Royals (Page 1 of 4)

Same with Warwicks - although the die hards dont and wont like it. A team to support all year has an appeal as well.

There are only so many IPL teams to go around the counties though.  You'll just end up with the gap between big and small widening and getting more Rory/Kabir Ali shenanigans.  OK, Sussex will be an attractive proposition for the IPL teams so we would be fine but I've read lots on here where people stick up for the 'small' teams and this would only increase the problems.  If franchising was going to take place I wish the ECB would have set up an independent regional competition from the counties, and then redistribute the money fairly with them depending on how many players they provide for it.  This is just a result of the ECB's failure to capitalise on twenty20 properly and forcing the counties into this kind of deal.  Somewhere along the line these teams will play be involved against each other and the integrity of the competition will be gone.

I'm not sure how they could possibly be even remotely as profitable.  India's market is about a bazillion times bigger than the rest of the world put together (slight exaggeration but the point remains).  There are only 6 Aussie state and 6 South African franchises so they'll all get their own IPL connection and leave nothing left on that front.  The other markets are too small.  There will be counties that are left in the cold, it's undeniable.  That's what would cause them to disappear.

Why would Sussex be attractive to the IPL teams who will have a choice of all the test match grounds to play at?

Hmmm, interesting one.

If we get linked up with one of them then all well and good if there are some attractive benefits to the tie up.

If we are left on the shelf and all of the test ground counties in the country tie themselves up with an IPL side, Aussie side and SAF side then we really could be looking at a very big divide amongst the haves and the have nots.

Be interesting to see how this pans out, I'm sure most other counties are now looking at the same thing... 

well in true business jargon, this represents both an opportunity and a threat - still really feel we need to do everything possible to be part of all this - quite worried about it if we dont

dont worry boys and girls .... SPSL11 wasnt far wrong ... rumours are that dave brooks flew out today to new south wales via delhi and that the new "Sharks 2020" threesome franchise will be signed and sealed by the weekend....

Last edited by loco61 (08-02-2010 22:28:27)

I think this is a massive story and as more counties with test match grounds sign-up for similar partnerships then the counties perceived as minnows will be left in the cold.

My gut feeling is that the money and franchise maneuvering is reducing my love of the game. We seem to be moving to a position similar to Premiership football that the only sides that win anything will be those with money.
We know in football that strong sides during the 70's & 80's like Southampton, Ipswich, Forest, Derby will never be able to compete again on level terms with the premiership top 8 sides.
I don't think we can ask for a better off field team at Sussex than Brooksey and Jim and they fully deserve our support. But during my moments of doom and gloom I do wonder what chance we have in long term (5 to 10 years time) against the likes of Surrey and Hampshire?
I feel very sad at the prospect of the way our game is going with some clubs interested only in themselves rather than the long term future of the game.

Makes sense to me.

Royals sit on a throne.
The throne is another name for the toilet.
Pants play at the toliet bowl.

All good points, PB, but I agree with Sweaty that for us to survive we have to look very seriously at being a part of things like this - and this is a big one

I suppose the key to this all is how much extra income will be generated via this initiative - it is difficult to gauge really as it could range between sod all and over £1m per year (nice and precise accountant predictions) - this is though why it is better to be in than out as it is unlikely to lose money - im not sure all the test grounds  are in pole position to attract this business, but suppose they start with a distinct advantage