Oldham in trouble

Quote: pyeman "They dont get sky money though, not in the same way that sl clubs do they are given money to spend on certain things but not money to spend however they want (on playing sqaud or youth structures), even then it is a pitifully small amount compared to the money sl clubs are given, without which most sl clubs would struggle, more still would struggle without a sugar daddy(something alot easier to attract in sl, take huddersfield for example without a rich benefactor and help from the rfl they would be languishing in the lower leagues now instead of having one of the brightest futures of any british rl club), how many rl clubs in britain are actually self sufficient ?

If rl is actually going to move forward we are going to need more clubs, whilst we seem to be heading towards less, if rl cant support the teams in the heartlands enough for them to survive then we might as well forget expansion altogether, if we support expansion clubs over the heartlands or vice versa we will be doomed to failure.

Yes many players from lower league clubs areas will come through sl academies mainly because the sl academies can offer far more money as they are given over a million a year by sky, have far greater sponsership opportunities, find it easier to attract sugar daddies, and get better travelling support. sl clubs will then let go all but the best of these youngsters, who end up playing in the nl's, maybe even for there local club who would have loved to have the chance to develop these youngsters but were outbid by sl rivals.

As for dual registration well we will have to see how it affects rl because no one on here can claim they know the effects of something that hasnt happened yet.'"

So part time teams that are rarely televised get far less SL money than ft teams regularly broadcast. This is true of all professional sports. Lower tier RU and football clubs get buttons compared with the top flight clubs.

Also the top clubs in any sport have more money and tend to have better academies. Only a moron would think that taking £20K out of the Leeds development budget and giving it to say Hunslet or bramley would improve the quality of players coming through. The idea that you can develop elite athletes on a pittance is nonsense.

The chip on the shoulder of some RL fans about 'sugar daddies' is sadly all too predictable. These guys are fans who love the game and put their own cash in. Good on them. Once again this is true of many sports. Oldham are now struggling because a wealthy local backer wants out while in barrow there is a resurrenge because of a local wealthy backer. Welcome to reality.