Quote: advocatus diaboli "I know this is very early days for the new Board and there is much to do, but I would like to state the reasons why I have stopped watching Leigh. Hopefully this will give them some food for thought as I know a number of others who have stopped for the same reasons.
1. Last season I had a season ticket but ended up losing out as lots of our games ended up being played at different days and times. I can’t make weekday matches due to work commitments and ended up missing the Thursday and Friday night games.
2. This is something that really bugs a lot of people – Swinton have first choice over the LSV. They get to play Sunday afternoon and we get whatever is left.
3. Last season and the beginning of this season we have been playing the most boring one man up the middle rugby. The last times I went this season I ended up so bored I wasn’t watching the game half the time, I was turned round talking to the person next to me –WYSISYG as it happens, so you can see how bored I was.
4. The Dual Registration deals over the last few season have annoyed me, I’m not naïve enough to believe we can have a squad who were all born within the sound of Leigh Parish Church bells, but I want players playing who are signed by Leigh, not by Warrington etc. and called back on a match by match basis.
5. Leigh becoming Wigan’s reserve team this season has really done it for me. Sorry but I won’t be coming back until that is gone.
And before anyone accuses me of being a plastic Leyther, I have watched Leigh home and away for over 45 years. I went to Wembley and Whitehaven etc. etc.
The frightening thing is though, how easy it is to get out of the habit of going to matches.
It is much more difficult to get back into it.'"
Some valid points and here is my opinion on how I view these reasons given for not going to games. I stress that this is how I would react and I totally accept that people have the right to have different views.
1. Many posters on here pushed strongly for different match days and times. It was tried, did not appear to be better, but at least it was tried. I get it that some season ticket holders lost out last year but it wouldn't stop me from still supporting my team this year. I understand not getting a season ticket but not going at all would not be my response.
2. Not sure if this is actually the case, but that perception is certainly out there as this post shows very clearly. A clarification by the BOM would certainly help answer this. If it is the case it is definitely not what should happen next season.
3. No longer the case. I know that for sure and I'm half way around the world so not a reason to no longer be going in my opinion.
4. I do not like the DR program full stop. I dearly wish we did not need to use DR's but we do not have the depth in numbers and quality to be fully DR free right now ( this season). I sense that this new BOM want what we all know is best for Leigh. A squad strong enough to not need DRs. Staying away does not help them achieve that.
5. I totally disagree with this point. The way we are doing this is no different to how we did it with Wire etc. To say we are Wigan's reserves is in my view a totally inaccurate statement that does nothing to help our club move forward which is what I hope we all want. I do agree that a "partnership" with Wigan was always going to be a hot spot and was not the best idea BUT I think it may have been our only option. Should we have taken the option. I would suggest not because it was always going to alienate fans we desperately need. I would however not let it stop me coming through the gates.
Heres what I think about staying away from games and how it damages what the poster wishes changed.
More fans = more money = a larger/higher quality squad = no need for DRs = no need for any kind of deal with anyone.
This BOM have stepped forward with money, time, effort and there business experience. They have pledged it for 3 years at least. They have shown the ultimate faith in our club. They cannot change things overnight but the more of us that take the leap of faith with them in any way we can, the sooner we will get what this poster wants.
To any stay aways I say,
please come back NOW and help our club forward. Staying away until it gets to where/how you want it all to be, simply delays or even prevents it getting there.
With the changes that are coming with the league structures we need to move forward as quickly and as strongly as we can. More fans now means more money to do it.
Have some faith and support our team.
We need both new and lapsed supporters in my view.
