SCL is 10 years old this year, and throughout its history it has needed extra financial input over and above what it can ' earn ' to operate as a competitive Championship club, for the 1st 4 years it was the original income suppled by the ' consortium ' , for the next 5 years it was Arthur Thomas's individual generosity, we currently are operating at a lower level than in the past, but ultimatley that will not be able to continue indefinatley .

Clubs find their income in different ways, some have individual backers, some are located in large towns/citys and are able to bring in significant corporate/sponsorship , some clubs can make income because they own their stadiums

It would appear we will have to find a different option, essentially we need to dramatically increase our support base, or get our existing support to donate more than they currently do, the 1 st option would require a significant increase in both our general marketing activity and our community work, I believe in the near future the 2 nd option will be put before the clubs supporters in the form of a supporters trust, while this might on the face of it seem a good idea ( Barcelona are a ST, and are the often used example by those who see them as a positive ) however for every FCB, there are hundreds of Rochdale /Hunslets

So do we want a ST? , it would probably remove any chance of ever making SL, and also of ever attracting a single major investor

As I seem to have upset most of the MB, those of you who dont wish to read anything not rose tinted can ignore this thread

I don't know you Starbug but for whatever reason you have turned against the current management of the club and seem to feel that this is the forum to resolve any issues you have.
Personally I don't think it is - many of us have suffered financial loss at the hands of previous regimes but still support the club wherever we can.
Take a few weeks away from the forum and then see how you feel.
We are too small a band to lose someone who has done as much for the club as you have so I hope it gets resolved.
Yours in sport,
M

SL will be 20yrs old by the end of the current licencing perod in 2015.
This club will have tasted the top flight just once in that time.
Everything this club has tried to do to better itself has failed.Its now time for a new aproach,if thats a ST then personally speaking lets go for it

I don't understand Bugstar's timing of his negative/advisory posts ?
Unless he know's something we don't !

Ste you know me , i just want to watch Rugby , i leave the Club Politics to the Board ,but i dont want you to stop supporting our club or our team , so in the Words of the 3 Degrees ,"When will we see you Again ".

The timing is simple, last week option one ended, so option two is now the only option available

Do the club have an alternative plan to replace the CT?

Thats the $ 64,000 question?

Why? I don't know what his issue is either, but I've seen several comments telling him to take a break, this is an independent board it may not get him the official answers he may require. And although I don't always agree with him, and I may not this time if I knew what his issues are, I respect that he has as much right as anyone to post what the hell he likes.

It would be a sad day if Starbug leaves this board and an even sadder one if he leaves the terracing.

So Steve, you're predicting the demise of Leigh Centurions all because they won't sign up to your Community Trust, have I got that right?

Have you ever considered why they don't want to?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdbUB0Vc ... r_embedded About 1hr 19 minutes in. Could be wrong ,i'm just assuming this could be the alternative

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdbUB0Vc ... r_embedded About 1hr 19 minutes in. Could be wrong ,i'm just assuming this could be the alternative

I have to say i agree with starbug on this one. I feel that work in the community is the best viable way to make a long term progression with the gates, which has to be the ultimate goal, as this takes the strain away from relying on income from sponsors and investors, which is NEVER guaranteed. Every successful superleague club has got a thriving community development team. Look at wigan and leeds as two fine examples. Yes, geographically their area is larger than ours, but whats to stop us concentrating on the people of leigh first, then branching out to suburbs on boundaries of other clubs community departments? Atherton (salford perhaps) Newton, golborne, offer something new in the area and maybe pick off the odd disillusioned fan of other clubs here and there. Most importantly of all, its the schools. The fans of tomorrow are more often than not watching the big clubs on sky. But if we were there in person, the odd player doing a school visit, we'd be relating to the kids on a personal level, and not just be a team on the telly.

As I put in the O/P mish, I dont see any sugar daddies on the horizon with a million quid to throw away with no guarantees of promotion, we are as a town devoid of thriving businesses to provide major sponsorship , so what options do you see apart from the fans?

So its either more fans , which in my opinion would need a huge increase in marketing and community work, far in excess of anything we have done previously, to do that you need in community terms ' proffessional ' people, volunteers wont cut it, marketing, you can get away with to a degree

So a ST is pretty much the last resort, all just my opinion, whats yours?

As for why they dont want to work with the CT, I have my suspicions, but I'll keep them to myself for the time being

99.99 % there Keith, there is a popular saying used by a major UK organisation

" Dont take the law into your own hands, leave it to the proffessionals "

Now which organisation had that almost as a motto?

Or perhaps another way Keith, I cannot plaster for toffee , I can just about repair a ' reveal ' on a brick out patio, but if I decided to replaster the walls of my house it wouldn't be a problem , it would just be me that had ' wobbly ' walls, would it be a problem if I decided to rewire my house or install a new gas boiler?

Some things you can get away with, some you need to bring in the experts for