I would question that for 50% of the overseas players that come in tbh. There are a lot of overseas players plying their trade in SL that are very average and if we really don;t have enough talent to replace these average players then we should give it up now! Most teams have 2-3 overseas players that would fit into that category imo.

As with any CHANGE, there will be pain. Look at Quins RL......2 quota spots available and basement rugby on the cards but at least some young English guys will get a chance to improve over the season....
Rome wasn't built in a day and all that.

Who is the leaseholder of the DW stadium. Wigan RL are likely to lose out in any power battle with a PL club. Although Latics are small fry in terms of football club, they are a financial monster compred to Wigan RL. If the rules of business apply, Wigan RL will be the loser. Wigan RL are small fry.

I have had a git feeling for quite a while that the PL will tell clubs they cannot groundshare.

like most stadiums it is owned by a stadium company, but cutting through all that it is owned by Wigan athletics owner, dave Whelan, but that's irrelevant as they have a long term lease and on top of that the stadium was only given planning permission if it would be used for both sports. Wigan RL are in a stronger position than Wigan athletic

Apart from any issues re the ptich why would the PL give a hoot who else uses a stadium? Not like we are a threat to them.

There have been rumblings from various people in football about the state of pitches at Hull and Wigan (IMO the two worst grounds in the PL - but that's another issue). The pitches are a state and reduces the quality of the game for those who are paying good money to watch.





Wigan RL are in a stronger position? How? You pick up a few quid from SL every year. Latics get £20m.

I am mnerely playing Devil's Advocate. Unless you know the full details of the contract and are a lawyer specialising in this area, you cannot say with certainty what would happen.

In these circumstances, more often than not teh bigger enterprise wins i.e. Latics.

Most of the clubs in the PL are insolvent so I hardly see the FA insisting they reduce income streams/increase costs

Taken from another forumSeems like the sponsorship pot is drying up. I have heard of one club whose shirt sponsorship has dropped by 80% in value. The money is just not out there at the moment. Even my club Quins are losing £1.5 Million a season and with poor crowds (the one on Saturday was more like 2,500, 3,600 was pure fantasy) which brings me to say that 10 teams is the way forward with at least 2 French clubs and a reduced number of matches and more Internationals.[/i'

This bloke has contacts both over here (especially London) and France and usually knows what he's talking about.

rugby league has been built over here and especially in aus on club rugby for many years now.what makes this chap think in the interests of british RL australia is going to alter its very success league & SOO setup to incorporate more internationals?

Maybe he's thinking of building up international crowds and interest and believes that will bring in more revenue. Maybe he's looked at rugby union and seen how much a single international at Twickenham brings in for the RFU.
Personally I don't think it's the way forward for rugby league.

i think we would need a very strong french,welsh and NZ league to make international RL work and from what we have now thats laughable

Agreed and that is some way off.

A couple of points to come out of tonights fans forum in Wigan:

* Chief Executive Mick Hogan is actively looking at main sponsors for 2011. (In London tomorrow talking to 3 companies).
* Our sponsorship deals are worth 30% more than last season.

Chairman Peter Hood confirmed at our Fans' Forum this evening, asked to comment on a press report, that the SL clubs have indeed been considering the possibility of reducing the number of clubs in SL. He did not indicate which clubs were pressing for any change, or what his position on the question was. He said it was for the SL clubs to decide the number of clubs, and for the RFL then to decide which ones.

At first I thought it was just rumour and pub talk, but I've heard from journalists, sponsors and now this from the Bulls board saying that a reduction is a real possibility. I think it's going to happen.