Regarding quality of signings for next season. Does it really matter where we finish (assuming we go up) league wise? If IMG are still onboard surely there’s no one in the championship that can overtake us points wise. Especially if we keep improving our points.

If we don't perform we're unlikely to boost the IMG score which leaves us vulnerable to a Toulouse or even Bradford. We will have maxed out what we can and need the off field stuff to further which needs a successful team (crowds, SM interactions, revenue etc)

We won't have the points from Grand Final or 1895 next year so we need to keep all the other things ticking over.
It'll help if we have a high league position.

Exactly this, we need to make up those points by finishing away from the bottom next season.

Top half of the league and average over 7,500 should be of benefit

Think we're at 7.2k capacity.

Mat has mentioned that if we look like reaching full ground capacity, he would be looking at reinstalling those 500 seats behind the south end goal line and the flats, just as we had for 2 seasons until the new stand was completed.

Lots of new faces watching this season who without being disrespectful ,some won’t realise that we are full time playing part time squads and just see the one sided scoreline and think we are invincible , which I presume will end abruptly next season . So for me, in my opinion we need to hit the ground running if we are to keep these new faces and secure their long term commitment to the club in way of season ticket sales , before reality hits when we take a beating or two , which is fine for the battle hardened fans , but not for the newbies I fear . The squad we have assembled is far beyond anyone’s expectations but it will still take time to bed in and will be up against experienced battle Hardened teams looking for an easy 2 points .I’m rambling on a bit but the gist is to keep fans coming we need a winning team as soon as possible ,because we all know how fickle fans are ,and it doesn’t take much at all for crowds to dwindle.

Looking at our squad ,it reminds me of the Pearman era where we assembled a quality team , but this time we have a man in charge who actually has money and the players won’t be racing up town to get their cheque in first before the inevitable bouncing starts

You mean the squad that NEVER got paid, not once!

Don’t see the similarities tbh. That squad was full of top players at the end of their careers. This squad is full of players who are about to hit there peak years. Also had nowhere near as many up and coming youngsters. For me the only similarity was the wage bill.

But agre that at least this time we can afford them.