Did the rfl buy Odslum, thus helping Bradford? Where did i sby that the rfl could/should buy Salfords stadium?

It is a view i see commonly, not universally, but commonly from Wigan fans, and almost uniquely from Wigan fans. You can look back, I know how bad it would be for the game to lose Wigan or for Wigan to be relegated. I wish the game was in a strong position for us to enjoy some Schadenfreude at Wigans expense and see them struggle, sadly at the moment it would damage the game massively, as would if Leeds, Saints, Hull or Warrington had the same struggles.
Seems strange for you to be so against being grouped into 'wigan fans' then group youself there.

Im not arguing in favour of what im arguing for out of some moral imperative. It is pretty much solely a practical standpoint. Should we ‘save’ Salford? Well that depends almost entirely on what it would achieve. Throwing good money after bad at a failing club wont help anyone. But if we need to throw some money at them to with the expectation that this will put them on a sound footing, prepared for growth and in 5-10 years they are a sustainable flagship club then yeah give them it.

I don’t think the game is rich enough to make a stand on principle. I don’t think we are in a strong enough position to start kicking clubs out, it will only expedite the Armageddon you envisage.

I think the game needs to just do what is best. Part of that will be, as I say, completely against the lessaiz-faire attitude which you spoke of, but part of it is also demanding more from our clubs.

I also don’t share your negativity, as much as there are struggles, there is also more money, more fans, more people watching on TV than ever before, that is a healthy position for the game, there is no reason we cant build on that.

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I oft read on other boards "

I oft read on other boards "The Pies are all saying.............", when one or two people have said something. I was just pointing out that i was speaking for myself, and that it should not be taken as a general view.

I don't think we are too far apart on the current state of the game. I prefer to think of myself as realistic, rather than pessimistic, and you are correct, we can't afford to make a moral stand. The main reason is, that we are totally dependant on SKY, unless the RFL decide to get their booties in gear and promote the game, get better deals for the game re sponsership, and from the media, we are destined to get weaker and weaker. But, clubs also have a massive role to play.

I wouldn’t, I would do the complete opposite. I would, as the RFL, absolve myself of all responsibility for Super League. Put the clubs in charge.

Treat it like the NFL. SL clubs appoint a commissioner, he appoints people to do the marketing, PR, officiating etc etc etc, the clubs set the budgets, the clubs decide the structure of the game, they decide how many teams are in etc etc.

I think the game should take a long hard look at what they can achieve with these clubs. If these 14 are the 14 who they think are the future of the game, then it needs to invest in them, some of that will come from the bigger clubs.

I think the game should have a look at whether it wants to make a big change, and as I say possibly follow the path of the NFL. We should look at it and work together to achieve better. Maybe look at having super league as more of one central entity which would allow us to benefit from some economies of scale, but also be more strategic in our growth. Now this would give up some power, some independence, it would be completely against the kind of ‘competition-breeding-innovation’ we hear about. It would be the big clubs, the Leeds, Saints, Wigan, Wire, Hull, Les Catalans etc etc coming together and taking the mantel, driving the game forwards and I think would give it the mandate to demand more of some clubs, maybe demand a bit more of the game, but have to take more responsibility and put plainly, maybe put their hands in their pockets a bit.

I think if we looked at ‘Super League’ as the business, and the clubs as subsidiaries of that business then there are many benefits we could see, I also accept that if that were the case, then every club needs to be part of an overall strategy which benefits everyone.

For example, take kit providers. It is likely that as a whole SL could source one kit provider who would provide a better deal than the average amount SL clubs get. But I have no doubt this amount would be less than the likes of Leeds and Wigan get, it is better for the game we get one provider, but worse for some clubs. So we have to ask ourselves IF Leeds and Wigan are going to effectively subsidise the likes of Castleford in this respect, what are Castleford going to do in return? Are they going to help the game meet its aims by doing this? Is this a temporary measure and they are going to become in time a net contributor? Because if they aren’t, there is no reason Leeds and Wigan should do this. If they are then it is worthwhile.

Hm, turkeys and Christmas....

But something radical IS needed, you could well be right. As things stand, the RFL is not in a strong enough financial position to have repeats of the last 12 months. God knows where we go from here, but i don't believe the current situation is sustainable... Like you i would be happy with a strong and vibrant SL, 14 teams strong, i just can't see it happening.

What's happened (or rather, I suspect, what do you think has happened) to the RFL's financial situation?!

Excuse me!!!!! I'm assuming that the RFL is not capable of helping to bail out 2 clubs in every 12 month period, do you?

Not sure they have actually lost any money on Bradford and, yes, they have the reserves to help Salford. Belts are being tightened due to the reduction in Sport England funding which the RFL may or may not attempt to mitigate from their other revenue streams. But when clubs need help, the RFL has generally been there with funding and other assistance.

Well Hallelujah!!!! No matter if clubs just run themselves into the floor then, we have a benevolant RFL that will be like a big friendly, wealthy uncle. Why should clubs bother to make an effort? The cap is not helping to ensure clubs are run within their means, just forceing the game into a spiral of decline, where all our best players will leave to chase the money, and who could blame them... i would do exactly the same, and so would you.

What might concentrate peoples minds to how dire the Salford situation is was the news that came in the M.E.N today.
Mobile phone contracts for certain staff members where terminated in the last 24 hours,due to non payment of bills.

Welcome to the 21st Century. Even the mighty Wendyball Prissy League would collapse if TV money were taken away from them. They have much higher income from sponsorship and so on, but not enough to cover their costs. We're in the same situation, just dealing in smaller sums.

Thanks for the welcome...

Wendyball has relegation, we do not. So our clubs have a safe environment in which to operate. All that the clubs in SL have to do is balance the books, and they can't do that!!

......and when you get relegated from the Prissy League, they hand you 'parachute' payments worth millions to allow you to keep spending daft money on your player contracts. No TV = no parachute payments, so the equation is the same, relegation or not.

A simple solution to clubs overspending, force clubs to only budget to spend 90% of their previous years income, if they want to spend more, they must increase income " Simples " as the little furry animal says

or bring in a rule that says any losses must be covered that year via share ownership and not loans.