

Do Featherstone have deep reserves of financial backing or are they applying the Bradford principle to their expenditure?

Heaven knows why I typed Leigh lol. Must have been having a moment

Makes you wonder, that's a heck of a wage list for a part-time club.

It looks like they’re going all out and pushing their upper limits to finally get that SL place this year. If they don’t make it this season I fully expect they’ll scale back a little the following season. Speculate to accumulate. To be fair though I hope fev come up. More local derbies for trin the better.

You mean to gamble and possibly break the rules and eventually bankrupt your club.

The management at Featherstone have repeatedly talked about their massively-improved income streams over recent seasons, with sponsorship the leading factor (the press conference yesterday was told of £250k in new sponsorship since the reduced funding was announced last year).

Add to that 1,500 season tickets (and the price this year is far from cheap at £240, so there's probably upwards of £300k there), the income from allowing Wakefield AFC to use the ground, from staging BARLA finals days etc, a successful Squad Builder programme, and all the income from conferences, weddings, beer and food sales at the ground, sales from the on-site superstore...there are a lot of revenue streams at Fev these days.

Don't thing anybody denies how rich the club may be, but are wondering if your club operates under the salary cap.

Is there an income from selling the surrounding land around PO Road a factor by selling to housing developer?

Maybe Fev are just managing their finances well.
I don't think it's fair just call them cheats because they have a good squad.
There are a wide range of players in their squad. Not all are on big wages.

The salary cap for Championship is exactly the same as for SL. Derek Beaumont stated Leigh have spent £1.2m this year btw.

I honestly can't remember what the latest info is on that.

Your being slightly overly literal. It is possible to unintentionally cheat yourself into believing that what you are doing is right when it isn’t. This is especially the case when running a sports club, it’s made even the most savvy of businessmen.

I’m not saying Fev are there yet but they must sailing pretty close to the wind.

Two points. The cap may well be the same but the income stream is not. No amount of sponsorship or the reasonably good ST sales can make up for the SKY money.

Secondly, I would say a good number of our players are on money similar to most Fev players and some of those will be playing this season. At the top end we will be paying more but it will even out a little as you go down the list. I suspect that minus the SKY cash Trinity are probably spending less on wages than Fev, can’t prove it but it wouldn’t shock me.

So you are agreeing that it's unfair to call them cheats?

PT, if it makes you happy to win one then yes, take it as you wish you normally do

Why can't you just say yes. You need to see someone about that.

Just highlights how our revenue will surely improve once the ground is complete.
We think we punch above our weight but for a small town Featherstone certainly do and I hope they come up (financially well managed!)
They have a great little ground, although I don't understand the two stand situation along one side - might be just me, but if they were built at separate times couldn't the second one have joined onto the first one? Just bugs me but I'm a bit strange that way

They do have a nice little ground but one of worse pitches in rl

Because I don't agree with you but I can't be bothered to argue such a minor point, so if someone needs help it's probably you?

Without wanting to upset anyone

I agree.

The ground is a lash-up but it's a good one especially considering the finances.

I too don't get the two strands. The main stand on that side is modern but basic, I can't imagine it being that much more expensive to take it the full length? It's like that new stand has been plonked there purely because it was available. The end stand looks great.

What they need to spend money on now is further efforts to level the pitch, though I think a fully level pitch probably isn't possible it could still be better. Some new floodlights is a must, an item that could clearly be funded from the WMDC cash.

Eventually, they should finish off the main stand (full length) and put a front on it so they can remove the shantytown that currently sits there. This bit is not vital at the moment but should they establish themselves in SL it would be needed to attract bigger sponsors and more prawn sandwich munchers etc.

There is no doubt Fev have made the best of what they've got. I applaud them for that.
However, I honestly think they have a ceiling on where they can go.
No matter how good the stadium is, it's still in Featherstone. Outside investment is going to be tough unless the high Street is made more appealing.

For us, of course Agbrigg isn't the best but from the main Doncaster Road side entrance it will look good. Add to that the city that is attracting business, with the right management, which I think we have, we can rake it a lot further.

I agree as regards POR, it's harsh to say but Fev the ground and the place is just too small even if they can mine nearby Pontefract.

I actually think BV is well placed, sure Donny rd is not pretty but it's the main road that leads straight onto the car park. You can also gain access by car/foot from almost any direction and public transport is good and it's close to a real city centre. Sure it's a bit cramped at the west but generally, it's ok. Fully developed it's a place most people would be happy to use for most kinds of things.

All that said, at the moment they are way ahead of us and as yet not a brick has been laid at BV so I don't want to appear patronising, Fev are still in a good place compared to us at present.

Funny how at this present time we have arguably one of the best pitches in super league surrounded by one of the worst ,and unfortunately that pitch for the nostalgic amongst us is going to make way for a brand new 4G one which will bring revenue streams into the club which the old grass one simply can’t . Sad to see it go personally but happy that the new pitch will help trinity move forwards and on a far better financial footing along with the upgrades to the stadium, the future is looking bright and I’m sure Willy will also bring big positives on the playing front .

The 2 stand thing is because they got them from Scarborough FC I understand when they went out of business. Dismantled them nut and bolt and re built them.

There's a really good stand sat doing nothing at Rotherham's old ground that would do nicely down the west side of Belle Vue...

Way too big I'm afraid, it simply won't fit. Had we had to do the east stand ourselves it would have ben an option.

As for the two stands bit, I get it but somehow it doesn't work.

The funny thing is it would fit just right at the South end of our ground, wonder if we could do a deal