: Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:23 pm  

Winning games is the best marketing a club can do.

We've won one game at home so hardly gone overboard on this front. This is why I'm not too worried as if you put Wakey,Quins or Salford at the bottom with one home win they would get similar or a lot less I think.

: Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:15 am  

Barry, maybe we'll succeed maybe we won't. It's good form though to wait and see rather than write us off this early. Success will bring us more fans than anything and I can see a few things the club could change to enhance the experience for supporters and spectators. Ditch the now almost non-existent "family village" for one. Better to get the all local traders in for the big matches than to have a forlorn bouncy castle and / or ice cream van week in week out. A more permanent set of toilet facilites might be a step forward too. It's not going to draw the fans in granted, but the better experience people have when inside, the more likely they are to come back. A bit of a charm offensive to try and break through the irrational wall of hatred some Union fans have for the game, for events before the Crusaders even existed could help too. I have other ideas regarding the existing supporters too but the Official Supprters Club fatwa on me makes stating them an unwise idea.

: Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:01 am  

I'm afraid that when clubs start to move like this, it rarely ends well. The usual pattern is that they won't get enough support at Newport or the rent goes up and then they move to a new home e.g. Cardiff and then have a similar problem a few years later and end up in Wrexham. Clubs really need to hold onto their stadium because once it's gone, they are always at the mercy of union or soccer clubs who have their own interests.

If the worst came to the absolute worst, the usual thing to do is form a Supporters' Trust and reform the club in Championship 1 / NL2. Gateshead and Sheffield were once SL expanion sides but there were enough people who cared about the team to keep them going.

They are both playing in Championship / NL1 this season (though whether Gateshead can stay there remains to be seen). Sheffield may well end up playing SL again.

: Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:18 am  

would moving to Newport work, I dont know how far bridgend is from newport but what is the point of building a fan base to then move and start again.

: Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:18 pm  

Hedgehog King wrote:

I'm afraid that when clubs start to move like this, it rarely ends well. The usual pattern is that they won't get enough support at Newport or the rent goes up and then they move to a new home e.g. Cardiff and then have a similar problem a few years later and end up in Wrexham. Clubs really need to hold onto their stadium because once it's gone, they are always at the mercy of union or soccer clubs who have their own interests.

If the worst came to the absolute worst, the usual thing to do is form a Supporters' Trust and reform the club in Championship 1 / NL2. Gateshead and Sheffield were once SL expanion sides but there were enough people who cared about the team to keep them going.

They are both playing in Championship / NL1 this season (though whether Gateshead can stay there remains to be seen). Sheffield may well end up playing SL again.

well we have a contract with the brewery field which in my understanding says we can play there for at least 13 games a season for the next ten years but with no obligation to play any games if we dont want. so in a sense we have our cake and can eat it, try and it and see elsewhere and carry on if need be with no real worries about being homeless. Personally ive argued for 10 games at the brewery and 3 road games as a long term strategy but i also i think some negotiating on other terms like rent, stewarding and bar takings might be going on. we will have to wait and see. The leeds crowd at newport might be crucial.

: Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:50 pm  

Barry_McKenzie wrote:

Only the Harlequins one.

For daring to question the wisdom of the fund raising ideas the club mention on their website such as a 'Dance competition' and a Fun 'Day' that lasts for approximately 1 hour.

To be honest being banned from the Harlequins board is actually a blessing in disguise.

The standard of posting was atrocious


I can see why hardly anyone turns up to their games!

how dare you be banned from the quins board my young chap. would you like a cup of tea. half the members are banned from quins board

: Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:05 pm  

changa wrote:

how dare you be banned from the quins board my young chap. would you like a cup of tea. half the members are banned from quins board

I've heard the words 'Members' and 'Harlequins forum users' often used in the same sentence

: Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:33 pm  

Barry_McKenzie wrote:

I've heard the words 'Members' and 'Harlequins forum users' often used in the same sentence

Given the views you've posted on the topic you put on the virtual terrace you've already made your mind up. By the way Gutterfax (YOUR OWNER) is looking for you.

: Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:58 pm  

Well looking at it Newport RU are redeveloping their stadium to be 15,000 in capacity to be ready for 2010 along with training facilities etc. So Celtic wouldn't need to raise funds for that huge development that is planned if they relocated instead.

Newport looks to be having a lot of redevelopment work as a whole too, and the transport links seem to be good. The club could work with the main RU club as well as all the other clubs in the area, there's also a RL side they could work with.

So it could be a good move for Celtic.

: Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:38 am  

lister wrote:

Well looking at it Newport RU are redeveloping their stadium to be 15,000 in capacity to be ready for 2010 along with training facilities etc. So Celtic wouldn't need to raise funds for that huge development that is planned if they relocated instead.

Newport looks to be having a lot of redevelopment work as a whole too, and the transport links seem to be good. The club could work with the main RU club as well as all the other clubs in the area, there's also a RL side they could work with.

So it could be a good move for Celtic.

I agree that Newport has a fair bit to offer.

Like most of the areas of South Wales it's more inclined towards Rugby Union, however NG Dragons havent done very well in their competition. From what I know of the area they will always be considered the 'small relations' of The Blues, Scarlets and the Ospreys.

Just looked on the Newport Gwent Dragons website and it seems they are going to build a brand new £40 million stadium on the site of their current ground.

Trouble is, will Rugby League catch on in the area?? Ground sharing with Rugby Union clubs doesnt always mean success.....look at London Harlequins RL. Theres a club that are going nowhere.

Rugby League has to be popular with the locals for the game to flourish outside the heartlands. It doesnt seem to be that way in London or South Wales.