Quote Ste100Centurions="Ste100Centurions"Yes, DB is definitely positioning Leigh as a Club to be ready to take the place of 'any' SL Club that should fail, not just Toronto. In doing so I believe he has been using his smarts to achieve a level of success he wants for Leigh.
I really don't care what the likes of The West End Tinker believe or try to promote, Leigh are *the most ready* for Super League club there is, above Toronto, Toulouse, Fev & London because .....
Leigh has
1. None of the intrinsic issues of Toronto *though Toronto have value long term*.
2. Have been the stand out Championship Club more often & more recently than any other.
3. Performed well in Super League 2017 & did not finish bottom, beating Wigan, St Helens, Warrington & Hull & running Leeds extremely close, in fact Leigh were very close to most, only being beaten by a margin a couple of times.
4. We averaged circa 6,800 attendance across all SL competitions inc Play Offs, the 8th best supported club in Super League ! Given a half decent run in SL & with only a modicum of success *top 8 finishes* Leigh could easily match the average attendances of Cas for example.
4. We have a modern near 12,000 capacity stadium.
5. Leigh have more fans, a better stadium & are more successful than Fev & Toulouse !
*Fev are a strong club & Toulouse have massive value in terms of the Catalan/France development connection & I would love to see them both in SL eventually*
6. Leigh fans travel & in big numbers compared to others, Wigan for example are absolutely dire for the size of club they are, this puts cash through all the clubs they visit.
7. Leigh have an owner who has & is prepared to invest in the playing roster.
8. London appears to have some minor success in the amateur game but 800 home fans is a joke ! Any club that is outnumbered by away fans has issues, serious issues ! When a Club has to change name & location more often than a corner shop you just know that the people of London don't want it !!!!
Of course there is value in other clubs, Fev, Toulouse, York, Newcastle. I wish Halifax were stronger, Widnes seem to be in transition or decline.
I don't discount Toronto long term, but I believe the way they have operated is tantamount to treason ! I would love for Canadian & U.S.A RL to take off in a massive way but it should be in a very structured manner & transparent & fair, I just don't see that at the moment !
If anyone can truly say that Leigh will not offer as much value as Salford, Huddersfield, Wakefield or Cas I will listen *but not necessarily agree* !'"
So, Leigh make a few big signings (allegedly) and you want in ?
I'd be happy for Leigh to earn promotion but, if its for sale then, lets just see who has most money in their pockets.
Leigh did brighten up SL while they were there but, no more so than London, who were very unlucky not to survive, only getting relegated on the last day.
It could make a right mess of fixtures but, if Toronto aren't coming back (I personally thing that they will), SL will have to run with 11 clubs.
Maybe Magic could instead be used for one of the Challenge Cup rounds (when the SL clubs join in) ?
Sorry but, it's a no from me.
