The Egg chasers relegation

[bobby1413]

Fair do's

Believe it or not, I have no time for LI....never really have......however, I still see them as a good thing for the Reading community...the pitch home game thing is a bit of a red-herring....as I have witnessed....we play on a lot worse surfaces elsewhere during the winter months.

My ability to like both sports comes from the local youth development game (that LI heavily subscribe to)....my own lad has certainly benefitted from it, as has two of his team-mates who have gone on to represent England at U17 level.

Expect LI to bounce straight back next season......and the contract to be honoured.........

........sorry

I've said this before and agree.

I never watch rugby, have never been to a LI match, but like the fact that LI play in Reading. I really couldn't give a toss about "the state of the pitch", what a ridiculous and precious argument to make.

[tmesis]

London Irish's relegation is now officially confirmed, as Bedford lost to Bristol in the play-off semi-final, so no chance of them staying up through Bedford winning and being unable to go up.


Given how few rugby teams are equipped to go up into the premiership, it'd make far more sense for them to go down US style expansion route, and allow clubs up when they meet criteria, and perhaps don't relegate again until they hit 16 teams, with more able to come in.

[Sutekh]

On the bright side fewer rugby games on the pitch next season and then they're likely to be gone forever so no more of their clobber cluttering the megastore or local radio time on covering them instead of the few properly local rugby teams.

[RG30]

Irish only due to open the West Stand next season as well.

[paultheroyal]

Irish only due to open the West Stand at Boreham Wood next season as well.

We can only hope!

[Green]

Will they likely get promoted back up at the first time of asking?

What's the second tier like?

[Nameless]

Depends. They should be red hot favourites. But Bristol have been for a few seasons and despite having comfortably the best side seem to bottle it. If Bristol win the playoffs this year then Irish should bounce straight back. There is a big gap between the Championship and the Prem, plus the odds are stacked against the promoted sides as player recruitment is done before the season ends so the promoted side has little chance of getting enough quality players to make their team competitive. So irish need to hang on to the core of their side and come straight back, otherwise it gets harder.

The point about fewer games is a moot one. There are the same number of league games, the B&I cup matches the European competitions so it's really only the LV games that go. Assuming Irish make the playoffs there's likely to be just one less game,. Sothe revenue drop for RFC isn't too bad (I assume that was the point of the observation ?)

[Crux]

Deal has been agreed but not announced that they will move into Brentford new ground when it's ready. Either way next season will be their last at the madejski as they'll move to a smaller ground closer to London while they wait.

Close thread.

[Nameless]

That's been talked about for a while. Could kill them as a club, especially if they don't get out of the Championship next season. As long as they share with anyone they are going to struggle.
Equally staying in Reading can't be economically viable.
Smaller grounds nearer London are going to be hard to find.....

[John Smith]

Shame on everyone for allowing this thread to reach double figures. Take a long, hard look at yourselves.

[One8Seven1*]

Whilst I dispise having them share with us, we (currently) can't afford to lose the income we receive for having them here. Catch 22.

[tmesis]

That's been talked about for a while. Could kill them as a club, especially if they don't get out of the Championship next season. As long as they share with anyone they are going to struggle.
Equally staying in Reading can't be economically viable.
Smaller grounds nearer London are going to be hard to find.....

If they want to go back up, it'd need to be a ground that holds 10000, which rules out a fair few. And would renting such a ground be any cheaper than Reading?

Plus they'd have to cope with losing nearly all of the support they've got from the Reading area.

[tidus_mi2]

Interestingly, there is a topic on the Brentford forum discussing a future ground share with LI, the rumours circulating that LI will be at the MadStad for 1 more season before moving to Brentford's new 20k stadium, they see this as beneficial as the area has a high amount of Irish Londoners.

[Nameless]

Irish want and need their own ground though. Just renting another ground doesn't get over their problem that they have very little ability to generate any income.
There was also a concern that the planning permission for the new Brentford ground apparantly limits the use allowed and from what I heard it precluded a ground share.

[The Royal Forester]

According to the BBC Berks website, today, formal discussions are taking place between London Irish and Hounslow Council regarding the Rugby Club moving to Brentford's new ground (when it is finally built). The Rugby club has committed to stay at The Madstad for this season and are contracted until 2025-26, but have a get out clause that can allow the deal to break should they wish to move to Brentford.

[George_]

Great news. Sooner it happens the better.

[The Royal Forester]

Great news. Sooner it happens the better.

Don't expect it to happen too soon. The new ground has not been started on, yet. Although, perhaps sharing Griffen Park before the new ground is finished could be on the agenda.

[bobby1413]

Really confused by some fans view of "sooner the better". My reasons being:

1) why are some so confused by the state of the pitch? The reason we've lost games over the last 2-3 seasons have been because we're utter dog sh1t, not because the pitch is bumpy. Plus visiting teams play on the same surface.

2) Do they really cause the pitch to be that much worse?

3) I think it's good for the town to have a rugby team like London Irish here, particularly when they were in the top league. It makes the town more attractive, increases visitors, helps economy.

4) Their rent payments help the club

...

What are the arguements for them to leave? They make our pitch less green and lucious, or "it's the RFC stadium... not the LI stadium?"

I just don't get people's views on this.

[bobby1413]

Oh and slightly off topic, but why doesn't the MadStad host music concerts? I remember the Chilli Peppers played after the 106 season. Other stadiums host big concerts, particularly in the summer break which doesn't effect the pitch as it's relayed or whatever.

In terms of revenue it would be great I think

[retro royal]

They pay £150,000 a year to destroy the pitch, costs £500,000 to relay the special plastic enhanced pitch, where's the value