Spot on 9A (also I didn't want to bring the ground thing up as it gets people 'excited')

The nucleus of fans and certainly those who are supporting Widnes in the Championship would NEVER support another side but, loads of supporters go to watch a game of RL and are not just 100% for their side.
Why else do attendances fluctuate so much and drop so steeply when a side is relegated, with the exception of KR, who's support was commendable during their recent spell in The Championship and where are all of those Bulls fans from a few years ago ?
Do you honestly think that none of them have started watching elsewhere or do you believe that they are merely hibernating, like squirrels in "the longest winter" ??

Better for Mr Koukash to become joint owner of London Broncos and pump money into London Broncos. He could make the team more successful and get national publicity from the national media which is based in London. He still has until June 30 I think to buy new players for London -- a half and couple of big props from the NRL reserve roster.

KouKash, as quoted on the bbc website, reckons buying then re-branding a club is an option.

Buying Widnes, which already has a stadium in Widnes, is a crazy idea. St Helens is already established in St Helens with a strong local following. Koukash's ideas are unrealistic

Whilst there are general RL fans that might turn out to watch a game not involving their side (I even went to Wigan v Saints last year) I wasn't contemplating making the switch to one or the other anytime soon so in the context of this thread and YOUR suggestion that a successful Liverpool RL Club were a perceived threat to Warrington Widnes and Saints then I'm not swayed.

If you are suggesting that attendances "fluctuate so much" at relegated teams because they've suddenly buzzed off to support another local team then again I'm not buying it. People get disillusioned and will either stop going or pick their games and there are decent fixtures in the Championship I suspect Leigh v Widnes in either division would have a comparable crowd. Voting with your feet may involve none RL weekends

And finally, although I don't really know this for sure perhaps a Bratford fan can tell us both, but, yes I think that the biggest fall in attendance can be accounted for a great marketing strategy and a successful side attracting healthy crowds with a sharp reduction being accounted for by disillusioned locals giving up rather than returning to watch Halifax Wakefield etc the "squirrels hibernating in winter" if you like.

As a matter of interest since Bradford's demise in the corresponding period have your crowds rocketed with all of these returning 'rats'?

Buying Widnes, which already has a stadium in Widnes, and re-branding it Liverpool, is a crazy idea.

St Helens is already established in St Helens with a good stadium, and a strong local following which does not identify with and does not want to be re-branded Liverpool. Ditto for Warrington.

Koukash's ideas are quite unrealistic.

Like I have already said, Koukash becoming joint owner of London Broncos, pumping money into three more decent key players, getting seriously into marketing, and finding a decent stadium in London, will do more for the growth of the game than the Liverpool concept.

However, and to be fair he does have friends and potential partners in the North and was interested in (none RL) development opportunities which just might just be more achievable nearer home?

Wakefields attendances have increased a little but havent rocketed up, although Cas and Leeds have increased ,possibly due to their success (although Leeds have been following good years with bad etc) and where have those fans come from ? Interested locals, lapsed fans or fickle glory hunters, possibly a mix of all 3.
The point is that, in the North of England, there doesn't seem to be a huge untapped market for RL and I believe that there may well be some newbies that attach themselves to any new club, especially if they are successful and "Liverpool" as a sporting brand would expect to do as well as any other, although Salford "Red Devils" certainly didn't - although not successful (in terms of silverware) and most interestingly, Koucash got bored /frustrated far, far too quickly so, we will never know what could/would happen if they made it to the top.

I think you and I now kind of agree which we didn't seem to a post or two ago?

I'm not looking for an argument, argument, but, your original supposition to support the Liverpool threat to our local clubs seemed to read that Bradford's 15k 2003 crowd was made up of 5k die hard's and hoards of floating voters dragged in from Bradford's 'hinterland', Wakefield included?

Your steady 5k average during the rise and fall of Bradford's fortunes seems to suggest that this is not the case we are not that naive to be unconcerned and might even suggest that your squirrel in winter analogy wasn't so nuts after all

Barton pal, a bit like Castleford is in Wakefield but its Castleford yes

Another black hole for Koukash's money

Yes, Liverpool City and Huyton were roaring successes weren't they? Regularly got 40,000 per match.

If the club is properly put together -

- they have a long term stadium to play in that will allow for a decent sized crowd along with room for that crowd to grow.
- the team is utilizes local amateur talent along with a scattering of seasoned players
- has a sustainable junior development programme in place from day 1
- is properly marketed along with the game of RL to the local community and schools so that you can engage a decent ground swell of fans in the area.
- there is a proper long term, sustainable plan for the club's growth

Then I don't see why it would be a failure. Slow and steady wins the race. It's been shown that when you rush a club into an area which doesn't have strong RL roots they tend to flounder

John Desmond the Doncaster chairman sold Tattersfield to a property & construction company & this left the Dons homeless.

I believe the RFL paid Geoff Fletcher a some of money for his team to terminate there membership of the RFL