Sounds lovely Laura, and thanks fir taking the time to post this, but I guess you haven't realised we don't have a lot of supporters to start a trust that could sustain even an amateur club and those we do have have very diverse opinions on what is the best way forward for the club.

Let's go back to Chorley...ha.

I think it's a little too early to write off a supporters trust, but it would be difficult to support the club on a gate of 300. Out of interest Laura, how many people approx. are currently members of the Rochdale Supporters trust?

The problem with the club is that we don't have a fanbase built up over decades like the traditional clubs- the club has existed less than 10 years in it's current form & location (i.e. Fylde/Blackpool). We have no assets in the form of a ground/ club house to borrow against either. Realistically, I think we would need a backer to put forward a significant donation for 3 years just to fund the cashflow to allow the club to try to develop a bigger fan base to then fund the club independently after this period.

Supporters trust may be an option but id question the following :
1. Dont have as such an existing known fan base? where do fans live/come from?
2. No existing ground
3. Players wages? what are current players on? what and where do we attract players from? current team are all out of town and not locally based
4. How much will it cost to sustain the club for the season?
5. where do we base the club? Chorley? Blackpool? Lytham?
6. Its noted we only get 300 supporters but over half of them are usually away fans

Thats just a few things that have come to mind on early consideration. Is it viable? whats other peoples thoughts?

We have a hardcore fanbase of about 250 supporters (based on the gates v Doncaster on the Friday, with next to no visiting support and the Gateshead game).

The harsh reality is that this alone is nowhere near enough to fund any sort of viable or competitive side in this division. Without sponsors/backers the team would be down amongst the dead men, inevitably leading to even less support.

If we had our own ground with our own bar/food outlets/advertising rights etc, this would bring in a lot more on a match day, but the likelihood of this happening on the Fylde in the forseeable future is slim.

There are solutions, but the current level of funding on the field is simply unsustainable over any length of time without equal investment off it, as in an area like this without the same tradition as many traditional RL towns, it is much, much harder to get people through the gates.

Without long term investment towards this, simply putting all the money into the team now is obviously not the (longer term) solution. Quickly bought success has no longevity.

Barring the brand new trusts who are obviously in the process of building membership, most of the rugby league trusts have around 200-250 members, including Rochdale.

Whilst I'm not suggesting you would immediately look at taking over the club completely, it does appear there are a number of you who are worried about the future of the club and ho the current level of spending on players wages, with little investment in marketing etc is going to be sustained. I always encourage trusts wherever possible to act as 'guardians' of the club - to make sure spending is within sensible limits, and to make sure the club is in as healthy a position as possible to try and move away from the boom and bust model.

Whilst I obviously don't know this for certain, it would seem a logical step that at some point both the Championship and Championship One will become licensed, thus forcing the club to start looking at their off field activities. These are key areas where supporters and the club can work together to try and build a strong club capable of bringing in decent revenue to justify a bigger wage bill.

As an away fan from Keighley I have to say that apart from when you were at Chorley your current ground is a good place to visit and also a few of us are staying over for the nines competition.

Regarding getting more folk supporting you I reckon if not already done target the union fans there not just to get them to see they watch crap union but to expand their horizons.

As an example the last time I was there there had been some union games on and quite a few in bar yet when league game was near starting most left, more effort should be made to keep folk in ground that are already there whether this be by a special deal like loyalty card for buy 4 drinks get one free after league game that in theory keeps folk in bar that may have otherwise gone or similar thing with burgers etc.

If considered by club then put the offer for set times say between say 5pm and 7pm.

Hope this helps and good luck for rest of season.

The club doesnt do anything to promote the club or attract fans, thats what us fans are saying. Fair enough the chairman has brought in better players and used his own money but the club as a whole is not been marketed. We have the development officers who work with the kids but thats all and the odd radio advert and news paper advert.

Thats the key - Supporters and club working together. Only problem is club dont want to communicate with fans and let us know whats going on. Have to have our manager come out and say things are going onbeyond his control and he isnt happy about it.

It doesn't bode well, it has to be said, when MC is the only one seemingly prepared to comment about what may or may not be going on gehind the scenes - think it's time Mr Hope cleared the air before it's too late.

We've all seen these scenarios before; it's only 5 metaphorical minutes since the Dave Rowlands era/fiasco (another one with big ideas who wouldn't listen to common sense and experience), and boy how this is starting to show very similar signs of the same errors being repeated once again.

If investors aren't prepared for the long haul, to invest in the infrastructure off the field and genuine promotion of the club in the town and district, frankly I wish they wouldn't bother, it almost always ends in tears, and it's blindingly bloody obvious that this is heading the same way and those of us left will somehow be expected to pick up the pieces once again and clean up the mess.

There is no quick fix route to financial success in the Rugby League, even more so outside the SL; the sooner dreamers with a few quid get that into their heads the better.

Either show us a plan of action with the backing to take the club into the Championship and make it viable, or walk away now before any further damage is done.

The one thing the club cannot afford to do is to lose Martin Crompton.

Clear the air QUICKLY and sort it out.

Totally agree with every thing you said !!!!

Tipped over the edge this week, yesterday's Keith southern and today's holloway non-story backpages when the panthers existence is threatened really ticked me off. Complaint sent to gazette. Assume it'll be ignored

As a Keighley Fan, Blackpool was one of my favourite away days.
The nines is one of the best weekends in the year.

Just an idea,

You have a new premiership team in Blackpool.

Why not make a deal with them to allow all season ticket holders at Bloomfield Road half price entry to your matches?

They might do something similar for Panthers season ticket holders.

In partnership, you might both gain.

If it brings in only a few more, then you have not lost anything.

nice idea, like so many other ideas. but the football club don't need the panthers help and won't help in return i fear

Well could you not start to help promote your club yourselves? I know you need a strong home fan base but it will be a long time coming ,every club is strugling I`m afraid .You should play to your strenghs ,what has Blackpool got that no-one else has? Yes a popular place to visit ,your way ahead of all the other teams on the M62 as at least people like to visit Blackpool. Why don`t you look at the fixture lists when you are at home and just find the teams that have no game /playing in France and advertise it on the message boards. I did that myself for my own team a couple of seasons ago.
The 9s are coming up I went last year and intend to go this time , why don`t a few of you get together and get a flier printed with your home games (you could try to get it sponsored) asking people from differant clubs to come back when they have no game of their own.
Like another poster says maybe a hotel would team up with you on that one.As I have found sometimes a few people can make a big differance if they start to help out a little bit.I hope someone stops me when I come to the 9s encouraging me to come back.Look at all the stag does that go to Blackpool there surely must be some of them from rugby clubs that if it was marketed to them could start the weekenf off at a game .We are all going to have to start thinking out of the box to help our clubs survive as don`t expect any help from the RFL they are too busy looking after Super League to bother about anyone else.

Thanks,somegood ideas there. The 9`s is a great one. Biggest beef for the supporters is the club dont do anything or even want our ideas. I agree its tough for everyone at the minute.
Like you say do it ourselves. thanks once again for taking the time with this post