The relative recent success of those clubs could quite easilly help draw fans to Widnes , local rivalry can be very positive , if you look at the Quins situation , would they benifit from another london club in SL , as many people have suggested

Widnes would get great crowds in super league, they would be like another Hull KR!

I guess it will depend on how well we would do. We wouldn't be a very attractive proposition if we were getting battered by all of the other sides in the north west. If we can compete though and re-ignite the local rivalry then I'm sure the crowds will come back - we got 6,000 just a few years ago against Wigan in the Challenge Cup. Based on our previous stint in SL, we could probably rely on a minimum of 6,000 average in our 1st season and see how we do over that 1st year. A team's 1st year in SL is probably not only the hardest, but possibly the most important in attracting the crowds.

Quins are struggling badly to compete and draw support in SL so adding another club in the area would make it even less likely that either would succeed. Simply having a rival wouldn't instantly give you a sufficient number of local players (many northern players don't seem to want to relocate) to make two sides that would be better than 13th and 14th out of 14. A better option would be to drop Quins to the Championship and have a new rival club formed at that level then let the two of them develop (hopefully simultaneously) to a level where they could then gain entry to SL for reasons other than geography. If there was an approach from an investor looking to create a SL club (and only interested if starting at SL level) in the London area then it would be better to get said backer to invest in Quins (who need a new majority shareholder) even if it meant relocating them to his preferred location. Until the sport has strong enough roots in the south east to support two clubs at SL level (it presently struggles to maintain one) then we cannot entertain the idea of having two in SL.

Barrow had just under 7000 (total sell out) last year in the CC at home to Wigan, I believe our att maximum allowed had beed raised to 7500 based on everything going as planned on that game.

We took 4000 to a final last year, our crowds have rose every year in the last four (we expect a smaller rise this year) We are self supporting and have made no financial losses in the last few seasons

BARROW RLFC for SL

Maybe potentially but im not so sure, leigh failed to get an average of 5000 in their one season of super league,fair enough it wasn't very succesful and the fans deserted them towards the end,but cas have averaged between 6-7000 for most parts,huddersfield are around the 8000 mark again i cant see leigh, fax or oldham comin anywhere near that unless they become succesful within 5 years, only widnes have the potential to equal castleford or huddersfields average

didnt featherstone just get promoted?

pretty good going if they are coming 1st now in the championship.

Barrow won it in their first season!

Think the Fax average is likely to rise through the season now, the new stand is attracting better crowds, we have had over the 3000 mark now, it will be well above that if we can do well this season too

I know this is irrelevant but does anyone know what the figures are for the RU championship?

No, Fev got promoted in 2007 at the same time as Celtic Crusaders.

Leigh didn't average 5k? really and pray tell me how you know this or do you just randomnly make things up....you are richard lewis and I claim my fiver

We actually averaged 5500 which baring mind we had the worst coach ,boardroom , ground in history not to mention the worst collection of journeymen since celtic clowns I thought the public backed it pretty well.

But hay ho we now have a shiny new ground ,a proven coach, a respected chairman and are now starting a fresh with crowds climbng each week.

But I'm sure when the pantomine that his franchise season kicks in,tricky dicky will over look it

You obviously do randomly make things up, Leigh averaged 4,736 in their one season and only had crowds as high as 5,500 three times (against Warrington, Wigan and St Helens).

Whether it was 4736 or 5500 is of little difference when you consider that even the lower of the two is still higher than Salford and Quins can muster so either of those as an average would be better than two of the present incumbents.

Completely agree.

Leigh never had an attendance in SL below 3100, and considering the hidings we got, them figures are commendable, plus we had a 4000 restriction at Hilton Park (12-000 to 8-000!).

There are some poorly suported teams this year in SL (Including St Helens IMHO). Non P&R is completely ruining the game. No relegation battles = Pish poor attendances !!