A lot will depend on criteria. I've seen a lot of suggestions that involve us, saints, pies, wire, FC and cats as the grade As but there's nothing to say that the likes of kr, wakey, Leigh won't be too, with maybe only a couple of b graders thrown in. Depends where the bar is set

Apart from a lower average crowd KR are a stronger business, brand and club than FC so it's hard to see why they would be graded lower.

Wigan are a bit of a mess financially and have no control over their stadium. Will be interesting to see if on-field performance, strong Academy and good (but declining) crowds alone are enough to make them an A.

I’d say Kr are closer to been an A than FC are.

I also think with the new ground underway and a stronger recent record of youth development Wakefield are in a better spot than most think. Yea they’re not earning massive money but they do live within their means.

Sounds like they want London in, so the criteria may be skewed in their favour, which is how we got in such a mess last time. Crusaders given a franchise just as they went bust, and Widnes gambling on a franchise award that didn't come and they haven't really recovered from that.

The structure needs sorting, but its at least realistic in terms of recognising that not all clubs are equal. Saying that the "B" clubs won't be able to compete suggests that they can now. SL has been held back partly by trying to level down. This is a step in the right direction - level up if you want to be a SL side.

I think the other thing that really might be important is that IMG are not just dumping a report on the game and walking away. They are part of the process moving forward. The clubs need to get with the programme and work on the structure. Then IMG have to show whether they can deliver what the sport really, desperately needs - money. They are in this to make dough. The only way they can is if the game starts to grow and make all clubs better off. That means new TV/media deals but I'd also hope they have a strategy to get seriously wealthy people to invest in the game.

Said this on the VT but i'll repeat it here - "invest" in this context means "be willing to burn some money". Sports clubs away from the worlds biggest franchises aren't something you typically make any money out of. Hence only huge fans of the clubs involved tend to be the ones who are the rich backers.

Other recommendations include:

Replacing the Magic Weekend

Introducing 2 legged challenge cup games

A mid March start to the season.

Replacing the combined nations team with something else.

Reduction of regular season to 22 games.

Suggests 12 teams.

Not sure about the 2 legged cup ties, it's hard enough to get fans through the gate as it is without trying to repeat the process a week or two later..
..especially if one of the sides is sat on a thirty point deficit from a first leg hiding

I agree. that won't happen imo

Maybe room for another knockout comp similar to the Regal/John Player Trophy of the 80's and 90's. The Channel 4 Cup? Only if there are 22 league games mind.

Everyone goes on about raising the salary cap

Where is the money coming from to do that ?

Virtually every suggestion IMG have come up with so could we .

IMG need to help raise some revenue that is what is needed most

Oh and if you have no relegation , there are going to be plenty of dead rubbers the last third of the season

We already have a lot of dead rubbers at the bottom of the league even with relegation

Extra cup comps, 2 legged ties, mid March start. Some of this is mental, but it’s all just surface level window dressing.

We need to radically redefine the fabric of the game in this country. We need to explore, implement, and perfect innovative and fresh ways of marketing and growing the game, whilst fortifying, replenishing, and refreshing the foundations of the sport on a micro and macro level. <insert other flowery business vernacular and platitudes>.

From what I can see, all IMG have done is consult people within the game who have said “let’s go back to franchising” and they’ve gone “ok yeah, let’s do that”. They’ve then repackaged it. “Slavery with extra steps” (if you don’t watch Rick and Morty you won’t understand the reference).

I’ve seen this one before.

They've rebadged it you fool!