Who in National League could add more then we do? Maybe Widnes...But they're far from setting NL on fire. In fact, neither are Leigh based on their last 2 results!

I don't really want to see a merged team, but reading what i've just read with people saying they would rather watch an unsuccessful / NL1 Castleford team isn't right either. Look at the way the fans are dropping off at the moment. I think it's just hard core fans that are saying the above.

your from the suicide forum arent you

Its really interesting thinking back to the half time pitch sit in at post office road now and that regardless of the rocky road since that point we have been a mainstay of superleague punching above our weight. At the time travelling up from Reading to the Saints match that would have seen us in the Grand final and the pride that falling at the last hurdle yes, but everyone gave 100%.

Merging now would feel a bit like a capitulation as its entirely driven by the wider economy (we just cant get loans on reasonable terms and the land value of our current ground has gone through the floor) exactly at the time when we need the license renewed. Could I support a merged club? Yes as I recognise the financial realities and do believe it would allow us to compete with the Rhinos quicker...but I dont want to be in that position as we can grow as a club at the new location. Their support will fall as Leeds United regain more regular support through promotion.

Given that perfect storm I still feel Cas can stand on its own but cannot afford to be out of superleague as the cost structure genuinely could see us go bankrupt. Look at Portsmouth, it can happen even in the money slushing premiership. At the end of the day Wakey council cant give the Wildcats anything now so if the issue is the cash to get a new stadium then we should all swallow some pride and get a joint stadium. I know that this will irk some but at the end of the day its a bit of concrete and steel. If in the NFL the New York teams can come to this economic conclusion then perhaps we should too. For all the great games down the lane its getting knocked down and the greater memories of cup triumphs happen away from there. Remember for as many awful designs we might have had recently....the history is in the shirt, lets have a bright future in it too.

Any merger would have to be at Glasshoughton, given that it's by far the best commercial location by a mile.

As for if I support one, I'm very much on the fence, and have thawed to the idea in recent months. As long as the Castleford identity remains, I think I'd support the team

I am a Cas fan, born in Cas, live in Cas.

But I can't help feelnig we're missing the point somewhat...... We aren't Rangers/Everton and Wakey aren't Celtic/Liverpool - put both sets of season ticket holders together and at best you'd create an average home gate circa 10k - which still wouldn't make the biggest club in the league?

Maybe, with a bottle of chateau neuf on board granted tonight- maybe we should look at doing more than surviving or be aiming slightly higher than "we're better than a couple of others and Widnes".......
..... Just a view, and maybe devils advocate, but if we both scrape by individually, a formal merged setup, dual reg's with Fev - could actually really challenge for something...... Look at the Headingly Rhino's, they commendeered the name of the whole area and prosper - it's a thought.

I am not sure I believe this, or actually feel it in my heart - but perhaps Rugby League in the WF areas's could let everyone 40+ and bitter walk and capture the teen+ market, move on and prosper...... does it need tradition anymore? Where do our values, memories and past glories get us or Wakey? If a brand captured both and was successful and in finals, how long would the resentment last - and if the resentment didn't subsided amongst the 40+ group - would a success and fame hungry group of teens fill the gap?

I am not a marketing expert, but I am a business capable senior manager, if I saw the numbers on Dragon's Den, I might actually think it works as a proposition in the right commercially viable area and with the right facility.

I am not Andy Wilson and you can't claim your £5!

But without the wine on board...... sorry TMrocks, I agree.

I agree entirely. A certain group of 'traditional' fans are not the future of the club, and nobody would devise a marketing strategy that was based around attracting 40+ year old fans down the Jungle. It's the harsh reality of where the game is at the moment. We need to be attracting the kids, and the club is not doing that with poor rugby on the pitch, and poor marketing off it.

Gazemous / Mdean, i think you both have been smoking some rastafirian old holborn, example for you, why isnt there all this bulle about the dull teams, Or even widnes and their near neigbours, Its bollox written by a total t who has no concept of loyalty and civic pride

Because Hull FC have a quality stadium, 10,000 season ticket holders and a turnover over £4million - three key things that Super League clubs need to have going forward and the reason why they don't need to merge, nor are under pressure to merge. Neither Cas nor Wakey have even one of these things - which is why people question the future for the clubs. Unless there is a significant chance of getting these things in the near future (there isn't), the merger talk will not die soon.

I've already said I have massive reservations about a merger, but the fact is that if we don't get bricks laid at Glasshoughton in the imminent future, our last hope of remaining an independent club in the highest tier of the game will have gone. Now, there are plenty of people (me being one of them) who would support Cas in the National Leagues (whether Cas could support themselves financially is another thing altogether), but we shouldn't be focused on placating the old fans, but attracting the next generation to the game with a successful franchise.

The other consideration is that the Cas area has the best RL schools in the country, the town owes it to those players to have a Super League club on their doorstep to aspire to play for. Alternatively, we could just let local new RL fans and local RL players go to Leeds and Bradford and just let the club die as a part-time entity.

I fail to see where cas placate the old fans, there schools policy is a good one encouraging young ones to come down, But to just ignore the 40+ fans is a retrograde step, i for one was brought down in my youth by my grandfather who was at that time in his 40's and alot nore people i know now are taken down by their grandparents, what are you saying these people should be ignored, All fans young and old should be encouraged, After all we profess to be a family club, or are you only part of the rugby league family untill you reach 40 ?

I'm well pasted it then.

For one year each time. If your club was consigned to the lower divisions indefinitely then it's reasonable to assume that your support levels would be similar to that of clubs already in that situation. So although you might keep watching, there's plenty who wouldn't. Having said that, I doubt that a merged club would be successful.