[Archived] Lancashire County 2016

[jim mk2]

There's also no guarantee that crowds in a merged club would be bigger. In the newspaper industry one newspaper closing in a city with 2 usually leads to a temporary circulation increase of the surviving paper but circulation then falls to the previous level. The result is a net loss of readers. It would be the same in football.- combining Rovers and Burnley support of (say) about 15,000 average each would not see gates of 30,000.

[tomphil]

Why is this utter tripe even being talked about again.

[onlyonejackwalker]

Is a merger perferable to extinction? It is one and the same for me and I could not support this idea as a fan. If Rovers were to merge that would be the end of my emotional ties and financial support for local football.

[Salgado Is Still A Hero]

Can't really see any examples of regional mergers of clubs over the last 100 years or so. Inverness did it to great success but that was 2 teams from the same town. Are there any precedents out there?

I think this would replace 4 or 5 middling clubs with 1 and the rest of the fans would drfit of and support more established clubs or go off and do something else.

Both Inverness teams were non-league when they joined together and they don't attract the support that they should.

I can't see this idea happening as most supporters are not that concerned with supporting a successful team, as if they did then they would already be Utd fans.

[mustard]

Ahh yes, the elusive "hate campaign" by fans against Bowyer... Consists of a number of people fed up with poor football and results coming on here and essentially saying "Bowyer is a bad manager, I want someone else in charge". Cor blimey, the malice! The venom! It's truly frightening isn't it Gord? Has Bowyer got a bodyguard yet?

[pk1875]

For me a merger would mean the extinction of Blackburn Rovers so a Lancashire United or whatever would mean nothing to me and would not hold any support or interest. It would probably mean the end of my days attending professional football matches and see me watch football on TV.


That said the Wimbledon / MK dons was a sort of merger and worked to a degree, so no doubt there would be an interest for those without a hardedend allegance to any local teams, also I suppose future generations would be brought up with the idea and possibly support it, short term it would struggle longer term say 15 or 20 years down the line it could work for some?

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Longsider, if your reading this your view would be most interesting!

[tomphil]

Ahh yes, the elusive "hate campaign" by fans against Bowyer... Consists of a number of people fed up with poor football and results coming on here and essentially saying "Bowyer is a bad manager, I want someone else in charge". Cor blimey, the malice! The venom! It's truly frightening isn't it Gord? Has Bowyer got a bodyguard yet?

That'll only happen if he get's himself banned from driving so needs a chauffer

[mustard]

It's even more terrifying that this campaign of vitriol has even spread to parts of the usually quiet Jack Walker stand. Got chatting to an old bloke down Mill Hill last night who is fed up with Bowyer and the football. Seems the great majority of fans have lost faith in Bowyer, which certainly fits Gord's warped beliefs. I've never really understood why people enjoy stirring and wumming on internet forums. Never really appealed to me but hey, each to their own.

As for the ludicrous concept of "Lancashire United", we'd have to come up with a better name or else we'd have a lawsuit from an unhappy bus company on our hands which would hardly be a good start. As many have said, tribal fans, it will never happen. I'd sooner support Rovers in League Two than some combined Lancs team and I'm sure Burnley wouldn't want to give up their promising position (even after relegation).

It's an interesting idea but nothing more, and there are many interesting things in this world that I want nothing to do with.

[pk1875]

That'll only happen if he get's himself banned from driving so needs a chauffer

Chauffer Bodyguard

[thenodrog]

It's been done to death Jim,there's only poor Theno championing the concept.

It's beeen done to death when we were in the Prem on Prem money. That is no longer the case. It's beggars and choosers from now on.... or hadn't you bothered to consider that?

I've had to remove the absolute garbage and utter bile from what is an otherwise interesting post.

Financial viability vs blind tribalism. (Not even hopeful tribalism).

Some can't even be convinced (or bother responding) to the notion of a Phoenix Rovers so I'm not sure you will get too many thumbs ups for this one.

It is certainly the logical way forward and needs some serious consideration. However, the starting point would need to be negotiated with the football league. They would lose four or five members and be replaced with one. I think it was much easier for Inverness Caledonian Thistle due to the smaller pyramid but I'll admit I don't know enough about their administration. But this kind of thing doesn't happen on a messageboard, it happens with someone with some resources and contacts calling a public meeting with the right parties.

It hardly matters (initially) what fans do or don't want.

It would need to start with the current boards at the clubs involved:

Rovers - our token board seemingly can't recommend a manager change let alone a merge. Someone would need to go rogue to make it happen.

Preston? No idea.

Wigan? Could fit timing-wise.

Blackpool? Not likely.

Bolton? Garside would certainly fancy a lead role I'd expect.

Burnley? They are top dogs now so why would they just because others are suffering like they have in the past.

Fan buy-in would be even harder work. I expect the RoversTrust are formed for one purpose but could those involved come to the table. Some might, some might not.

Most fans are unlikely to go for it as a concept, I'd suggest. Too much water under the bridge with tribal loyalties. Can't see it happening. Many would rather stop going to football first.

Lancashire County is not for us but for our great-grandchildren. Much like any politics, I'm sure nobody would want to step in to start a club at the bottom of the pyramid - without the necessary buy-in.

Whose up for starting negotiations? It would be very interesting to see someone like Dave Whelan rock up with the suggestion and arrange a meeting with the various club boards. He or someone else may have already done so - I several occasions but I don't think we'd hear anything about it for obvious reasons.

It's all in the "all too difficult" pile but if someone had the money and foresight they could maybe work their way up. But if any of the clubs had such a person (e.g. Eddie Davies) they'd look after their own club first.

Something to ponder for you Stuart. If the others were to unite would Burnley dare to be left behind and isolated?

[Rover_Shaun]

After every comment see here for reference

[thenodrog]

There's also no guarantee that crowds in a merged club would be bigger. In the newspaper industry one newspaper closing in a city with 2 usually leads to a temporary circulation increase of the surviving paper but circulation then falls to the previous level. The result is a net loss of readers. It would be the same in football.- combining Rovers and Burnley support of (say) about 15,000 average each would not see gates of 30,000.

No but it should see 20-25k but with half the costs! That is the kicker.

Arbitro is bemoaning potential job losses but head must rule heart. It's needless wages and salaries that have got us in this mess. Job losses would occur right through the club. Half the number of playing staff with increased revenue is the way forward surely? It's basic business rules.

Why is this utter tripe even being talked about again.

cos it's becoming an ever more likely option. Instead of unthought out knee jerk statements why not make yourself a cup of tea, sit down and put your thinking cap on.

Is a merger perferable to extinction? It is one and the same for me and I could not support this idea as a fan. If Rovers were to merge that would be the end of my emotional ties and financial support for local football.

You are probably too long in the tooth anyway. The kids would soon accept it, and the kids are the future.

[Athlete]

Blackpool relegated with supporter unrest.

Wigan virtually likewise.

Burnley ever closer to relegation and the loss of key players and manager.

PNE within a whisker of promotion but only 9k bothered to turn out tonight.

BRFC sinking beneath a hate campaign being waged by it's own so called supporters. Please don't deny this as it's obvious reading just about every thread that sheer hatred for the club has replaced previous support. The reasons no longer matter, the ratchet is turning and I cannot see a way back for so many embittered fans people. The venkymob are obviously the current target and probably rightly so lets not kid ourselves the cancer had started long before they trapped up as illustrated with the growing hatred for the club and in particular The Walker Trust (is it any wonder they got out??? I expect the venkymob to follow suit and then who tf with a modicum of sense would be daft enough to step up to the ewood plate to be the next hate figure?) and illustrated perfectly by the anti-Allardyce hatred which was spreading like a bush fire before he was unwisely and rashly disposed of.

Effectively in a county of 1.5 million there would currently only be about 40k even bothered one way or the other and any success would soon seduce them. Thats just 2-3% of the population that might possibly regret losing their lame duck club!

I've pushed the merger option for years (to much criticism) as the only way forward for skint, small town clubs with a skint depressed support base and with no viable future in the modern world, but I've never seen such a lurch toward it as I am seeing now! FFP appears to be the final nail in the coffin as now there is not even any hope that an Uncle Jack might trap up again.

Seems to me that the Premier League gravy train has infiltrated the subconcious of very many and filled heads with unrealistic ambition so the logical option is to cut the various cords and form one financially viable and hopefully vibrant replacement in keeping with the modern world of football. So thats five prime town centre sites to sell, at least 4 training grounds (hopefully attracting planning) to fund one super stadium within a 15 min car drive of virtually all supporters, one training ground, one medical/physio facility, one squad of players. In the current climate of discontent I simply cannot see a downside.

The time is right but who has the might?

What utter bolox you write stick to playing golf

[thenodrog]

Both Inverness teams were non-league when they joined together and they don't attract the support that they should.

I can't see this idea happening as most supporters are not that concerned with supporting a successful team, as if they did then they would already be Utd fans.

But surely everyone wants to see a team that represents them and that they follow enjoy success?

For me a merger would mean the extinction of Blackburn Rovers so a Lancashire United or whatever would mean nothing to me and would not hold any support or interest. It would probably mean the end of my days attending professional football matches and see me watch football on TV.

That said the Wimbledon / MK dons was a sort of merger and worked to a degree, so no doubt there would be an interest for those without a hardedend allegance to any local teams, also I suppose future generations would be brought up with the idea and possibly support it, short term it would struggle longer term say 15 or 20 years down the line it could work for some?

Nail on head.

It's even more terrifying that this campaign of vitriol has even spread to parts of the usually quiet Jack Walker stand. Got chatting to an old bloke down Mill Hill last night who is fed up with Bowyer and the football. Seems the great majority of fans have lost faith in Bowyer, which certainly fits Gord's warped beliefs. I've never really understood why people enjoy stirring and wumming on internet forums. Never really appealed to me but hey, each to their own.

As for the ludicrous concept of "Lancashire United", we'd have to come up with a better name or else we'd have a lawsuit from an unhappy bus company on our hands which would hardly be a good start. As many have said, tribal fans, it will never happen. I'd sooner support Rovers in League Two than some combined Lancs team and I'm sure Burnley wouldn't want to give up their promising position (even after relegation).

It's an interesting idea but nothing more, and there are many interesting things in this world that I want nothing to do with.

You are like one of those lazy journalists that we all dislike! Look at the title ffs!

After every comment see here for reference

Very good shaun .... now can you find one of an ostrich with it's head up it's arse?

[Salgado Is Still A Hero]

But surely everyone wants to see a team that represents them and that they follow enjoy success?

Lancashire United wouldn't represent me, it represents a bunch of spoiled gloryseekers who cared more about success than history or tradition.

[thenodrog]

Isn't that a little like how BRFC set out? Blackburn Olympic were the true amateurs weren't they?

btw Lancashire United? Another with reading difficulties.

[tomphil]

Lancashire United wouldn't represent me, it represents a bunch of spoiled gloryseekers who cared more about success than history or tradition.

Can't wait for the come back on that one

[jim mk2]

No but it should see 20-25k but with half the costs! That is the kicker.

It's basic business rules.

Heart rules the head in football. And I think 20,000 is far too optimistic. Rovers and Burnley fans wouldn't go for starters.

That said the Wimbledon / MK dons was a sort of merger and worked to a degree, so no doubt there would be an interest for those without a hardedend allegance to any local teams, also I suppose future generations would be brought up with the idea and possibly support it, short term it would struggle longer term say 15 or 20 years down the line it could work for some?

Wimbledon moved from south London to Milton Keynes so it wasn't a merger but more of a US-style franchise switch - which is why it was criticised at the time.

Below is a list of mergers in English football of clubs clubs currently in the Premier League, the Football League or the Football Conference.

There have been none in towns of significant size since Rotherham in 1925.

• Stoke City created by the merger of Stoke Ramblers and Stoke Victoria in 1878.
• Luton Town created by the merger of Luton Town Wanderers and Excelsior in 1885.
• Ipswich Town created by the merger of Ipswich A.F.C. and Ipswich Rugby Club in 1888.
• Newcastle United created by the merger of Newcastle West End and Newcastle East End in 1892.
• Watford created by the merger of West Hertfordshire and Watford St Mary's in 1898.
• Maidenhead United created as Maidenhead Town by the merger of Maidenhead and Maidenhead Norfolkian in 1919 before changing its name to Maidenhead United in 1920.
• Torquay United created by the merger of Torquay Town and Babbacombe in 1921. Torquay Town was itself created by the merger of the original Torquay United and Ellacombe in 1910.
• Rotherham United created by the merger of Rotherham County and Rotherham Town in 1925.
• Ebbsfleet United created as Gravesend & Northfleet by the merger of Gravesend United and Northfleet United in 1946 before changing its name to Ebbsfleet United in 2007.
• Dagenham & Redbridge created by the merger of Dagenham and Redbridge Forest in 1992. Redbridge Forest itself was created by the merging of three separate clubs. Ilford and Leytonstone merged in 1979 to become Leytonstone & Ilford which then merged with Walthamstow Avenue in 1988 to become Redbridge Forest.
• Rushden & Diamonds created by the merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992.
• Hinckley United created by the merger of Hinckley Town and Hinckley Athletic in 1992.
• Havant & Waterlooville created by the merger of Havant Town and Waterlooville in 1998. Havant Town was itself created as Havant & Leigh Park by the merger of the original Havant Town and Leigh Park in 1969, before being renamed Havant Town in 1982.
• Hayes & Yeading United created by the merger of Hayes and Yeading in 2007.
• Solihull Moors created by the merger of Solihull Borough and Moor Green in 2007.

[thenodrog]

You didn't have to wait Tomphil. I beat you to it.

[tomphil]

If it's so logical then why haven't some smaller London teams been snapped up by a fat cat and merged to take on some of the big boys down there ? Or the Bristol teams ?

[thenodrog]

Heart rules the head in football. And I think 20,000 is far too optimistic. Rovers and Burnley fans wouldn't go for starters.

Wimbledon moved from south London to Milton Keynes so it wasn't a merger but more of a US-style franchise switch - which is why it was criticised at the time.

Below is a list of mergers in English football of clubs clubs currently in the Premier League, the Football League or the Football Conference.

There have been none in towns of significant size since Rotherham in 1925.

• Stoke City created by the merger of Stoke Ramblers and Stoke Victoria in 1878.
• Luton Town created by the merger of Luton Town Wanderers and Excelsior in 1885.
• Ipswich Town created by the merger of Ipswich A.F.C. and Ipswich Rugby Club in 1888.
• Newcastle United created by the merger of Newcastle West End and Newcastle East End in 1892.
• Watford created by the merger of West Hertfordshire and Watford St Mary's in 1898.
• Maidenhead United created as Maidenhead Town by the merger of Maidenhead and Maidenhead Norfolkian in 1919 before changing its name to Maidenhead United in 1920.
• Torquay United created by the merger of Torquay Town and Babbacombe in 1921. Torquay Town was itself created by the merger of the original Torquay United and Ellacombe in 1910.
• Rotherham United created by the merger of Rotherham County and Rotherham Town in 1925.
• Ebbsfleet United created as Gravesend & Northfleet by the merger of Gravesend United and Northfleet United in 1946 before changing its name to Ebbsfleet United in 2007.
• Dagenham & Redbridge created by the merger of Dagenham and Redbridge Forest in 1992. Redbridge Forest itself was created by the merging of three separate clubs. Ilford and Leytonstone merged in 1979 to become Leytonstone & Ilford which then merged with Walthamstow Avenue in 1988 to become Redbridge Forest.
• Rushden & Diamonds created by the merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992.
• Hinckley United created by the merger of Hinckley Town and Hinckley Athletic in 1992.
• Havant & Waterlooville created by the merger of Havant Town and Waterlooville in 1998. Havant Town was itself created as Havant & Leigh Park by the merger of the original Havant Town and Leigh Park in 1969, before being renamed Havant Town in 1982.
• Hayes & Yeading United created by the merger of Hayes and Yeading in 2007.
• Solihull Moors created by the merger of Solihull Borough and Moor Green in 2007.

Much better now you are debating in proper fashion rather than in silly sarcastic put downs.

[tomphil]

Isn't that a little like how BRFC set out? Blackburn Olympic were the true amateurs weren't they?

btw Lancashire United? Another with reading difficulties.

Didn't merge though did they ? Well not that I'm aware.

[yoda]

Didn't merge though did they ? Well not that I'm aware.

They existed at the same time, so no merger

[adsfortheblues]

Are you kidding? I wouldn't wish that on any new club with a council that traditionally hinders the club rather than helps it and traffic chaos every home match. Jack made a mistake re-building it rather than finding somewhere better. It's more valuable for houses and the odd mosque or two.

Darwen see very little of the income that the council receives, but what they do receive they make the most of, they encourage a thriving nightlife and the opening of local businesses and they give back to the community in a lot of ways, the music festival, the food festival etc, whereas Blackburn council aren't interested in the nightlife of the town and they don't seem to be interested in enterprising local businesses, they seem to be in it to make a buck for themselves. The town is a dump and they have wasted millions on road infrastructure that just didn't need changing and a new bus station which didn't need to be built and as you say, they aren't interested in the Football Club.