I've not listened to it as it's Mick Gledhill's programme and SMTM gets on my tits. Is the bit about a grade B replacing a grade B the only revelation? Can't see it TBH. The relegated SL club would need to have fewer IMG points than the Championship club. A straight swap is out of the question if the SL club has more IMG points.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... gcGkA7lWYA

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... gcGkA7lWYA

Next announcement will be for caravan racing at a ground to gain extra img points.

Can't see very much to disagree with what the Batley chairman says in that report.

Neither IMG nor the RFL can just 'change the goalposts'. The clubs have to vote any changes through - they are the game; IMG are just advisors and the RFL administer the game on behalf of the clubs.

Aye sure they do.

£450,000 a year for a bit of advice? Not bad that!

I couldn't understand why the Bulls had been spending massive amounts assembling a squad capable, on paper at least, of walking the league, when there was no apparent chance of promotion this year. Makes you wonder if, they've been told finish top and we'll make sure you're in - and then their spending doesn't look quite as idiotic.

And crap advice at that!

The stupidist things about the IMG grading is that clubs have to be SL ready to have a chance of getting into SL. It doesnt give clubs the opportunity of growing, on the back of success. Youre meant to grow based on the opportunity of getting into SL. This isnt how sport is meant to work.

All clubs have ambitions, but youre encouraged (forced) to spend money on non-playing matters (number of spaces in the press box, number of spaces for sponsors, etc) just to have a chance of getting into SL. Take Ipswich Town in the PL as an example. They wont be on a par with the majority of teams in the PL. But, if they manage to stay up this season, they can try and build on the success and invest for the longer-term. IMG doesnt afford this opportunity.

I think we all agree the IMG system is ridiculous ....... if this would have happened in soccer the media would have been all over it like a rash, but RL get away with it because the media don't care, despite the IMG's delusion that RL stadiums require 50 press seats (lolololololol)

Everything connecting our game with IMG is e! Allus has been from day one. ...and we voted in favour of it. Grrr!

Looks like Salford are in dire straits financially. They are having a meeting and asking for £500,000 advance on their central funding. The whole sport is devoid of money at every level.

Tip of an enormous iceberg

Every RL club is running on fine margins, living month to month, one letter or demand away from been in the mire.

Only going to get worse, there's less and less central funding, less revenue coming in, and costs constantly going up. The employee national insurance contributions is going to hit some clubs hard next year. Im sure TonyFax mentioned on the accounts thread some clubs have over 100 employees, that's going to be a huge cost increase