Even if a merge was a good idea, I have no view on that at the moment, it is so far from today’s agenda that it is irrelevant.

It is so far from the agenda because there is essentially a top flight land grab in progress at Super League level. If we take for granted for a moment that one or both of Cas and Wakey are on the exit chute, right now and Featherstone are doing everything they can to position themselves for a shot. Therefore, I would suggest at the moment, as I have said all along, the position in SL belongs to the first person to pour concrete in a new facility, and if neither do, Fev believe they have a sporting chance to nick it.

So, I would expect nothing regarding a merge, share or anything until the next licensing application or unless someone pours foundations for a stadium, or funding for a major and serious improvement or overhaul, not plans, approvals, committees or trusts – actual bricks and activity with FUNDING.

If someone did miraculously find £10m in a funding package to actually build something not a dream, well, that really does change the dynamic.
Without a doubt in the "Calder Valley" whoever lays the first bricks and shows the money is in place, well they are the ones who are in a position to offer "help and solidarity" to the others with facilities and secure their own legacy first.

It is an interesting discussion, but largely moot at this time.

As always with this question there is an assumption that a merger will dominate market forces.

This is not correct.

Look at the Sheffield/Huddersfield Merger. You would assume this means there is no longer a team in Sheffield. Wrong. There is a team in Sheffield, as there are fans, who wish to support a sheffield team.

Any Merger would be as a business, so sure both boards could vote for a merger to share assets and spread costs etc. But actually whilst the clubs merge, the fans stay separate and just start up their own club or fade away.

The business's can merge, but the traditions cannot.

As for groundsharing. In an ideal world it's a good idea, but with both clubs setting along their own paths a long time ago, I'd be shocked if it can now be done to everyone's taste.

Which ever team happens to be in the ascendancy at the time will always have the final say. The only true form of merger is for one team to dominate the other and over the progression of years, new fans will come from the less dominant area to the more dominate club (if they can market well enough). Just as Bradford took fans from other areas when they dominated that locality.

Sport is competition and sometimes that competition is to the death. It could be in this case, but there is no saying in 10 years time that this debate will not still be going on, with Cas or even Featherstone in the ascendancy.

Actually, an excellent point, I think my post rambles between merger and ground share!

I started out thinking merger in the proper sense, not like GatesHull and Sheffdersfield.... they were distateful events that went against every right minded thing.

Prehaps I revise my sentiment to "the first one to pour........ becomes attractive to a share" but for now, everyone has to fan the flames of their own ambition.

Why is it that people from outside the area think that a merger is a good idea but, the people that matter, ie those that live in the area and support different clubs, don't.
The only way that it could be acceptable is if we could travel backwards in time approximately 150 years and start with just 1 club in the locality, sadly, this is not possible.
Some of the do gooders should go and do their good elsewhere !

I think you're right in much of what you say mdean, and I have said earlier that Wakefield are in the box seat regarding, laying brick and concrete as you succinctly term it . Its because that would leave great clubs like cas and fev forever as also rans in the Super League game that I raise my concerns. If cas were the first to build the Stadium that leads the way into SL long term survival then likewise Trinity will thereafter find it difficult to ever catch up.

But if each respects the others existence and realises you will be stronger together as a new club, then they can build something together, and the 3 can be the embryo for a new great club. With no one club having the whip hand and dictating terms to the other 2 and forever dominating the merger.
Like many have said and I agree, A Hull / Gateshead type merger is a merger in name only and you dont want any of that, it stinks. To have real longevity it would have to be transparent and fair. With "all parties pouring the concrete at the same time".

Before any of that could ever happen we wait and see what becomes of Wakefields own project and the ramifications this has for other clubs in the region should Trin get the go ahead to go it alone.
However if the application fails, then there is magnificent opportunity to come together and create a power club to match anything in Super League. You could have your own Langtree Park, and all thats great about Fev, Cas and Wakefield would run through the stadium and every blade of grass.

It's easy for outside clubs to say that we should merge but that's because they don't understand the history and passion between all 3 clubs. Why don't hull FC and hull kr merge? Bradford and Leeds etc?

The thing for me is that no one from Wakefield, Cas or Fev has ever said a merger is a good idea.
Neither fans nor clubs want it.....even if it means dropping down a level.

People from outside who want media attention keep raising it and saying we will not progress if we don't.

So can't we just agree that if they are right, one or both of us will die and they don't need to worry about us and if we are right we will succeed on our own.

Actually came out of Selby but hey what's a fact with Fully.

Selby then.

But he played for Cas Lock Lane and admitted growing up watching Cas too. And Selby's a Cas area. So he may as well be from Cas.

So along with rugby league, geography isn't your strong point either then?

Fair enough Pop Tart we can leave it that way, and I think you do speak for the majority of posters on here.

Though for all of you it is easier to think in terms your own clubs Super League death wish, when that seems to be so far away.
However, should Newmarket happen, then Trin will become the areas major club overnight and the longer that remains, future generations will move towards watching Super League rather than Champioship Rugby. Or perhaps, as you say, should clubs die out of this dogmatic thinking, you may not even have an option to watch the side you now call your own.
If Super League is to be here for the long term, then its the future generationsupporters, (not you or I) who will quite naturally move over to watch a side 3 miles away playing in the best RL competition in the country. By then, the opportunity you have today to be part of that long term future will be long gone, and but a different kind of wish.

Its been a good debate with you guys, and I sincerely hope your right in hoping on hope that all 3 of you can exist in such close proximity, each with your SL aspirations. But remember there is a stong chance that sticking to this route may not be so appetising if you are one of the long term losers. For the good of RL I hope for you too that you will each have modern stadia, meaning ongoing SL licenses and the support levels sufficient to sustain SL for these great clubs, though I believe this to be unlikely.
Each club has left an indellible mark on the history of top line Rugby Leage and its absolutely right that each one has a legacy of SL, be it separateley or by coming together as one.

One thing to remember on this issue is I follow Castleford Tigers in whatever league and do not get nervous sweats at the possibility they may not be in SL.
Wiping out the possibility of new fans for my club just on the off chance we may not be jettison at the whim of a post-Lindsay RFL pen pusher is not really an option.
The proximity of the 3 clubs is what keeps the rivalry alive, there is respect but also a drive to be the top...

Remember SL does not equal RL

Thought Selby was York area, 17 miles to Cas, 14 miles to York, and with a York postcode, you can't surely claim Selby as being in Cas?

You are unique in the fact that you talk quite well about this without just resorting to the shallow arguement some do in that we are close together and are not top of the league so must merge.
I do agree with Walton though that I support Wakefield, no matter where they play (in league and stadium). I'd be diappointed if they cease to exist clearly, but I'd still watch them in the lower division.
I do see the point of having a strong Super league and I would love to see a league where everyone is getting 10k+ crowds and big sponsorhip deals on the table.
The problem for me is that only a few are there and we shouldn't be singled out as the merger option any more than the other clubs.
Ok, I'll exempt Leeds, Wigan and Sts as they don't need to merge financially.

Bradford I would have done but clearly they are no better than us at the moment. But they are a good example to use.
Would they have been stronger if they'd merged with Halifax or Keighley? I don't think so. They would have just killed the smaller one and carried on exactly as they were before. They would have a wider catchment area, but the stallwarts who go see a team at a lower league level are not the types to just switch teams to watch Super league. If they were they would already have been watching Bradford.

So for me, mergers don't work like the theory. They are simply takeovers. And as with all takeovers, the assets would be sold and any advantage taken, but pretty soon it is just back to where it was.

In business terms, taking over the shop next door does not expand your business. It just gives you better premises and possibly gives you a monopoly on the immediate area. If you bought some shops in the neighbouring county then you expand your business as you get new customers but that isn't a Rugby league merger.

I think there's a flawed assumption that fans of individual teams would all simply club together and support a merged club. (This assumption seems to be held by those not affected by any proposed merger).

Sport's a more emotive subject than other business and fans have emotional attachment to their team and area. So much so that in most cases there are incredible rivalries between them and the supporters of the team they're being asked to merge with. It's those emotions that sport is built on. Take that away and nobody is interested anymore.

If a merger was forced or some sort of ultimatum then I think many fans would either campaign to start their own clubs further down the hierachy (like Sheffield and Gateshead) or be lost to the game as a whole. I simply don't see how an artificial, manufactured hybrid team would generate the support it would need to be a sustainable business.

From a Bradford perspective there is an incredible rivalry between us and Halifax and Keighley. These are distinctive places with their own identities. With Cas, Fev and Wakey it's a similar situation. Just because they are close geographically doesn't mean a thing.

I think there's also too much attention given to the issue of modern stadia too. Just because a side plays in modern facilities doesn't mean they're a well run club that has a firm financial footing. It should be easier for them to operate but it doesn't guarantee anything.

If a majority of fans want a merger then so be it. However I can't see that happening unless there was a heck of a compromise and nobody felt like they were being "taken over" or wiped out of existence.

Good luck, I hope Wakey, Cas and Fev go on separately unless you all decide you want otherwise.