@geoffw The threshold for attendance is 1,500 fans 1.5 points, 3,000 fans 2 points and 7,500 fans 2.5 points. It's a 3 year average, but I guess this seasons average of 2,500 replacing 2021's average could have seen us drop 0.5 points.
On my estimate I put us in the under 3,000 average so 1.5 points. We are never going to get 7,500 in the Championship, but for me one of the big and realistic goals is an average attendance over 3,000 to pick up 2 points. We certainly used to average 3,500 a few years ago in the Championship.
You could potentially be smart with this, it's a number that can be tracked on a spreadsheet after each home game as a rolling 3 year average. So if you are 200 or 300 fans shy with a few games to go put on some kind of ticket promo to push us up. At the same time, if we are miles away don't bother to waste money and lose gate receipts. This is the kind of stuff that needs to be tracked on a 2 week basis. Kind of sad but true.
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
Unfortunately, this sounds a bit like - as someone else has already said - like more evidence of the Widnes victim mentality.
The criteria is relatively black and white. If other clubs have bent it to their benefit, that's our fault not theirs.
Why is the only explanation being given at a members Monday event, which is accessible to barely 10% of the matchgoing fanbase, let alone the fanbase that doesn't go matches or has previously stopped going?
If the club feel that strongly about how the RFL have treated it, why not issue a public statement?
His main concern is fans asking questions? Don't think anybody is doubting that people are putting time and effort in - but on what? Nobody is ever told what is going on.
We are a part-time rugby league club that trains two times a week and plays on a weekend. We don't have a stadium to operate.
As far as I'm aware, we have at least two full time off-field staff.
So if these people and the directors are working non-stop, what are they working on? And how as fans can we support / help?
At the moment, something doesn't add up.
I feel sorry for the board in that the IMG rating actually doesn't make any difference to Widnes at present, other than create negativity at a time when they need to sell season tickets. We won't get anywhere near enough points to get to Super League without a takeover, which was the same last week as it is now.
Clubs agreed to the rules because the 'Big Boys' knew they would be a shoo in, and the others, probably WVRLFC included, thought it was a way to the promised land without having to achieve it by playing performances. You can't polish a turd, but you can sprinkle it with glitter, to make it look good. It's still a turd. That is exactly what Cas did, and they are now a Grade A Club. I'll bet if anyone pays a visit to The Jungle, the only difference they'll notice is they have put seats along the terracing opposite the wooden Main stand.
It's all about 'boxing clever' with The RFL. If Cas can hoodwink them, then anyone can.
Paulie xx
Monday night may be a tad interesting.
Paulie xx
It will be much of the same, usual crew, Few of CH mates defending him and lots of happy clapping
What we also need to bear in mind on the average attendance is that the numbers the clubs had to submit were people who attended the game in person.
Most clubs crowd figures are people who have season tickets whether they attend or not, so the average will probably be lower than what we think.
Jump up and down and stamp your feet as much as you like, but facts:
we didn’t get a grade to join the top table - no surprise there
our score has gone down - very disappointing but can be worked on, other clubs played the system better.
but as I have said on other topics, Toulouse should be the most miffed of teams
so we really are where we expected to be , roll up sleeves, sign a few more players and look forward to a competitive team next season
onwards and upwards
What we also need to bear in mind on the average attendance is that the numbers the clubs had to submit were people who attended the game in person.
Most clubs crowd figures are people who have season tickets whether they attend or not, so the average will probably be lower than what we think.
Do folk think that the RFL/IMG had an employee, at every turnstile, at every ground, counting speccies in?
It's not difficult to click the turnstile round until all ST holders are 'in attendance'
Paulie xx
@eddieo57 you disappeared for months when things were going well on the field. You’re just a miserable bellend who clearly doesn’t want to see the club do well.
Nobody is happy here with the score are they? Everybody wants answers but the way you just constantly call the squad and whinge is boring
@pauliewalnuts It's a legal compliance that the HSE are informed of all actual attendance numbers at a sporting event and it's a criminal offence to falsify these numbers. The numbers are freely available with a FOI request to the HSE.
No club across the 3 divisions lost as many points from the provisional gradings as Widnes other than Newcastle who went out of business and had to start again.
Only 2 clubs lost over 1 point us 1.57 and Catalans 1.21.
I don't agree with bashing a Board that has saved us from oblivion. Surely memories aren't that short?
But if someone is salaried to steer the club's fortunes through this process then they're not up to it.
It's always somebody else's fault down here.The RFL,Maurice Lyndsey, Richard Lewis and now IMG.Always a pantomime villain looking to thwart Widnes.
Loving it aren't you?
@widnes77 well they need to get to Sheffield because they've been fiddling their attendances for years ...as I'd suspect several others have at times ...some clearly add ST holders whether there their or not and then some ..been plenty times people have pointed fingers at Sheffield...Bradford..barrow and us for romancing the gate ...
@widnes77 whoever decides it's a criminal offence to fiddle your attendances.. because anyone that doesn't think that's rife in the game needs glasses