Interesting article about the state of the game from the usually positve and upbeat Phil Clarke.



[urlhttp://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,25212,12532_8630836,00.html[/url

We'll see. Best case scenario I can see is that contracts are signed they will be being built at he same time. Even so being in for the start of 2015 is unlikely and a mid-season move not ideal.



As for the second point yes there is a lot of water to go under the bridge, mainly the next TV deal. The RFL are pinning their hopes on a successful world cup, but it it a risk. But trust me there has been a lot of water already gone under that bridge and there is a major case of the big boys looking after number one going on.





Not assumptions mate, but informed opinion. Things are not as rosy as some would like you to believe.



As for how we could help with this then I feel the club should open up a share offer to the supporters trust in return for a place on the board. This would help clear some of the CCJ's at least by bring new money into the club. The trust could fund raise to aquire the finance and the fans would truly have an insight into what was going on and a say in how things should be run. They could also tap into the expertise of some of the fans who whould be willing to help in areas that the club is short in. But it seems they would rather keep everything in house and in my opinion that is exactly like the last regime carried out their business and we all know what happened there. If the club is serious about being open with fans and in it together then show it otherwise they will have to put up with the criticism when things like CCJ's stack up.

Out of interest, and it depends on what we end up with I suppose, what is the build time for the stadium?

Northampton were told to whistle for their money.



If what I understand is correct I totally agree.

Regardless of what we think is right or wrong, Judgement has been issued, therefore will have to be paid, this is not negotiable. The timeframe for contesting this has passed.

That idea is a good idea regardless of whether we have CCJs to be honest.

Nothing new in what Clarke is saying but, it's interesting when he says that we should be listening to Chairmen of 3 of the big 4 clubs in the sport and whilst the opinion of these guys is important, theirs, is not the only opinion and surely there has to be improvement at the opposite end of the spectrum is equally, if not more, important.

After all, if we only listen to the big boys, they will just end up with a larger slice of the SL cake and to hell with the rest.

Certainly the likes of Fev, Leigh, Halifax etc will think that they have been hard done to by not having a reasonable opportunity of "progression".

Regardless of what else is going on, that's a bloody good suggestion.

Portsmouth is about to become the largest club in the ownership of a ST. It's not what we seek at this moment, but a place on the BoD and and a shareholding are written in as goals in our constitution.

All I will say is that these ccj s make us look very poor and clearly in need of some more investment.

More like better financial management, even poor (financially) businesses can easily avoid CCJ'S

Even a speculative business plan written on the back of a fag packet would pass the RFL scrutiny though, it did last time, just ask Bradford. RFL believed theirs even though they were already loaning them money. They'd be hard pushed to exclude anyone on the basis of putting in an unsound or speculative business plan.