When Town were in SL1, summer rugby league was a new innovation and we looked forward to trips to Paris and London. The crowds at home averaged about 3,000 - 3,500 but set off higher and dropped away as the team lost match after match. Since that time people have got more used to doing other things through the summer months and I doubt now that Town could average anywhere near 3,000 and the same goes for Haven.
Don't forget a lot of the numbers in our home average were visiting fans from the bigger clubs Leeds, Wigan, Saints, etc, so there wasn't many locals making up the crowds. Again, a lot of fans don't travel as much now if they think that their team is going to have an easy win, family wanting to do something else, etc, so I think it would be very difficult for either of our two clubs to go it alone for more than one season.
However, at the end of next season there will be no more promotion and relegation and promotion will have to be earned on many areas such as financial support, playing ability, youth and academy set ups, and not least of all ground minimum standards. Haven (or Town) might be able to put forward a decent franchise bid but would it be good enough to dislodge one of the current clubs who have had the benefit for several years of Sky TV money. I doubt it.
I said it when Town were top dogs and got accused of Town wanting to take over. Now that Haven are top dogs I say it again, we need a Cumbrian team in Super League, and because of the rivalry (and some bigotry on both sides) the only way that I see that happening is through a new club. The longer we put that off the bigger start all the other clubs will have on us and it will become harder for even a new club to get in.
