On a 2 year contract even though they've only been given a 1 year conditional license. Hmmmmm!

Some interesting opinions here.
When you look at the companies, especially financial/insurance, who fight to sponsor RU it makes you wonder why? The sponsorship from state bail outs like RBS/HBOS/Lloyds I find shocking, are the old boy networks in floated banks so strong they can do what they wish ?
Saracens 'sold' all those tickets yet play in a half empty stadium every home game in Watford, how many of those Wembley tickets were handed out by sponsors to folk who never go till the next free 'event'. Less than 6500 v Wasps and less than 6000 v Gloucester the last 2 home games for them.
Why are BT, BBC, ESPN, Canal+ and SKY all bidding for a sport with terrible viewing figures?
What you have to take your hat off to the ERFU is the control they exercise in the media and the City.
What frustrates me is why we do not play to our strengths, a region in which pro RU is all but dead and has a greater population than Wales, Scotland and Ireland combined.
Then you see who runs the sport and you quickly realise why we are where and what we are.

I believe when Sarries played at Wembley they sold tickets for as little as £10. When I went to the Grand Final a couple of years ago when they beat Leicester there were a hell of a lot of people in Saracens Shirts, wearing them little red hats (Fez?) ect, but they were massively outnumbered by people in Tigers gear.

Strangest thing for me after the game having a couple of beers before getting the train back into London was that if you saw all the people in the pub the only thing that gave it away that they'd been to the rugby was they had their shirts on. The Leicester fans didnt seem that bothered they'd lost and the Sarries fans weren't celebrating in any great fashion either, was just like it was another day at the office.

Gareth Walker reporting this morning that Salford have informed Leigh they cannot fulfil their friendly on the 30th December, Martyn Sadler has just tweeted that their players will be paid on time however

""We felt it was better to give the boys an extended break over Christmas and prepare ourselves fully for the Swinton game on 6 January" says the Salford website. Nice of them to decide that nine days before the game was to take place. Hope they'll be compensating us for the loss of income but I won't hold my breath.

Compensate with what? Magic Beans?

[sizeAdmittedly its Salford, more likely to be magic mushrooms [/size

Nah, Betties 'ot pot.

The sponsorship you mention - I'm just curious, but who are the Banks sponsoring?

RBS pay £20million to sponsor the 6 Nations dont they?

I would like to clarify this comment, it is not meant as being derogitory against Salford fans, I wish them the best of luck and most certainly would not want to see their club fail, but it is against the usual lack of real information that boards (Bulls as well) seem to put out to string fans along.
A number of Salford fans bought 5 year deals at the new ground and if the club does go under those people will no doubt lose all their money.
It's time the lies stopped and fans were treated with more respect, they are the ones that keep clubs, and this sport, alive.

A Merry Christmas to ALL Rugby League fans, wherever you are and whoever you support.

And also a prosperous New Year to all as well.

Going sideways on this topic, the Spirit of 1873 Ltd, who own Wakey lost over £1.2M in their first year of trading. Some new leaf there! That's not sustainable even with the alleged development on the horizon.

Grim at Sale as well menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... nt-at-fans

Grim at Sale as well menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... nt-at-fans

How mad would it be to go to a new stadium with large debt hanging round your neck.

Yes, even Arsenal have had to tighten the purse strings since their move from Highbury so imagine the fiancial pressure RL clubs are under in these circumstances.

sounds pretty bad - I would imagine there are is at least another SL club bad news finance story as well that will emerge befiore the start of the new season