Re: Merger : Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:03 pm  

I think the merged clubs would lose too many hard-core fans to make merger viable. It certainly wouldn't be the case that all Cas and Wakefield fans would support the merged team, I'd suggest that sales of season tickets would be less for the merged team than both Cas and Wakefield's stand-alone numbers (ie IF Cas and Wakey both have 5000 season-ticket holders each, the merged club may well achieve less than this figure owing to a lack of supporter identification with the new club).
Sorry to be boring, but research often makes use of the term "supporter identification", a measure of how closely supporters identify with their team and therefore committ to supporting it, particularly financially. This is often developed over many years (generations usually) and you can't just create a team and expect strong supporter identification. This, in gereral research opinion, is why it is difficult for new clubs and organisations to succeed in the short-term and usually fail.

Re: Merger : Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:24 pm  

tigers67 wrote:

Or Tom Dick and Harry you can be Dick of course for obvious reasons

why thank you

Re: Merger : Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:07 pm  

Go ask Fev for a merger, in just over 18 months we will be at Newmarket. Then again so will you.

Ground share not merger. Is that not a better option?

Re: Merger : Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:16 pm  

Always one that ruins it eh?

Re: Merger : Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:47 pm  

It's been interesting reading this thread with some strong opinions on both sides. The thing that has struck me is, even though there are still the vociferous anti-merger opinions that were evident 15 years ago, they are more than matched by others who see a combined club as the way forward. As I said earlier, I do feel this issue will raise it's head sooner rather than later. If you'll excuse me straying a little from hard facts, the last couple of days have seen many suggestions that the loan players are being pulled from Cas because of the bad situation at the club currently, including suggestions of a drinking culture (players turning up to training drunk, a 7 day bender for Chase and Westerman, players being spotted drinking the night before the cup game and even a big party at Sherwin's the day after the cup defeat!) Now I stress this is just what is doing the rounds, but I've seen similar here on the Cas board, so I'm assuming there's a fair chance there's something in it. That being the case it's difficult to see how the club can pull it around this season and, if relegation does happen, what chance is there of a return to SL any time soon? Franchises are only given out every 3 years and a relegated club may well be in no position to make an application 2 years after taking the drop, which is when the application would have to be made. This could meant 6 years or even longer in the lower leagues, a far cry from the prospect of instant promotion which applied the last time the club went down. How many of the supporters who now say "I'd only support Castleford" would still actually be watching the club at the end of this period, particularly in light of a season ticket holder of some 24 years already saying that 'enough is enough' on this very thread. I know some would still be there but how many more wouldn't? I can't remember what the attendances were like last time the club was relegated but that was with the promise/expectation of an instant return to the top flight. Facing 6 years, or even a decade or more of NL1, would crowds hold up or would the support dwindle to the point of a merger not even being a viable option as far as the RFL is concerned? I notice that a couple of people have mentioned a shared stadim as being the solution. Would it be a solution if one (or even both!) are playing in NL1? Maybe it still would. I can't claim to know one way or the other but, again looking as a neutral, I'm sure it wouldn't neccessarily be the priority for the RFL who seem far more concerned with expansion clubs like Crusaders and Catalans.

Anyway guys, thanks for the well thought out posts. It's good to know there are still fans capable of talking about emotive subjects like this without decending into trolling and name calling. Good luck for the rest of the season. Hope things pan out for you.

Re: Merger : Thu Apr 22, 2010 6:37 am  

15 years ago and 10 years ago. I would have said No No No to a merger. Now today its different.

Wakey and Cas are both in Financial Trouble and Wakey have a CVA against them. Cas have no money, a crumbling stadium and Wakey have had Tax bill demands and are selling best players to pay off debts. Wakey's ground is the worst viewing stadium in super league and charge £20 to get in. Both Clubs have seen falling attendences and Both clubs know they are not good enough to compete for a trophy.

If we merge and have a brand new stadium(wherever it is) and new fresh board. We could be a big force in Super League. We have a great catchment area for fans and Junior talent and the area is rugby mad. In a new stadium with a team ready to compete, we could be a force again. All I want to do do is watch quality rugby league, and the only time i see this is on the TV, when saints play Leeds or wigan etc....

I wish both clubs could compete seperately. But I think the longer they try the bigger the fall. Its time for Fans to get behind both clubs and do what is right. Otherwise it could be bye bye super league for Both

Re: Merger : Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:12 am  

franchisecas wrote:

15 years ago and 10 years ago. I would have said No No No to a merger. Now today its different.

The stadiums are both pretty much the same as 10 or 15 years go, in fact Wheldon Road is somewhat better than it was.

Wakey and Cas are both in Financial Trouble and Wakey have a CVA against them. Cas have no money, a crumbling stadium and Wakey have had Tax bill demands and are selling best players to pay off debts. Wakey's ground is the worst viewing stadium in super league and charge £20 to get in. Both Clubs have seen falling attendences and Both clubs know they are not good enough to compete for a trophy.
I agree Wakey is the worst viewing stadium in the league, but to be honest, I'm not concerned with Wakey's problems on or off the field.

If we merge and have a brand new stadium(wherever it is) and new fresh board. We could be a big force in Super League. We have a great catchment area for fans and Junior talent and the area is rugby mad. In a new stadium with a team ready to compete, we could be a force again. All I want to do do is watch quality rugby league, and the only time i see this is on the TV, when saints play Leeds or wigan etc....
It wouldn't be us, it would be another club, which I wouldn't identify with, you might as well go watch Leeds franchisecas, if that's how you feel, after all it's not much further away than Wakey is.

I wish both clubs could compete seperately. But I think the longer they try the bigger the fall. Its time for Fans to get behind both clubs and do what is right. Otherwise it could be bye bye super league for Both

You only have to take a look at Warrington to see what can be achieved, since they moved into a new stadium, their attendances have improved dramatically (before their move their attendances and team were more or less on a par with ours, as were their on-field performances) there's no reason why Cas can't emulate Wire, if and when we move into a new stadium.

Re: Merger : Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:23 am  

Sandal Wild Cat wrote:

Go ask Fev for a merger, in just over 18 months we will be at Newmarket. Then again so will you.

Ground share not merger. Is that not a better option?

You really should fix that record

Re: Merger : Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:25 am  

franchisecas wrote:

15 years ago and 10 years ago. I would have said No No No to a merger. Now today its different.

Wakey and Cas are both in Financial Trouble and Wakey have a CVA against them. Cas have no money, a crumbling stadium and Wakey have had Tax bill demands and are selling best players to pay off debts. Wakey's ground is the worst viewing stadium in super league and charge £20 to get in. Both Clubs have seen falling attendences and Both clubs know they are not good enough to compete for a trophy.

If we merge and have a brand new stadium(wherever it is) and new fresh board. We could be a big force in Super League. We have a great catchment area for fans and Junior talent and the area is rugby mad. In a new stadium with a team ready to compete, we could be a force again. All I want to do do is watch quality rugby league, and the only time i see this is on the TV, when saints play Leeds or wigan etc....

I wish both clubs could compete seperately. But I think the longer they try the bigger the fall. Its time for Fans to get behind both clubs and do what is right. Otherwise it could be bye bye super league for Both

I thought they exited the CVA years ago?

Re: Merger : Thu Apr 22, 2010 9:31 am  

Sandal Wild Cat wrote:

Go ask Fev for a merger, in just over 18 months we will be at Newmarket. Then again so will you.

Ground share not merger. Is that not a better option?

Lol did you get that one off a lolly stick??