No mention of any academy or youth development in the criteria. All based on first team league performance with potential small bonuses for cup wins.

Shows what little IMG know then,

For some reason i have always had a soft spot for Salford that we were very similar clubs before they got there new stadium at AJ not spending the full cap, Now just look at the difference on field performances they play with pace all over something we can only dream of doing atm, it's so sad that are recruitment as not been that good over the last 2 seasons but like one of our former coach said you can't go in Harrods with a pound and expect to buy any thing good.

Well if the rumours of them not paying their bills are correct, then it is clearly the latter

Completely wrong. Clubs can't achieve an A grading if they don't run an academy.
Salford could finish top of the league and win every competition going but unless they start running an academy, they will never get a better grading than a B.

Just read the criteria wish you were right about this but it would appear that there is no points awarded for academy in the final document

If you have something that says otherwise please post a link

Go on then, where does it say that. Because there is no mention of it in the criteria set out last week?

rlhttps://www.rugby-league.com/uploads/docs/IMG%20&%20Rugby%20League%20Grading%20Criteria%5B81%5D.pdfrl

The Featherstone chairman has reiterated that under the guidelines from IMG running an Academy is of no benefit. He clearly points out that this is the last season to gain promotion and any clubs in the Championship will struggle to ever get back to SL after that hence the spending.
He also appears to believe that the next Sky deal will be lower meaning clubs below SL will be cut loose monetary wise.

It's unbelievable that IMG think not running academies and clubs losing £2m annually is good for the growth of the game but thems the rules so lets be equally ruthless as the like of Salford.

If by some miracle we survive this season we should cut our academy immediately, it's not like we get any thanks for it anyway considering the flack we took for our treatment of Croft and Shaw. I don't care about been the ethical club that Carter talks about, I want to see the money spent on some competitive players and some kind of watchable product on a weekend. We risk falling for the 'Nice Guys Finish last' Syndrome.

The academy isn't in the criteria because it's a minimum requirement if you want an A grade.

rlhttps://thirteenrugby.com/2023/03/09/clubs-will-need-womens-teams-academies-to-secure-all-important-a-licence-in-img-plans/rl

Quote: Nothus "The academy isn't in the criteria because it's a minimum requirement if you want an A grade. rlhttps://thirteenrugby.com/2023/03/09/clubs-will-need-womens-teams-academies-to-secure-all-important-a-licence-in-img-plans/rl'" Thats not how the Featherstone chairman sees it, https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/never-fe ... ing-70427/

Quote: Nothus "The academy isn't in the criteria because it's a minimum requirement if you want an A grade. rlhttps://thirteenrugby.com/2023/03/09/clubs-will-need-womens-teams-academies-to-secure-all-important-a-licence-in-img-plans/rl'" Thats not how the Featherstone chairman sees it, https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/never-fe ... ing-70427/

Maybe a junior academy, not an elite academy. Salford for instance already run one of these having missed out on the elite funding at the last round of licenses. So yes they would be as eligible as any of the clubs that get the central funding.

The awarding of elite licenses means the RFL have backed themselves into a corner. They have created a two tier academy system and are now moving the goalposts midway through without enough real notice for clubs to react, so IMG can’t grade an academy’s quality, just whether a club runs one or not. It would otherwise create an unfair balance. Theoretically any club could set up an academy to hit the minimum standards no matter what the quality or investment in it actually is. That may come in time but it isn’t part of it right now. It’s a load of steaming proverbial but thats where we are.

Clearly perception is everything, as good and exciting to watch as they are on field, off field is a little less rosey with a potential loan £350k off the council to cover running costs it seems, yet is Trinity who is everyone's target to drop-out of SL as we bring nothing to the game.