Too many gaps (big ones at times) between home games this season. You lose the plot sometimes. The likes of away games at Barrow, Whitehaven, Doncaster and Gateshead away doesn't help the supporter watching his pennies. A couple more teams in this league would help the problem along with a fixture planner that understands that Whitehaven is not a local derby for us on a Bank Holiday Monday!

But that was when we still had the carrot of getting what was then considering to be the 'promised land' (and we had a bloody good chance of achieving it). Totally different scenario these days, particularly with the likes of Workington on their , not to mention the lessening challenge from Rochdale, Oldham, Swinton etc when compared to maybe 10 years ago.

No matter how you look at it extra games are needed, be it a leaguye restructure or a fresh cup competition, and ndont be fooled people WILL attend games to see a 'cricket score' after all isn't that what some people miss from our early 00's?

Further to the meeting regarding franchising for the next round I have been told that although the goal posts havent changed there is a stipulation within the franchise that a club applying for a licence must have a turnover of £1 million per year and be financially stable.....now I dont know of any championship club that will have a turnover of anything like this on crowds of around 2000 even Widnes.
Is the another spanner in the works??????

I have given up hope of a franchise for our club because like Whitehaven Barrow Halifax Featherstone and Widnes I have a suspicion that we are never going to be granted one.

Supporters of franchising do make some valid points but promotion and relegation are vital in a professional sport and 5 coaches of Leigh fans aren,t just spending practically all of next Sunday travelling to a game and back just because the coaches are free.There will also be folk travelling by other means.

What you cannot disagree on is this. Crowds are down since franchising came in and Thursday games for the Championsip has reduced income for clubs for attractive fixtures because TV money is spent on give away offers.

The league format will not change!

Remove Sky money and I would not be suprised if there were 3 or 4 clubs in SL not generating that kind of money.

salford
celtic
wakefield
london

???

Yip, possibly even Huddersfield given their rented stadium (how much hospitality/advertising money would they keep), discounted ST's etc.

I might be totally wrong saying £250k pa sponsorship revenue and 15 games fetching 5000 in tops the £1m barrier, but it will be borderline anyway, and nothing any Championship club could generate with the current format.

St Helens with an average crowd of around 8/9K had a turnover of over 4m

Very big merchandise sales , 1.2 million from SKY , rip off beer sales plus dodgy betting profits

Still surprises their turnover in that ground is so high.

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Been reported that they have made a loss over £300,000