The £482k added in 2008 could be the East Stand extension?

I think you're being generous there. There is huge unserviced demand for Rovers merchandise which pretty poor at this time of year. Rather than spend £100k+ on Joel Clinton, why not spend a third of that on someone with the experience and customer insight to sort out this side of the business. Bizarre allocation of resources to not prioritise this revenue stream. Corporate facilities need capital investment, but a decent retail manager is far cheaper and could have a big impact. FC can turn over £1m on merchandise in a good year - madness not to prioritise it IMO.

If it was been run purely as a business, then no, but I don't think it was. Sport can be a fun leisure activity too - remember?

Without a bit of heart ruling head Rovers would still be becalmed in the lower leagues, I'm 99% sure of that. The years of sums 'not adding up' have, with franchizing coming in, been ones of necessary rapid growth. Losses were anticipated, that has been admitted - whether they have been dramatically worse than expected is unclear. That they can't continue forever, is something fans have to accept.

Out of interest, is your sig aimed at us or the overoptimistic amongst Hull fans or both?

Tbh, much as I would like to see a new prop, if it was a straight choice I'd be inclined to agree. IIRC, Rovers did appoint a new marketing manager not long ago, so hopefully things will get better.

New signings create optimism that will feed through into sales of merchandize too - though I offer that as mitigation rather than justification.

Agreed you're going into your 4th SL season with a fanbase of 8,500 so you don't need Clinton to stimulate merchandise demand, it's already there but is not being met. You can't really spend £1.6m ish on player wages, completely skimp on retail expertise and then complain about lack of revenue.

Heart ruling head comes with admiration not criticism. I am sure there is no greater passtime in the world then owning and running the club you support and love. But, when does reality strike?



My sig has been unchanged for about 6 years and serves to remind me and others to remove those club coloured spectacles now and again.

I find myself in agreement with you on this one. Recent retail experience suggests that, in this area at least, we are still thinking in NL1 terms. It needs some priority, because as you rightly say, it doesn't require much investment, just some experience.

Right, I need to give myself a talking to, I don't want to ever have to begin a post like that again!

Don't beat yourself up. Even cabbages like me can see the bleeding obvious.

Rovers average gate for their third season in Super League compares very favourably with Hull FC’s third season average gate.

Hull FC 5,939
Hull KR 8,501

6928 but dont let facts get in the way

Total attendance 83,159
Number of matches played 14
Average attendance = 5,939

Cool, should be attaracting gates of 20k in a couple of years then

And your point is what exactly?



Are you saying that when Rovers have been in Super League for as long as Hull have their gates will exceed Hull's?

Or are you just dwelling in the past (again)?

Why is it whenever someone posts facts they are assumed to be a Rovers supporter living in the past?
The point of my post was to show that it is possible for a club to increase its attendances as Hull have proved.

True. And I hope Rovers do increase their attendances, but even your own Chairman does not aspire to an average of more than 10,000.

More to the point, as many Rovers fans have pointed out many times in the past, Hull's attendances increased significantly after their move from the Boulevard to the KC. How are Rovers going to significantly increase their attendances?

I'm not sure they can unless they significantly improve the facilities on offer. IMHO our beloved Lib Dumb council should use some of the money 'earmarked' for the KC expansion (for its pie in the sky plans) to redevelop and modernise Craven Park giving it the same focal point status in East Hull that the KC is in West Hull.

Only my opinion mind

When the KC was built it was always supposed to be a community facility. The promotion of Hull City to the Premier League and Paul Duffen's chairmanship of the SMC appear to have moved away from that i.e. no RL internationals, no concerts.

For my part if Craven Park was to be developed as a genuine community facility and not just for the benefit of Hull KR, I would have no objection to public money being invested there.

Unexpectedly Socialist of you.

A good capitalist would always use someone else's money rather than his own

You don't really think they had any money to expand the KC do you?

IMO rovers best chance of a council handout went with the world cup bid. If they'd found some cash to upgrade the KC it would have been difficult to turn down grudgell's begging pleas but now they can just plead poverty.

Public sector cash is going to be squeezed like never before and there's no chance of a handout from the public purse any more

Unless you're a tax exile it [iwould[/i be your own money.

The best capitalists usually are

Never said it would happen i said it should. We are supposed to be a top 10 city and we have 3 high profile professional sporting teams yet only 1 decent stadium. You're right in saying public sector cash will be squeezed over the coming years but there will still be public funds available for Capital projects, if the council has the will or expertise to get their hands on them.

Hull isn't a top 10 city for a start.

If funding were available then pearson would have the nouse to tap into it irrespective of any lack of expertise at the council

I agree Hull isn't a top 10 city, but we keep getting told that is the aspiration of the council. Pearson has his hands full keeping City afloat and he has no immediate need for any expansion of the KC now the WC bid has been blown away. That doesn't mean there are no Capital project funds available for other areas of the city in need of regeneration, areas Pearson isn't interested in.