the franchise was for 3 years not 5 months, lets see what the're like then . if the're still around. But until then lets not slag em off .

So you are saying it's ok to tell ouright lies to the RFL on the most important changes to the sport in 10 years

So it's OK for CC to apply the same logic to the Franchise process as Wiggin did to the salary cap? I.e. Do anything to stay in the top flight now, deal with the consequences later if ever. Nice long term planning, that.

Are you aware of what was in the franchise application? The only thing I heard (and that was direct from Leighton Samuels) was that the application stated games would be played throughout Wales and it was recognised that the Brewery Field was not a long term Super League stadium.

So in answer to the question I think that they've already acknowledged the Brewery is not the long term solution and that the Island Farm development is.

Is moving to a stadium that holds Magners League and Heineken Cup Rugby (so should meet Sky's needs for televising games and I stress should) that bad a move?

One presumes that the franchise bid was predicated on financial stability. The RFL's bailout of the club suggests that this has not been achieved. The comment I quoted originally suggested that Bridgend was never a viable base for a SL club because its spectator turnout, even for a successful union side, was lower than that required to breakeven. All of which suggests that, like Salford's stadium, there was more wishful thinking in the business plans than the RFL gave credit for.

I was/am [iagainst [/ifranchising, but for development in Wales... I thought the RFL's handling of the bid process was shambolic, but would have had more respect had they just said 'we want a Welsh franchise, end of story'.

Now there is a franchise at Crusaders, the RFL must do whatever is necessary to make it successful. It's funny that Newport has been mentioned as a good place to move because it's nearer to Cardiff.

So, why not just move to Cardiff?

When the franchises were being discussed on TV the short term nature of Brewery Field as it stands was also quite openly discussed, so I would imagine the club were quite open in their plans for a more suitable location at some point in the future. But they are limited as to what they can do in the short term due to financial constraints and also considerations where their fanbase is concerned. To move too far away would surely undermine what they have achieved in Bridgend so far.

There is a very interesting interview with Leighton Samuels in the RL press this week. In fact, the Crusaders have had some seriously good (and very positive) media attention this week: on the Superleague Show on the Beeb and in both versions of the RL press.

So why move to Newport when Cardiff is closer

Good and positive media wont pay bills and contracts

I too like Wembley 71 am against the principle of franchises but want the game to expand , and like him realise that now we have a Welsh club in SL it must succeed at all costs or future development is also doomed to failure

Simply put , if we cannot make a go of it in Wales I doubt we can any where else

I am pretty sure we can make a go of rugby league in Wales if it is done correctly.

The club won't be moving to Cardiff as they have told the fans this and it may be to do with the people that run Cardiff RFC and the Arms Park. It is their loss and Newports gain.

I am pretty sure the crowds will be up on Bridgend and the facilities are better. The ground is getting redeveloped in the next few years and is larger to begin with. Brewery Field was never going to be the permanent base of the club and in the present climate we need to make the best of the situation. Newport would be that, in my opinion. And to top it off it is walking distance from the local.

London and South Wales are'nt good enough for 2 teams in SL never mind 4

Whats the point in building a fan base to then move 30 miles down the road.

Because the club "appears" to me to be on it's @rse and few from Bridgend appear to want to watch the team given some of the recent crowds and season ticket uptake!
A gamble to play in Newport may well be based on increasing a local fan base. I remain unconvinced. I really do.

Unless huge investment comes in and the introductory offer of cheap season tickets a la Huddersfield come off eg £50 for the season, I can't see any change in the performance of the club.

It's very important to repeat the same mistakes as the London RL (Fulham, Crystal Palace, Barnet, Brentford, Charlton, Twickenham, Brentford, Twickenham) and the last serious incarnation of RL in Wales (Cardiff/Bridgend Blue Dragons).

Otherwise we might be able to say that the RFL had learned from history. That would never do.

Quite simply, the one place in Cardiff that could be available don't want us. So we do have to look at a short/medium (granted we all know the issues with how long it can take for a new stadium to be built) term solution. It would appear that the solution may be Newport, it is worth remembering that at present there is talk of going to Newport for next year it's by no means a done deal from what I understand.

Similarly there is nothing to say that the majority of our fans base are from Bridgend, that doesn't mean we do not have a healthy contingent of support but I don't think we could state it's the majority.

The question for me that I cannot answer, is given that not all Bridgend based fans can make it to Newport and we have some fans from further west of Bridgend will we gain more than we lose?

The question from everybody else is that LondonBronquins have used the excuse that moving location has hindered there home support development

So it has been proven not to work

So you decide to do it

It's been proven not to work in London, (that said if it doesn't work I've no doubt we would use it also)

I think the issue is do we try and get bigger crowds elsewhere or sit there and wait to see what comes in?

The club has been quite proactive recently in getting the word out, radio ads, newspapers, posters and billboards, even getting George Sampson down to the ground as entertainment (barring the fact he didn't dance because it was too wet???).

If that works over the last few home games then moving may not need to be an option but if it doesn't, I for one would rather see the club do everything they can to improve the situation rather than sit back and do nothing.

Your last attendence was just 3,000 was it not?
edit: I checked it was 3,009

And that was with the expectation that Sampson would dance.

I think there isn't really an option to stay in Bridgend though it remains to be seen whether Newport will be any better.

Agreed, we've got to try and if we fail we fail but better that we fail than not try.

Not bad about 100% increase on last year would be better if there were more wins on the board.

As a genuine question...

I believe that the touted move to Newport is only a temporary measure whilst the new development in Bridgend is being completed over the next few years. I think Mr Samuels has said this or your CE..

It seems to suggest that a move back to Bridgend will probably take place once that sporting village is completed. If the fans on here and on the other Celtic board feel that the club has to move away from Bridgend to build up a fan base then what is the point of moving back? It seems to me that you might run the risk of building up to the sort of figures you need to survive on only then to return to an area of low interest?

Good question, the move to Newport is always being mentioned as temporary not permanent, the issue until then is that the Brewery Field is not the best of Stadia shall we say (although credit to the new owners they are doing something about it bit by bit) There are a large number of fans who travel to Bridgend to watch the Crusaders so the logic is that they will go wherever the Crusaders play (to a degree)
If Newport is a success we should pick up fans who will be hooked enough to do the 30-40 minute trip to Bridgend when we move back.

Sound easy doesn't it!!

So Traffic where do you live???

If you live in say...Swansea....or Neath.... would you be willing to travel to Newport to watch Celtic Crusaders???

70'ish mile round trip already so no probs on an over 80 mile round trip for me, it's called being a SUPPORTER and much easier than my travels to Bradford, Saints, Wigan etc and Hull tomorrow thanks very much.

Well done.

Good to see a devoted supporter.

Do you honestly think RL will catch on in Newport???

And do you think that if they move from Bridgend then the majority of supporters from there will follow???


With respect, from what I've seen of Bridgend I imagine that a lot of supporters attend the Brewery Field because there is not much else there to follow in the way of sporting teams.

Honestly, don't know. Hopefully yes, whhether Bridgend, Newport or wherever within reason.

You have to have a go I suppose. I think there is definitely something of a lure towards a new stadium (although that hasn't proven to be the case at Leigh, but that's a different story) and I think if you get the recruitment right next season then things may get better. The game is excellent and if you get a few more results against the likes of Wigan then you'll definitely hook a few more. We all got hooked at some point.

Credit to you though lad.