London broncos still going to have part time players in their squad next year apparently, not sure how that'll work if you have to work Friday daytime but also have a Friday night away game up north! Should be a requirement really for their squad to all be full time

Not a good look for SL

A good outcome of scrapping promotion & relgation will be clubs not having to scramble to put a team together should the my get promoted unexpectedly.

Not good but I can also see that for a part time player who has a decent job (and obviously London isnt cheap to live) quitting that job for a low pay SL contract that may only last 1 year is a big gamble

We're a bit nearer now.

3 key issues for me:
1. Squad: up there with our weakest of the SL era.
2. Coach: needs to optimise our limited quality through high fitness levels, well drilled coherent structures, and never say die spirit but delivers none of these.
3. Fans: cumulative levels of disappointment, since 2018 as the squad quality has ebbed away, now reaching tipping point levels. There is literally no hope of winning a game unless it's London or Cas.

Stick with us? Literally the only reason to do so is to keep the club afloat - this is a good reason but the only one. There is nothing tangible to suggest any improvement in the club's fortunes on the pitch whatsoever currently.

Think point 1 the club/AP had the fans over a barrel as the old line ‘without your support there’ll be no no club’ had emotionally blackmailed us as fans with the fear of not having a club. This I feel has been taken for granted and it’s just expected that blind faith/loyalty will continue.

The problem now is the continued decline of the club on the pitch over the past 6 years following promises of change etc add in a real disconnect the club has created with its fans and it’s a perfect storm. Fans are now so disgruntled and totally fed and rightly so as we are being treated like idiots by both AP & TS. The silence from the club and AP is deafening only hearing from them when money is needed, as for TS comments post match about sticking together I don’t know if that’s a bigger joke than what his team served up yesterday, besides insulting the intelligence of the fans who have backed the club beyond expectation.

AP has to front up to the fans and answer the questions. He also needs to let Smith & Gene go regardless of his speech about Smith being his last coaching appointment. He’d be better off coming out and admitting it hadn’t worked out as hoped instead of burying his head in the sand or being in denial. He kept Radford for 2 seasons too long and this just seems to be a repeat.

dont think Pearson has any other choice but to sack Smith and his possee

It needs to be done sooner rather than later. Can't have this for another 4-6 weeks. We may as well start the recruitment process now

definitely see your point. But it's just groundhog day again.It seems at Hull if the players don't like the coach sulk don't play and hey presto he's gone.

Something has to give though.
It's not like we've seen any improvement on the pitch though and unfortunately and ultimately the coaching team is culpable.
I was so optimistic when Smith took over but that good grace has now dissipated.

Your right. But it boils my p.iss when it seems that players decide if don't like the bloke let's get rid. Say they don't like the next coach then what ?. Just wish someone would come in tear the ucking team apart and rebuild. It's the same old same old

I completely agree but we've lost 12, gained 7 and integrated youngsters. The player turnover has been there, enough not to have the malaise there any longer.

Unfortunately for Tony his time should come to an end.
He wouldn't get another SL coaching gig after us.
Time to give a young hungry coach a go.
Peters has improved HKR
Wellens Peet and Burgess are all young relatively new coaches too and have their teams playing good rugby albeit with considerable riches but still they have structure and desire and their players play for them.

I see ScottyT from Geordie Shore has had a dig on twitter, might be a new low point for the club, hes not actually wrong with his comments either!

"A dinosaur for a coach. Owners got his mate in on recruitment who has the same scouting ability as Stevie Wonder. Clubs a mess; feel for the fans, who are paying their hard-earned money to watch that. Lured into their season tickets under false pretences. Lightyears behind Rovers now, it’s not even close."