By calling people "apologists"?

A straw poll would rely on you starting with a question rather than name calling.

You still haven't addressed your level of commitment at your new club.

And this is primarily because of DH's mismanagement. You might think there no club without DH but history would suggest there isn't much of one with him.

These days I devote my time and support to Maidstone United. Here's what one of our owners had to say about fan ownership, which is spot on to me, if anyone can be bothered reading. maidstoneunited.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... e.html?m=1

These days I devote my time and support to Maidstone United. Here's what one of our owners had to say about fan ownership, which is spot on to me, if anyone can be bothered reading. maidstoneunited.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... e.html?m=1

Sometimes it is worth remembering how rapid the descent of the club has been under the present stewardship . In this week's League Express there is a piece on retiring players including Chris Bailey. He joined the club less than five years ago when it was still Quins RL. In his first game at Millennium Magic we beat Catalans 11-4. I was at that game and I don't think at that time in my wildest nightmares I could have imagined the club being in the position it is in now

Indeed, and while that wasn't a great season finishing 12th in SL we had an average gate of 3,131. Here we are now having lost 80% of even that poor crowd and averaging just 634.

Buzza I assume u are one of those 634

FWIW, I didn't get season ticket at The Hive (first time since SL2) but have again next year.

It's entirely because of DH's mismanagement. I doubt you'll find anyone on here who disagrees with what you've said. We all know that DH's cash prevented the club folding with a bang, but his stewardship appears to be leading to the club folding with a whimper.

But the hard truth is, none of us are in a position to replace him individually, and for all the talk of fan owned clubs I doubt that we're in a position now to replace him collectively.

What Dave Listers Maidstone Utd have shown is that clubs can come back. The club went to hell and back. Now with good leadership they are doing very well.

True, but they managed to keep a sizeable core support throughout their dark days whereas London Broncos ....... well they'll have to try and add to the few hundred still left won't they?

Maidstone's support fell badly in the Kent County League and was ok rather than brilliant, understandably, during their years groundsharing in other towns. The current owners stepped in to save the club and have invested heavily, they openly state they view it as an investment in the long run and are happy to lose money short term.

The real difference between the Stones and Broncos is one has owners who are running it as a business, viewing losses to date as necessary in order to ensure a return. The the other is London Broncos.

You are absolutely right about The Stones, Without their current owners they would have gone under by now. Their support fell away badly.
Now with a nice stadium, back in their home town they are moving forward.

I can understand that some may not have followed the club to Dartford or wherever but I'm not sure the support fell away as much as you think - I remember seeing a crowd of several hundred Stones fans turn up to an away game at Erith Town back in the Kent league days. But as you say the club has owners who seem to want to move the club forwards. Barring a fan ( or the LBSA) winning the lottery, or the Trailfinders people wanting to put in some serious bunce we're stuck with David Hughes - so there's precious little hope of moving forwards as far as I see. Sadly.

The crowds at both their games I saw in the wilderness tears were lower than Broncos average last season by a bit. It depends on which part of their journey you saw them tbh.

If Wikipedia is to be trusted 1993 - 2011 they played at 4 grounds. The highest attendance was as follows:-

Maidstone 320.
Central Park Sittingbourne 412
Bourne Park Sittingbourne 1,729
Ashford 488.

Last time I went there they had a gate of 2,296 (2014.)

The move to Ashford, a horrible place to get to without a car, saw attendances drop badly.