Deadcowboys1:
i completely agree re Bradford. They have done nothing for the past 20 years or so, apart from have financial issues off the pitch, sold their ground to the RFL and virtually given it back with Woods at the helm
Onto London, i think they were the unlucky last time you was in SL and feel the relegation was pushed through to get Wakey back into SL. Admittedly with your owner moving on, and being like hobo's for a few years, your position hasnt been ideal, but IMO the game needs a presence in London to extend the profile beyond that of the M62. Most of the national media is London based, but the game needs to let the club build in a similar way to how Catalan were introduced a few years back with no threat of relegation for x number of years
i was chatting to a fellow Wigan supporter a few years back, who is involved in the amateur game / school teacher. He was saying that the game in London was growing with amateur clubs / schools getting involved. It would be a shame to waste all the grass roots type work that has been undergone over a few years, and not have an end product / target for them to aspire to in terms of a professional club at the top level. There have been quite a few players produced who have moved onto bigger and better things, and the catchment area if it can be tapped into will be enormous
According to IMG, our catchment area is the London Borough of Merton. At a guess, I would think less than 10% (if that) of our current fanbase live in our catchment area. Doubt any club up north can claim that.