Captain Dan,

I am hoping the format of this event will be different as the stated purpose is:

"The focus group, held in conjunction with the RFL, will aim to understand the motivations of being a fan, why you do or don't attend games, what your views are of the Club and what your think about Super League."

Based on the above, I would assume it is more about listening to our views rather that IFL giving a presentation. I also assume it is not just about Wigan but our views of Super League and the RFL.

I would hope that this event is organised to maximise the value of our time. Sitting through endless silly questions about weetabix will not cut it for me.

Id love for the RFL to hold a fans forum, would be very interesting

Sam's situation is entirely in IL's control as he holds a legally binding contract over him. I agree with the restof your post. This season's performance has taken me by surprise and I am more than happy for IL to get the praise for that as it is richly deserved. However, that doesn't mean I have to be happy in every regard and, for me, he has been at best acquiescent or at worst complicit in the whole saga. Add to that Mossop's situation also as another example where IMO he has got it wrong, though I see we now have plenty posts claiming Mossop is crap after all. Surprise, surprise. Ateotd whatever happens at our club, good or bad, happens on IL's watch and I see nothing wrong in giving praise or criticism or indeed both as and when they are warranted.

I agree entirely. It's not illogical to offer praise for some things and chuck the brickbats for others. It also hadn't past me by that Mossop was now not that good! It happens to virtually every player that leaves.

Maybe he was always on phone-ins at the start because people wanted to hear from him about his plans for WRLFC. Maybe he isn't on as much now because people aren't interested in speaking to him as often. He can't just rock up and ask to be on. It's obvious that someone likr Koukash is going to be on more since his takeover of Salford.

Let's list what Lenagan has done wrong since his takeover.

We're skint.........no wait we make a profit and continue to recruit new sponsors
We're not challenging........no wait we've come top twice, second once, won both trophies and arestill in with a shout this year.
Our academy has fell apart........no wait it's thriving and we can name a 17 that are all Wigan products and some of whom are wanted by the NRL.
Players are leaving.......stupid Lenagan. He should just break the cap.

I wouldn't presume to suggest others ought to be happy if they feel disinclined. Nor do i think every decision IL has made has been correct. Given that he has to make many decisions, and that the success or otherwise of many of them is out of his control then it is no wonder that he has made mistakes. Personally, I feel that he has made it too easy to leave. But his achievements in making the operation professional and generating our own talent to my mind far outweigh these quibbles.
He is to my mind a uniquely difficult position - the NRL and Dark Side simply have far more money than he is allowed to spend, and we remain the most famous name in world rugby. So, we attract more attention than anyone else. In the light of that, it is so far so very good for mine.

Don't forget it was Dave Whelan who made Orrell Wigan's training base and before IL came along Wigan have always produced top players. Where do you think the likes of Hock, Hansen, Lockers, Micky Mac and others came from?

We are rightly lauded for a good youth program but I can't remember a time since the mid-eighties we haven't been producing players.

This doesn't detract from what young players we do produce currently under IL's leadership but I think people forget the longstanding contributions of others such as Brian Fowley and others who did this for decades before IL arrived.

IL is continuing a tradition not inventing one.



He certainly is in a difficult position and the current debate is all about how he is handling it.

Unrest off the field translates to on field performance.
For the 40 odd years that I've been supporting WRLFC, that's always been the case at this club.

A pi$$ poor performance tonight, IMO, reflects this.

IFL, needs to come clean, officially, to what's going on. OK, the players probably know, but are subjected to some form of gagging clause.

Let the facts be known, all then can digest in unison, Fans included ( Y'know those people who pay out hard earned sponduliks to help pay the wage bill), draw a line under it, and move on.

BTW, I don't subscribe to the 'Backing Up' excuse. We do, and always have had, the option of playing on a Sunday.

At the risk of repeating myself I agree he has done most things very well. However, the Mossop/Sam situation isn't one of them! We were comforted at Joel's departure by Sam's contract. It now looks like so much spin. Why can't you and others see this? He is not superman, he makes mistakes! Others have said that the landscape has changed in the 18 months since Sam signed but that really is putting a shine on things IMO. I am not an out and out IL knocker. Make Mossop stay the course and allow Sam to talk to other clubs next year and I would be happy! He can make mistakes or take chances with things like the Powell signing and I don't really care because, on balance, he gets things right. I'm also willing to admit that the Mossop situation won't be as bad as it looks if he does indeed come back in 2 years because, unlike the cherry and white brigade, I haven't suddenly come to the conclusion that Mosop is crap (not aimed at you of course).

Why do you and others think people can't see?

Some posters on here don't seem to see that its not what they post, but the arrogance with which they post, and the implication that others are stupid that gets other people backs up.

I know he isn't perfect but I would say he's running at a 90% success rate.

With regards to players leaving I see 3 options:

1 - Force them to stay the length of their contract and let them leave for nothing running the risk of a dummy spit and poor performances or paying someone to sit in the stands.

2 - Sell them to another Super League team which makes our rivals stronger and us weaker.

3 - Sell them to the NRL where they can't come back to haunt us.

The last two obviously gives us money to invest in the playing staff, back room staff, training facilities, Central Park, Youth program etc etc.

I think IFL's biggest contribution is getting the backroom staff in place to maximise the performance of the team and player development through the academy.

In the days of the cap any profit the club makes can't be spent on increased salaries, so even if we were able to pay a transfer fee for Inglis we couldn't afford to pay him a competitive salary under the cap without letting other players go. IFL has thus taken the approach to spend profits on player development as it is the only way he can re-invest profits to further improve his business.

Captain Dan I am going to the forum on Monday and asked for clarification as to the format.

The club have confirmed It will consist of about 10 fans and will be conducted by students from Leeds Met on behalf of the RFL.

So I understand it isn't like a normal fans forum were people ask about weetabix!