I don't think the inference was that the release was prompted specifically by anything that Wakefield fans had said; more that it appears to speak directly to rumours that have been reported in the past few days in various places - not just here.

While it pains me to look at a "positive" from the Tigers' point of view, I'm inclined to disagree that Opus are "working against" the Tigers on this.

"Firstly, Opus Land (North) Ltd remain wholly committed to delivering a Supermarket on the site of the existing ground" confirmed Andrew Duncan, director, Opus Land (North) Ltd.

There may well be other (perhaps more suitable) sites in Cas for another supermarket, but if the perceived wisdom is that only one of the potential sites will receive planning permission for retail development I can't see how Opus would commit to the wording of this press release if they were involved in other sites for the same retailer.

ATEOTD both Wakefield & Cas are in touching distance of having a new stadium, but there is still a lot to be achieved on both sides. While licensing has resulted in P&R no longer being relevant, if the decision for 2015-17 licenses comes down to a choice between Wakefield & Cas I hope that both clubs have progressed enough for the choice to come down to what they have delivered on the pitch rather than off it.

I don't believe Opus are working against Cas at all, but just maybe they are not the only developer interested in getting a new supermarket in the area. There is no evidence at this stage either way that one site will be preferred for planning over any of the others. They all face the same hurdles to get over to achieve that and all from that point of view are even. It is other factors related to Wheldon Road that have tempted the supermarket involved to look elsewhere as they are deemed more cost effective and easier to implement. This does not mean another supermarket wouldn't be interested in the WR site but it makes it a harder sell and if the other developer gets a full application on a different site in first then it will be a struggle. The OPP on the EH site will be a fly in the ointment but not insurmountable as there is nobody interested in it at the present time and whilst it remains outline permission then other applications for full permission could still be made successfully.

Feel the need to break cover on this one.

Speculation is rife on this subject and who knows who is correct.

However as someone who works for a large supermarket I feel able to comment.

The issue is not whether a Supermarket will be built in Cas or by whom but which site gets the nod first - because it will be the only one that will be built - end of.

There is already an ASDA in Cas - I don't think there is enough trade in Cas to justify a second but it's probably worth it in terms of turnover and market presence for a punt from another chain.

What won't happen is a third supermarket on the Wheldon road site if they lose out this time. No way will any of the Supermarkets build a store to run at a loss and it will as Cas is simply not big enough to maintain three large stores. Wakefield itself only has two large and two medium stores and one of those is losing money!

Newmarket is our last hope IMO as most on here seem to agree - it's about time Cas fans realised that they are in the same boat and they are already missing a paddle. This ridiculous naivety and blindness to reality is becoming tiresome. The clock is ticking for both of us.

Cas town centre is crying out for a new supermarket. Asda is always packed and isn't big enough. Population wise Cas should have 2 large format supermarkets at least. One at Glasshoughton (Asda) and another in the town centre.

There are two sites I've heard mentioned regarding a new retail store, the Nestle site just down the road from WR and a site next to the Burberry factory by the level crossing.

That's not the debate - it's whether it needs a third should WR not be the winner - answer is no. I think you have a very inflated idea as to the size and needs of Castleford if you think it requires three large Supermarkets, come on be realistic.

Would you say WR is in the town centre? I wouldn't.

Very true which is why yet another delay can't be a good thing in any way, shape or form. If the rumours are true and Tesco fancy another site with another developer then, by the time the 3 to 4 month period that Opus are quoting is up, you would have expected movement on the alternative site and the WR plan will then be struggling. If they wanted WR they would have already signed up to stop another supermarket getting a foothold in the area and you can bet your bottom dollar if they do want an alternative site they won't be hanging around to give Opus a chance to find another tenant for WR.

All this shows just how hard it is in the current climate to get a new stadium, or any development for that matter, built. Newmarket is everything to the future Wakefield, just as GH is to Cas. Lets hope after years of false hope and rejection we finally get the good luck we need.

Why would the nestle site be more preferable it would have no advantage over WR but would not have the council and community backing that WR has and so be more likely to get rejected or get called into PI.

The fact that one site has a petition in support of it means nothing if there is no planning application put in on it. Only if the two sites went up against each other would it maybe hold sway, although the planning would be judged on each sites individual merits first. The backing would make no difference as to whether the plans get called in, if they want a PI on it they will have one, if not they won't.

I just heard it mentioned in comparisons with WR with respect to their properties. Whether or not its preferable I don't know.

Good luck to them.
For the genuine CT fans, may of whom I teach & work with I really hope they don't end up being lead down the garden path. Any WTW fan who felt as crippled as I did when Thornes Park fell through shouldn't wallow in anyone else's pain.

As we all know the pace isn't being set by themselves, their developers or even central government, all of whom tend to work to set timescales. Their fate is in the hands of Tescos. The native biggest company in the land! They work in line with the markets, moving only when it best suits them. This is a worse scenario than a PI IMO. After they sign a supermarket they still have to form an application, put it to consultation, get it past the council & and the regional office without it resulting in a PI. Not a great place to be in.

Although as the next few days unfold I think we'll discover Tescos have more to do with NM than we think: IA did promise an early Christmas present. Now I'm not saying that's what it is, but I am insinuating that's part of what it COULD be.

As far as Neverdid goes; I'll have a momentary chuckle!

COULD it be a huge part of Tesco's distribution hub?

It appears to me that the possibility of delays now could be a problem for cas, other sites, other supermarkets, objectors etc etc.
What it doesn't prove though is that it won't still happen, and anyone who says another supermarket or two cant be developed at once or in close proximity clearly doesn't understand the power of the supermarkets.
Look at Wakefield, Tesco's sniff around mention they want the old Sainsburys site, Sainsburys kick off and Wakefield ends up with a new Tesco and ANOTHER Sainsburys all within a mile of the city centre, on the same road, and i would argue that the people of Wakefield don't need either.

The council are backing WR, its in their interest GH gets built, it will be alot easier to build with council backing.

Not yet it hasn't. The planning application has been in since August and probably won't be heard for a couple of months at least, developments of this nature are nortoriously slow. No guarentees it will get passed either as it doesn't meet the councils own plans for the area.

And the two Sainsburys?

The fact that they are always jammed, implies Wakefield can clearly handle two big supermarkets

The council might well be backing it but if there is no application to back then there is not much they can do. If a rival site gets an application in first then it is obliged to consider it on its own merit. It can't refuse it based on what might or might not happen at another site regarding an application. If the WR application goes in first you should have no problems in eventually getting it through (although as has been mentioned, it wion't be a quick job, these things never are). But you really can't afford any more delays now, progress has to be made quickly or I fear the chance will be gone. If Opus' statement is correct and other sites and supermarkets are interested in the area then whoever gets the application on the desk first more likely than not wins the battle. The others will walk away.

The Trinity Walk one took a while but as it was submitted as part of the whole centre proposal no one noticed as that took forever to get built. The one on Ings road didn't need planning permission to reopen as it was already a supermarket.

Sainsburys at Trinity Walk, where we do our shopping, is usually operating about a quarter of its tills, that implies nothing of the sort.

Sorry mate, i think we are at crossed purposes, i meant the need for two Sainsbury's.

The worry for Cas fans is not just that rival sites are available or that WR might get called in for a PI, it is the franchise clock that's ticking!

With this latest delay meaning probably no announcement until Feb/March 2012 at the earliest, Castleford have lost ONE YEAR of the three available to them and have made no visible progress.
Forget next year being the first of the three available because the clubs are likely to be required to submit their franchise applications by March 2014!
For this next franchise period (2012-2014) the clubs had a submission deadline of March 2011, for the next franchise round (seasons 2015-2017) the clubs are likely to have a submission deadline of March 2014.
The clocks ticking and lack of progress through delays are will hamstring Castlefords ability to submit a believable application.

If they get a planning application in and the worst scenario plays out and it goes to a PI they will be out of time in terms of submitting anything more than what they've submitted ths time around and I don't think the RFL will wear that from Castleford, Wakefield or anyone else.

Sorry i'm with you. I agree we don't need two Sainburys and I think they regret taking up the one at Trinity Walk to be honest. Although moving back into Ings road is probably partly to get their market share back and partly to try keep Tesco away!

I'm intrigued as to why WMDC want GH built?

Anyway, if as rumoured, Mr Box is a Cas shareholder, the council will need to ensure any decision to favour WR over another site for a supermarket is squeaky clean.