Quote:SuffolkSaint
Can you explain the logic? I don't see how winning the AW with a full strength side helps Saints be successful without a big financier in the competitions that really matter? (Premiership, Champions Cup)
In fact, its counter-intuitive.
If you want to win things without a big financier you need a pretty good development approach and the AW is a great vehicle for developing players - players need an increasing level of competition to develop, none are born Premiership ready.
Logic is simple, your worry about the big leagues is pointless if we aren't there.
The AW Cup is a potentially easier route to European Qualification and a good place to secure morale boosting wins - that is critical to attract talent, sponsors and supporters.
Does the structure of our set up really point to being able to successfully develop players right now? We have a contracts, coaching and management crisis. Qualifying for Europe goes a long way towards putting the support in place to solve those in the short term. Developing our U21 squad does not.
Long term, the reverse (and what you are saying) is absolutely true, but as I say, without a big financier, we just aren't in a position to approach things in that way right now, and I would argue that doing so would all but guarantee relegation next season. Time is on our side when it comes to the development side of things.