Quote: gutterfax "Really?
Could it not be down to the utter failure to engage with the local population at any level resulting in an 18% drop in attendances in the currents CEO's 2 year tenure, resulting in him looking for an excuse that might just keep him in a job that he is patently not qualified for?
His first year saw a lot of promises but ultimately an 8% reduction in crowds, so he blamed the "misunderstanding" who Harlequins Rugby League were. Then he decided to start looking for other places to call home, which regardless of whether they increase attendances, would give him at least another 24 months employment.
Maybe Harlequins RFC have tried to increase the rent......but the fact remains that we currently play in the only purpose built Rugby only stadium in the Region, we have attracted crowds of 9k+ to this ground in the past and just because the current management don't have a loving clue is not a reason to move the club again.
Ian Lenagan left us to take the reins at Wigan...he's increased their average by 25% in 5 years.......the RFL are partly to blame for our current situation by not letting him own both clubs...if he'd stayed, there is no way we'd be averaging 2,800.......IMHO that is.,'"
I'm not saying everything has been done completely right! but you can't compare Wigan and what IL has done with London, Wigan do TV advertising for their Big Matches each season and great full size poster campaigns around the town, now St Helens do nothing! but they still get in the crowds. I agree the RFL were completely wrong with IL and ownership, but now I will get accused of RFL bashing!
Yes we did get higher attendances mainly around the 8,000 plus but how long ago was that? I remember those type of crowds in the Virgin days, but there tended to be a lot of corporate support then and we had the tie in with Capital FM.
Glad that you do accept that our landlords may have upped the rent, we have the same problem as Salford Reds, we have very little income streams other than gate receipts, sponsorship and TV, plus of course David Hughes bank rolling us, that is never going to work and the RFL should have recognised that way back, I still find it difficult to accept why they rolled over backwards with the Bulls?