nothing of the sort. the mix of old and new is the mortar to the bricks. its much more subtle and much more persuasive than that. off to bed now.

Sounds like they are bending over backwards for them anyway. They can't complain about preferential treatment anymore at least. Lets hope it works out for both clubs, neither want a groundshare.

www.casforum.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... 60#p339960 As I posted on the Cas RLFANS forum and ours, this is what’s happening at WR. The NM Plan B is an interesting one, and perhaps is why the initial comment from Kear was extracted.

www.casforum.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... 60#p339960 As I posted on the Cas RLFANS forum and ours, this is what’s happening at WR. The NM Plan B is an interesting one, and perhaps is why the initial comment from Kear was extracted.

Funny that - I was talking to someone at the game yesterday and said that perhaps Kear was making comments about sharing a stadium as part of a PR game by the Cas board, to pave the way for them moving to NM.

The big barrier to success was always going to be the attitude of fans, so maybe once the original WR deal fell through some months ago, they've been doing their level best to create the impression that they've tried everything, so that angry Cas fans can be told "we've done our best - this is the only option."

It will leave Cas with no stadium, but a big chunk of cash in the bank; my prediction - announced as a temporary move, they'll encounter further 'issues' with GH down the line and eventually, they'll take up residency at NM on a permanent basis. From that point onwards, a merger becomes an inevitability.

I think the key issue Bren will be if any side is good enough to replace Cas in 2015, stadium or not! If there is not a side that the RFL consider ready (and I am sorry Halifax & Leigh, I don't think you will be ready!) then if Cas have to move into Newmarket (or possibly Keepmoat?), it buys them another three years to build GH. I don't think RW & the Cas board will give up that easily on a new home at GH and I don't think they should. I think if the news on WR is as positive as the plans currently sound, then the RFL will acknowledge that in giving Cas another franchise term.

If they are still not in a new home by 2018, then a merger will be pushed I suspect!

How does all of this fit in with whatever Cas told the RFL in their last franchise application ?

i think it is nailed on that either both or a merged team will be playing out of newmarket by 2015.i dont think cas have any other choice now than the one that is on the table although not everyone will like it!!

Never no merger GH for you

Being good enough has never been a barrier for London and it doesn't appear to be one for Widnes. Meanwhile, Fev are quietly taking care of business and the RFL have talked recently about an Irish team and some other expansion areas; there's also the possibility of another French team. In that context, I'm not sure they could credibly allow another 3 years on the promise of yet another property deal, with not a brick in the ground; especially given the seriousness of the language they used when awarding the most recent franchises and the specific warning to clubs like ourselves and Cas about their ability to remove a licence if no progress was made.

It would be an interesting experience to have Cas share at NM and even more interesting to watch how things unfold from then onwards.

The RFL won't allow them to move to the Keepmoat in the same way they wouldn't allow us to move to Oakwell. They want teams to be as near as possible to their fanbase.

This is a very convoluted proposal by the Council, Opus and Cas and one that will take an awful long time to work through and come to fruition. I believe the working timscale is five years, but there is a whole chain of events that has to fit into place and if one fall down the whole thing will be delayed. I hope things run smoothly for them but the way these things pan out i'd expect it to be the the end of the decade before we see it up and running, its just the nature of the beast. There are a whole load of very high hurdles to get over before any planning permissions are even applied for, let alone passed. And their plan B revolves around Newmarket being passed which, although looking promising, isn't nailed on yet. Although if extra support was to come out in favour of it then it would obviously be beneficial. Could we see the biggest u-turn in history from Richard Wright who just a few months ago was trying to throw a spanner in its works? Interesting times ahead.

I in no way condone a merger but the two clubs playing out of Newmarket with the attendance's, financial clout and youth system's of both clubs combined would be a terrifying prospect IMHO. I don't think another club in the league could live with it or come close to lacing it's boot's.