2 Teams getting the Axe in Sydney????

[mrslong]

Just alerted to this little Daily Telegraph (pfft) blog....

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph ... _collapse/

The Cronulla Sharks and the Newcastle Knights are the two most endangered clubs in the NRL.

If there was a betting market on the first team to fold, I’d be suggesting Cronulla are odds on.

The facts are simple with the Sharks – they are not getting enough support from fans in the Shire, despite having a successful football team.

Sponsorship is down and even despite crowds improving last season, gate takings – or lack of them – remain a huge problem coupled with a Leagues Club struggling under the pokie taxes and smoking bans.

The Newcastle Knights are not much better off. They have accumulated debt of just over $3 million since entering the ARL in 1988.
.....

I’ll tell you why at 1pm.

You’ll be shocked to learn just how precarious their situation is.

 

[schmix]

I'm not sure how true this all is, but if the Knights are in danger of folding then they have to be bailed out. I hate the team, but Newcastle is a serious league heartland. They have consistently good fan support who don't deserve to lose a team they've so thoroughly supported.

 

[mrslong]

I agree with you Schmix, but I don't understand why the Knights don't have a Licensed Leagues club????! It seems they'd be a lot better off with one, being a one team town surely it makes good business sense?

I don't think Cronulla should be bailed out, one less Sydney team can only be an improvement imo. The fans and the crowds are far too diluted as it is.

 

[Nashy]

Yeah. Knights need to stay. Sharks might aswell leave. And While they're at it, get rid of Souths too.

 

[Kaz]

NRL will do anything to save the Knights.

They have always helped them out.

 

[Kaz]

I agree with you Schmix, but I don't understand why the Knights don't have a Licensed Leagues club????! It seems they'd be a lot better off with one, being a one team town surely it makes good business sense?

They did have one.

It was in the back blocks of nowhere.

I was at the opening several years ago & it took 2 odd hours to get our meals.

The reason was the idiots forgot to put the gas on & some workers went home & brought in their gas BBQ's. lol

The Leagues club went bellyup.

 

[ningnangnong]

NRL will do anything to save the Knights.

They have always helped them out.

So they should. Rugby league is absolutely massive in Newcastle.

 

[mrslong]

From Rothfield's blog...


To give all fans an indication of how their club is performing financially, I’ve broken them down into four categories.

Future in doubt: Sharks, Knights

Shaky: Warriors, Souths, Manly

Should be ok: Raiders, Tigers, Roosters, Titans, Eels, Cowboys, Storm, Dragons, Panthers

Totally safe: Broncos (of course), Bulldogs

 

[Coxy]

Panthers aren't THAT safe, The whole poker tax thing has destroyed them. They have like 12 leagues clubs with pokies around NSW and their revenue has been greatly reduced.

 

[mrslong]

Perhaps Panthers are safe because of their juniors???

 

[Kimlo]

Sack souths and cronulla... how good would that be!

 

[Coxy]

Perhaps Panthers are safe because of their juniors???

They're talking financially, not playing future.

 

[mrslong]

Yeah but I mean they have quite a few clubs etc not just the one.

 

[Coxy]

Yes, but they're ALL struggling for the same reasons. Seriously, I was doing some business with the Panthers a couple of years back and they predicted they'd have to close or sell off half their clubs to stay viable beyond 5 years.

With the credit crunch it's only going to be worse.

 

[Black Philip]

2 Sydney teams definitely need the boot. Either merge them and relocate them to the central coast, or just kick them both out and start a new team altogether.

 

[Emma]

I don't think the answer for the Central Coast is to relocate a broke or crap (or both) Sydney team. I think they deserve their own, brand new team, to start from scratch and give them a team that everyone in the area can get behind and get rid of a few from Sydney.

 

[mrslong]

Give it to the Bears....

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 14,00.html

As the Bears' steering committee finalised its pitch document for an NRL return, it has emerged that:

• The new club would play one or two games a season at North Sydney Oval;
• A figure of $15 million in equity is the aim before a ball is kicked;
• The business plan shows the Bears making a profit after just two seasons, without any special funding from the league;
• North Sydney people currently on the steering committee will give up their places to Central Coast-based officials;
• That the consortium is willing to deal with any Sydney team interested in relocating to Gosford.

The 3rd point being interesting...

 

[Coxy]

I think playing 2 games at north sydney oval defeats the purpose. I know, tie in to history, blah blah. But the Central Coast resents anything that even smells like a relocated team.

Why risk that?

In any case, they should only get a go if the Sharks fold, which personally I think is inevitable and no great loss with the Dragons having the south east down to Wollongong.