How things have changed from a few years ago.
Taken from the RFL website
Whilst well maintained, the ground is limited and old fashioned. However, the club recognise this and has relatively advanced plans for a new stadium. Financial projections are based on the new ground, although there is evidence of a Plan B. The club is well managed financially with limited external borrowings and/or shareholder funds. The club has produced a holistic commercial plan, has a record of commercial achievement and achieves strong support even when relegated. The club’s reasonable playing infrastructure has been hurt by the yo-yo-ing between Super League and National League. The club has maintained youth pathways but has not always been able to secure the best local talent.
Crusaders RL
Whilst well maintained, the ground is limited and old fashioned but there is a commitment to immediately enhance the current facilities. In the medium term the club recognises the need to develop a new facility and appears to be working with the local public agencies to deliver this. As with any new venture, financial projections are more subjective but the club has demonstrated financial stability during its progress through the National Leagues. The club has built good relationships with commercial partners and TV channel S4C offers exciting opportunities. There is supportive independent market research for Super League in South Wales, although inevitably this can only be fully tested by the club’s actual participation in the competition. The playing infrastructure is very good in places but the club is understandably at the early stages with its scholarship and academy teams.
Harlequins RL
The Stoop provides good facilities across the board. The club relies on significant shareholder support and is seeking additional investment. Crowds have fluctuated and the club is looking to increase attendances on the back of stability in a good stadium. The recently appointed new management is tapping into a large catchment area and making the most of a robust community programme. The club has been reasonably successful in Super League and has a well resourced playing department. There are emerging local players but the club’s juniors are not yet regularly attracting national honours.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Whilst well maintained, the ground is limited and old fashioned. However, the club recognise this and have plans for a new stadium. These are not as far advanced as might be the case despite projected occupation by 2010 and evidence of a Plan B would have been beneficial. There is good progress within community development and attendances are improving. Evidence of specific commercial measurable targets with the commercial strategy would have assisted. There has been a recent improvement on the pitch and increased investment in the playing department. Youth development works reasonably well and pre-16 players are attracting national honours but the club has not always been able to retain the best local talent.
Halifax RLFC
The club has previously made a good contribution to Super League but is significantly restrained by the incomplete nature of their stadium. This makes financial projections and marketing plans difficult to produce with any degree of certainty. Player development structures would require further investment before they could be considered of a Super League standard. However the club’s first team performances are consistently at the higher end of National League 1 over recent seasons.
Widnes Vikings
The stadium is an appropriate size and well appointed following significant investment in recent years. The club has been in the difficult position of seeking to take into account the club’s historical attendance and playing records but naturally distancing itself from the previous regime’s financial record. The current company has only been in existence for a few months following insolvency in October 2007. Early indications are that under new ownership the club has made very good progress so far and has attracted good sponsors and the support of the local authority. The club has maintained a reasonable playing infrastructure despite being in the National League but this would require further investment to ensure that they could be competitive in Super League particularly within Club Trained rules.
Quote: "Halifax were deemed to have met minimum standards and their application went on to be reassessed alongside those of the existing 14 Engage Super League clubs. Barrow did not meet minimum standards and were eliminated from the assessment process.'"
This to me sounds like Halifax will (quite rightly) be judged on the SL criteria, which means that The Shay is just under 2000 capacity short, amongst other problems.
Also reading the criteria, Crusaders are by far & away the weakest club.
Quote: Gronk! "This to me sounds like Halifax will (quite rightly) be judged on the SL criteria, which means that The Shay is just under 2000 capacity short, amongst other problems.
Also reading the criteria, Crusaders are by far & away the weakest club.'"
Wrong, Operational Capacity of over 10,000 and the North stand that needs the Blocks Changing can be done in time for the 2012 season which means stadia is not short on anything. You development is our major issue at the moment with only the under 23's.
And how is the condemned stand? Getting rebuilt any time soon?'"
The North Stand doesn't need to be 're-built', just needs a bit of new concrete/toilet. It still safely allows 1,000 odd people in (no pun on the nature of the Away fans in there ). The capacity for the Bradford cup game was 9,000 without the North Stand. Once the concrete/toilet work is done on the North stand that will be 3,200 = 12,200 for the entire stadium.
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). The capacity for the Bradford cup game was 9,000 without the North Stand. Once the concrete/toilet work is done on the North stand that will be 3,200 = 12,200 for the entire stadium.
