It's going to be an interesting season

Looks like some are still unhappy with IMG, not going to please everyone, and Mat had some interesting thoughts at the shareholders meeting the other night. https://newsletters.e.leeds-live.co.uk/ ... D=LhBgc1og

Looks like some are still unhappy with IMG, not going to please everyone, and Mat had some interesting thoughts at the shareholders meeting the other night. https://newsletters.e.leeds-live.co.uk/ ... D=LhBgc1og

Personally I think the IMG criteria is a good thing but it needs to be implemented pragmatically.

The teams like us and Cas along with London Toulouse and Bradford have/are making efforts to improve now, when they didn't bother before.

While I agree that clubs like ours , cas etc have made improvements. I’d like to see league 1 clubs given some slack regards doing assessments for IMG .. the cost is one thing they could do without.. surely better to give them a minimum requirement type criteria and if they win promotion then make them start ticking boxes for IMG

It has to be the same criteria for me.
Otherwise you end up with weaker teams in SL.

P&R can come in when the teams are string enough to make the leap.

I can't speak for the others, but in respect to us you are wrong. We as a club have always wanted to improve and always tried to do so. Our various owners going back to the start of SL have wanted improvement. However only Matt has had the resources to actually do so.

It's where they tried to improve that made the difference.
It's not just Matt. Carter and Minards were working on the IMG targets before anyone else and that's why Matt has a good platform.
So I'm not really sure where you think I'm wrong. Especially as it us my opinion on IMG. You are entitled to yours.

I do realise my 'not bothered' comment was probably too strong.

Sorry should of made it clearer.. I was talking about clubs that make promotion from league 1 to championship.
Those clubs are way off being able to fill the criteria for SL.
If they continue to improve after promotion then make them fulfill the IMG criteria

Ah OK.
I think they way they are looking to help that is a money reward for winning the playff/grand final.....and so helping them finance those changes.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/footbal ... b15ec&ei=9

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/footbal ... b15ec&ei=9

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... g-30351428 Wish they would just stop dicking about with this, clubs were planning on one thing and now this is adding another into the mix.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... g-30351428 Wish they would just stop dicking about with this, clubs were planning on one thing and now this is adding another into the mix.

Boo hoo. Some clubs like fans can’t accept change from a promotion and relegation system. The sport should stop pandering to them.

How quickly we forget about our own history. We now have an owner with genuine financial resources who was able to secure our return to SL. I don’t want to think where we would be without him and it might have been us wanting the return of promotion and relegation.
The sport never pandered to any group of teams outside SL. I actually believe the Championship will be an exciting league but without much coverage.

We don’t forget about our own history. Whether it be promotion and relegation or IMG I have no doubt that Ellis would have made the required investment. That doesn’t have anything to do with changing and modifying the IMG structure after year 1 implementation though.

If we had failed to make the 12 I would still not want to see any large changes. You shouldn’t change the criteria when clubs are and have been planning to meet the current criteria. Let’s also not forget that recruitment has been completed by most clubs now too so if you change the on field importance of being promoted as a B regardless then clubs who have invested in other parts of the criteria have missed the boat.

If it absolutely has to be reviewed then you do so now for planning and discussion for implantation for 2026 not 2025 comp where pre season is starting imminently.

Absolutely boggles my mind how things don’t get properly structured and planned. Though I suspect this is more just airing out some concerns of the few and paying some lip service perhaps for future consideration and discussion.

I think the criteria is OK to modify as you learn and progress but you shouldn't be changing fundamental principles after a year.

Important to remember nothing’s changing though, and no one’s dicking about. It’s just Batley’s board saying they’ll put a motion forward to have some sort of P&R - their only hope of playing in the top tier. I don’t blame them as such.

What’s sadder is the coverage, which is designed to get people to click and groan and repost. Not blaming that on Matt Shaw as such, it’s just the state of play now.

Like that headline is about as untrue as you can stretch it while still being true

Minor tweaks being made to criteria for next season's gradings... https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/other/e ... f912&ei=23

Minor tweaks being made to criteria for next season's gradings... https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/other/e ... f912&ei=23

All understandable but the catchment one is the one that will help us the most.

Not sure how that works PT, Trinity, Cas and Fev will still be competing for the same fans in the WMDC catchment area.

My take on it is that we can nominate somewhere like Barnsley Local Authority area to boost our own catchment area ??

I've been waiting for this subject to come up as a Barnsley lad born and bred and a Barnsley FC fan .

The time to put some work in to attracting new fans from over here is right now , probably as greater time than there's ever been .

Barnsley FC are losing fans by the hundreds , the club is in serious managed decline and the apathy surrounding the club is significant .

There's a huge opportunity to tap in to this apathy and direct it towards Trinity with a decent marketing strategy , I don't actually have any concerns about Barnsley losing fans to Trinity , firstly the two sports aren't competitors as such given RL is primarily a summer sport and my opinion Barnsley deserve to lose fans given the way the club is run and the overall match day experience and the state of the stadium .

If you were to talk to Matt Ellis he'd probably tell you the same .

Darton , Kexborough , Staincross , Mapplewell , Royston , Athersley are less than half an hour from Belle Vue , I live in Staincross and it takes less than 15 minutes to get to Belle Vue .

You get people coming through those turnstiles , decent match day experience with food and drink , a nice warm evening and a cracking Super League game and I'll guarantee you'll get many returning .

Many Barnsley fans are crying out for something else to do such is the apathy and I think it's not just BFC but the way football has now gone .

I've followed the club all over the country and fallen out with it big time and there are hundreds like me .

Just to add regarding Barnsley Council , they are very protective over Barnsley FC , they now own the ground , training facilities and surrounding land 100% .

They also know full well the Barnsley FC match day economy to the town .

I'm not certain they would be too enthusiastic about having links to Trinity if they saw them as a threat to BFC .

Trinity in my opinion would have to market the Barnsley area themselves .

Never mind mate, no-one will hold that against you....


Seriously, you're right about BFC - shockingly led club. My bro in law and nephew are season ticket holders and don't go to all the home games.... I haven't been since last season.
With Matt being a Barnsley lad, I think it would be easier for us to attract fans - I have emailed the club to offer any help and I have friends who are planning to come to a game next season.
Also, I think any potential fans that live near town ( I live in Old Town) or even Wombwell/Elsecar too, as they can catch the train as I do from Barnsley, so it could expand the area even further.

Yep, with Matts' enthusiasm I don;'t think we'd need Barnsley Council,,,,,