Tbh I think there's a culmination of things that has probably financially hit the club this season...I'd imagine season tickets for starters took a huge hit...look at the mass negativity pre season around the coaches appointment...that then followed with everyone saying the recruitment was awful (hindsights a wonderful thing) ...was no communication whatsoever..staff were offloaded or left resulting in a series of calamity's social media wise...the mess over the club badge ..the loss at swinton early on leading then into hamiltons diabolical rant .it all infested the fan base with negativity and in some cases hatred of the club...think if we were budgeting for let's say 2,500 crowds and at times getting 1,500 or less it takes a big hit in the pocket ...we then had the farce of which stands,or sections of them were to be open/closed ...tbh it took a long time for things to recover towards mid/ back end of season... absolutely no doubt all these things will resort in the club blaming footfall..to a degree they'll be right but to me and others that was self inflicted...what we can all hope is that on the back of a positive season end...ST sales will be up... merchandise likewise if they get the little things right ...get a decent recruitment...and hopefully finances change for the good
Getting a genuine rise in attendance will give a lasting benefit. That has got to be the aim next season.
Clubs getting financial help is great for them, but often it is for a limited period only and if results don't follow the money it can be soon ended.
Our aim has to be to improve on the field and become a bloody great pain for every other team in the Championship whatever their IMG score!!!!
@jdgsport Who owns the Widnes ground? In my opinion it is the Rate Payers of the town. It is only administered by the "Elected members of the Council". Ceejay.
The RFL CEO Tony Sutton has told the BBC that Barrows improved score was mainly down to the performance of the women's team. York women's team won the SL GF , so maybe that had a bearing on their improved score?
We are not going to get a big investor, we have been down that road and we only have to look at London to see how precarious that is. If it is down to the finances then that means getting more people at the game. Getting the attendance up and improving the finances is going to be like the improvement on the field, down to hard work and doing the smart things. No short cut through the trees on this.
It is a good sign that Monday's meeting has been organised, and hopefully there is a frank explanation of what has to happen and what we have to do better. I know there are always those who say so and so is a fraud, and I can't stand that person or whatever. Those people are welcome to their opinion, but if its the finances this isn't down to one person. So Monday is important, as has been proved time and time again, if you are straight with the fans they usually try and help.
I would expect to hear how the club intends to attract more to the game, and what fans can do to help that. I would also expect realistic thoughts on how that will be achieved with Wakefield not being in the league, as London won't bring many in replacement. Equally, Hunslet won't bring many. Oldham may bring more than Swinton did, but we will also have one less home game.
I am out of the area on Monday, so if anyone from here goes, I for one, will appreciate some feedback.
I am ambivalent with regards to Hamilton overall, but surely our lower rating is not down to him. I don't get why people are blaming him when clearly it's the ridiculous grading system that's at fault. Apart from his rant this season he's done little wrong.
@wrlfcefc1989 he was actually brought in specifically to sort the grading out that was his job and he also stated that at the fans forum so to lose 20% of our points in a season is his fault as he hasn't understood or implemented the improvement needed I'm afraid
I’ve just a few minutes ago (8.00pm) renewed my son’s disabled ticket with our chairman Stuart who was totally professional in everything we talked about on the phone until the IMG scores was brought up by myself. All I can say is the man is not happy (understatement) with the way the RL has treated the club and I would suggest that everyone who can attend the meeting on Mon night does so, it will shock you to hear some of the ways other clubs have manipulated the scores they received. Chairmen have lent their clubs money for investment to bypass some rules but will never invest it but it will imply a better financial situation. Grounds revalued to imply that the clubs are wealthier than they are.
Stuart reasons we should have had at least 9.9 points as a starting base and even higher but for technicalities that were marked down by the RL. But his main concern was that some fans were down talking the directors and board who have worked non stop and for nothing in order to fulfil the criteria laid down by the RL of which I suppose I am also guilty. I do suggest that if you can attend Monday then we have a decent show
@martin it doesn't really matter what the other clubs have done but what needs explaining is how we lost points for the same criteria as the year before? It's easy to say others cheated that's their issue and the games it's more important how we lost points when we knew the criteria and what was required and a whole year to sort
Anyone whose willing to throw personal insults should definitely be in attendance on Monday to get their thoughts across and receive answers to their questions.
But it does matter that others have been allowed to cheat the system by misapplying rules. This also changes the way in which the rules are applied and that cheats us.
Clubs agreed to an assessment system but it has to be applied fairly, allowing the rules to be bent indicates that either IMG or the RFL aren't applying their own rules uniformly or fairly.
Our club needs to protest loud and long, and if the system isn't corrected by the RFL/IMG our Board has to detail the cheating publicly for the sake of the club and its supporters and of game itself.
The post by The Cardinal on this thread probably hits the nail on the head. Looking at the criteria it was a question of maths, a lot of clubs have done it literally and maybe not in the right spirit, but I'd guess they are probably within the rules.
There is an opportunity to appeal a rating and to have it independently checked. Who does this check I have no idea.
@sandgroper I agree it's wrong but us protesting about other clubs scores won't change ours or solve how we failed
Outside of Super League the scores mean nothing so I don’t get all these words slating the club for the score.
This is a rugby club with no money. If you would rather them spend money on flashing advertising boards, big screens and the community instead of players then you must be mad! For years we have wanted the club to do their talking on the pitch and we have seen the best performance for years, so applause is due!
Speaking of performance. For the half million that has been paid to IMG, what have they achieved in two years? Sky money has gone down, the team finishing bottom got relegated whilst the Championship GF winner was promoted and clubs and fans alike are all increasingly disillusioned with the game. Halifax, Whitehaven, Catalan and Toulouse all have huge money issues whilst most other clubs survive hand to mouth. But it’s all going to be ok as Bradford have a grade A ‘stadium’! Hell’s teeth!
The scores dictate the amount of central funding each team gets which is rather important do you not think ?.Outside of Super League the scores mean nothing so I don’t get all these words slating the club for the score.
This is a rugby club with no money. If you would rather them spend money on flashing advertising boards, big screens and the community instead of players then you must be mad! For years we have wanted the club to do their talking on the pitch and we have seen the best performance for years, so applause is due!
Speaking of performance. For the half million that has been paid to IMG, what have they achieved in two years? Sky money has gone down, the team finishing bottom got relegated whilst the Championship GF winner was promoted and clubs and fans alike are all increasingly disillusioned with the game. Halifax, Whitehaven, Catalan and Toulouse all have huge money issues whilst most other clubs survive hand to mouth. But it’s all going to be ok as Bradford have a grade A ‘stadium’! Hell’s teeth!