The decline in numbers is a worry though, especially as it is the first time we've topped the league since 2004.

I dont think you quite understand, what is there to worry about? Pay attention the word '=redWorry'

Leeds have the best attendance in the league. Argubaly the best business set-up in SL with an onsite Cafe Bar, Hotel, Sister club etc. Also along with the best supported club brings extra merchandising and bigger sponsorship deals. Im not boasting but I think Leeds are in a much much stronger position than most other SL teams.

I don't care about all these fringe benefits until you back their value up with some figures. I'd imagine making money on the gate is still one of the club's biggest income streams, and a 7.45% decline in a period when the product on the field is theoretically the best in the competition is a worry for me. I'm sure GH & co don't share your cavalier attitude about a loss in revenue.

While I agree with the positive comments from your fellow Leeds supporters about their club, as a Bradford supporter I would have made remarkably similar positive comments in 2004. We'd just won everything, I believe that we were still the best supported club, and the downturn in crowds, though unexpected, didn't seem worth getting too worried about! How wrong we all were.

So why are you losing so many fans then? That must be a worry.

Are you not remotely concerned that even with all your recent success, you are losing more fans than any other club? Where are they going?

Nothing ever lasts forever you know.

I'd imagine their loss in numbers would be down to the capacity decrease in the south stand?

This argument has been nicely debunked in a thread on TotalRL, by our good friend Mat amongst others.

Nope, plenty of space elsewhere.

I'm always a little perplexed when folks start arguing and deriding the relative sizes of crowds in comparison to other teams.

Nothing, attendance wise is quite what it seems. There are generally two elements to any crowd. That is the HOME support and the AWAY support. If away fans do not travel, does that not also affect the gate as much as if home fans don't bother to turn up?

Sure, the West Bank terrace at Odsal has not been quite as full this season as in previous ones, but the traditional away end on Rooley Avenue has quite often seen tumbleweed blowing across it on occasions this year.

I reckon that the 5% or so drop in crowds at Odsal this year could be part due to a dramatic drop in away support as well as apathy from floaters who invariably saw the heavens open about an hour before KO and quite resonably changed their minds about turning up.

I don't think it's worrying so much as market led and in these lean times, unless you are clutching a season ticket, you are going to be choosy about how you get your entertainment on a weekend.

In that case.. point retracted.

It was interesting, speaking about Leeds, that they only pulled 11200 for their play off match last night

Bearing in mind that the KR end was impressively packed, my guess is that there were only about 8000 Leeds fans there - there seemed to be plenty of gaps in the stands and terraces easily viewable on Sky