4 for me too

It sounds good in theory but the club also now has to cover any losses as well and past history shows the club has not made money when they have been in charge of running the shop. Let's hope this time is different.

I am not sure if "The Club" has directly run the shop in recent times. Whilst I think there is clearly a direct link there has been separation since we moved to The Shay.

Originally run by Mick Stansfield (where it lost him money), it was then run by volunteers, backed by the club (where it made modest amounts of income). It was then moved to the control of Ian Croad, who convinced the Board that if left alone to run it without any interference he could make a much better income. Whilst he was a director of the club he ran it privately as a commercial venture, but for the Club benefit, with an agreement with that kit/training kit etc. were provided each season and any surpluses would be returned to the club. I believe as part of his stepping down from his position as a director the Club has decided it will take control of all commercial activity.

If the shop failed to make a profit (and I don't know if this is the case or not) and the club has not benefited other than from kit as you are indicating, this would be down to the way Mr Croad ran the business over the period he was in charge. But I am not sure anyone could make much profit from a small scale operation like ours. (Or any profit at all from sales if the cost of rent is added)

I see the desire to get a newish style of kit as a way of generating new sales, but the club probably only makes about £10 a shirt so it needs to find a way of getting fans to buy lots of items to make any shop a success.

So whichever one wins (and I like 4 best) we all need to buy it and stop turning up in old colours to help the Club most.

Fair points Dbvada

The Council I believe would say that the shop is just part of the overall package for the Shay rent that HRLFC has historically paid for in its entirety. The important point is how the club maximise the use of its ability to sell merchandise under the lease terms and actually make an income from the shop facility. I think to be fair that is what the club have now decided to do and good on them .......now if they could then move on to a percentage beer sales deal for FC and rugby , it would be happy days.

Good points, but I confess that I still wear an oldish shirt. The one I have is probably the best quality one there's been for a good while, and the problem is that spending money on inferior products (some of the recent ones have been pretty shoddy given how much they cost) really goes against the grain with me (I'm a born and bread Yorkshireman!).

I still think the 4 being presented are awful, and tbh I wouldn't buy any of them, regardless of price or it benefiting the club!

4 for me not over keen on any really but I guess the club have to try something 'new'.