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.

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