Quote ="Chris B"The league is now more competitive because they have lowered the salary cap to a level that everyone can afford to spend up to mate. Does that make it a better competition? It's possibly more competitive? I wouldn't necessarily argue against but I do think that the quality has suffered a little as a result.
What we now have though is significant gulf between the clubs in our division and the ones in SL.
We do have SKY exposure but it hasn't brought anyone through the gates as attendances are down pretty much across the board and I think that the Co-operative is a decent enough brand but what money have we seen from either of these two initiatives. It's gone in the back pockets of the Red Hall crowd and to their profits. They trumpeted that they had put so much money back into the game in our two divisions in the last twelve months but no-one seems to have seen it?!?!
The sport is such that it is an exciting product but you still need the razzmatazz to bring in the new supporters.
Can clubs afford to spend their dollars on marketing when they are already at a stretch just fielding a side, keeping their grounds open? This surely is where the money is best served not lining the pockets of big name Australians.
No offence intended but my mate asked if he could bring his son to a game at the weekend and I told him who we were playing and he's decided to leave it. I had to work hard to convince him that an away game at Leigh would be a good game and laid it on thick about it being a local derby. He's still tempted to take his son to a Saints game instead.
I think the game is in a bit of trouble. I don't think it's necessarily headed for the armageddon that some predict but we are not far off games in the championship only being attended by hardcore supporters. If we miss out I think we will only be reaching 1,500 - 2,000 by the time 2014 comes round.'"
That is a very good post in my opinion Chris B.
