I would imagine for most SL clubs, their TV money income is higher than gate receipts over a season. Of course you have concessions etc once fans are at the ground, but it’s not all about ticket sales revenue - although you’re right about the KPIs driving the wrong behaviours.

As with all KPIs, the devil is in the detail and often they’re just done wrongly. That’s not to say licensing/franchising can’t work though.

The world of professional sport has moved on lots with the power of media; a game rooted in an outdated view of gate turnout from local working classes is going to become less and less competitive.

The game needs some work to improve the spectacle,
and new markets need to be developed.

A basic problem with the KPIs/criteria again comes down to the fact that not all SL clubs are equal in size (actual or potential). In order to avoid having a league of 4, if you apply criteria you have to set them based on the lowest common denominator to let the number of clubs in you actually want.

In terms of revenues for most pro sports (excluding some like basketball and baseball) its around an even split between TV money, sponsorship and gate receipts. Too much in any one basket leaves you open to real problems if the income from there dries up. I suspect in SL far too much comes from TV, and not enough from sponsorship. For some clubs (London, Salford etc) gate receipts will also be much lower. Its a bit chicken and egg as they are all interrelated, but as a sport we need to look at ways of increasing other income sources and being less dependent on Sky just to break even.

Having said that we're not the only sport with issues. The other source of income, and where RU for example is far better off (not to mention football) is cash from rich owners. As I understand it most Premiership RU clubs are underwater based on revenue versus costs, and are entirely dependent on continuing support from owners. Bar a few cases SL team owners simply don't have the levels of cash (or willingness) to prop up their team every year.

How badly does everyone think it would it effect the club long term if we were relegated?

Would all the players be out of contract? Would all the u19's still be contracted? Theres only a handful of first teamers who id be sad about if relegation meant there contracts were void, id be gutted if most the 19's contracts were void

Whilst we obviously dont want it to happen, would there be any silver linings, IE...dumping contracts, blooding youngsters etc.

Interested to know just how bad we think this bad situation would be?

It's not an option Matt and not worth thinking about.

There is nothing good about being relegated.

The club is hopefully financially strong enough to cope but let's not think it can be a good thing.

We wont go down. The team is starting to show some spirit so hopefully we can get enough wins.

Spoke to someone very close to GH last night, the individual didn't hold back in terms of what was happening.
They are not even contemplating relegation at this stage, Agar is on a contract until the end of the season, he will not be given the job permanently, they are desperately seeking a half back to come to sign.
What was not said was who is the new coach or which half back are they after. The talk about relegation was if we are bottom we will be in the championship, on the other side of the coin I have heard that there will be no relegation from SL this year, don't know how true this is

Thing is though Marty, i cant stop thinking about it, iv been in the 'we wont go down camp' but im starting to be genuinely worried. I honestly think our halfs are championship level and by far the worst in the league. Theyr the most important players in a team and we'v got the worst in the league. We got beat by a very very poor wigan team last night, mainly because those two players ruined plenty of good field position, they got a good platform and were absolutely diabolic with it.

Im deffinatly not saying its a good thing, but bad things can somtimes come with a silver lining or two.

Do you know anything about the contract status of the players if worse come to worse, especially the younger lads and 19's?

I was thinking about this yesterday after watching “the full eighty” broadcast. The new Premiership (?) could contain Leeds, Bradford, New York (?), York, Newcastle, Doncaster, Toulouse, Ottawa... I mean given GHs tensions with the other SL club owners, and separate TV deals, are we talking about a de facto split in the game if Leeds go down?

9 games to play we are 2 points above relegation.

Is relegation a threat yet?

I thought there was 11 games left?

No, and check your maths. Funny how you wait for another defeat before coming up with this again. If you seriously think London will win two more games than us, then that’s your problem to deal with. Not withstanding that I have always said the structure will be changed anyway.

Is Super League no longer 27 rounds, it changes so often it’s difficult to remember. London don’t have to win 2 more games than us, a win and a draw would do it and they have a game in hand. Do I think it will happen? No, but I also didn’t think London would beat St Helens. There is a chance and relegation is a threat to us.

Get your money on that draw then. Your likelyhood of seeing a draw is near zero, you do know that really. They have to win two more games than us.

The only reason I don’t think we’ll go down is because I think the club will find one or two more signings a la Ava before the end of the season. If we can find the right quality of half (and they stay fit) I think it will be transformational: our last play options are shocking 9 times from 10 and we have very little creativity or pace.
With Ward back the pack starts to look alright, although not 2020 standard hopefully.
Our backs are decent with Walker fit.
Having said all that, I am absolutely not complacent and I won’t be until/unless we are well clear of danger.

Looks like KR have beaten Warrington

We need an inspirational signing very quickly!

Personally I think what we will see is London to start drifting away from the rest for the rest of the season, but I could be totally wrong, London are making a mockery of predictions this year!

And I’ll ad if that does happen it will be a real wasted opportunity to let London get relegated

I reckon London still have a few more shocks in them. Tomorrow wont be a shock if they win. Catalans are unpredictable as.

It would be the biggest shock of the season if they won tomorrow, the game kicks off in 10 minutes.

Knowing our luck London will probably win......come on Catalan....don’t let us down

Couldnt make these results up.

Despite us being at the bottom end, it’s surely good for the competition that the league is so compressed from 3-12

Ooops

Last week bottom beat top and today next to bottom beats 2nd place. The Super League competition is really getting better and better.

London are up 12-4 against Catalans after 25 mins too.

But not to worry, relegation is not a threat to us.

Both getting shock wins except us