I agree. Instead put in incentives for doing it. Maybe allocating more cash from central funds or some kind of cap exemption or extension for those running it

I agree that would be better. Although eany extra cash would have to come from somewhere, and if it isn’t from cutting other clubs’ share, it isn’t obvious where that’d be. And a cap exemption is only valuable to the wealthier clubs, meaning the reserves league would likely remain small, if we’re relying on that.

I think there’s almost an acknowledgement there that it isn’t worth it in of itself, if it needs incentivising or to be forced on clubs. With the SL clubs now seemingly taking leadership, while the RFL mainly just does the administrative stuff, who is there to cajole them to do it?

strange how in the bad old days of the 60s,70s and 80s before the sky big bucks ,when teams were struggling,every club had an a team and you were fined if you couldn't raise a side.

FWIW...

No matter how you dress it up, the reluctance of the majority to run a reserve grade, pretty much sums up our game, amateurish at best. Give it up Hull & Wakey, your flogging the proverbial dead horse.

It will be in force for 2020, but the fact we have invested significantly in back room staff and a deeper squad to help to support the reserve side is unfortunate for us - when we could have put that money into a marquee player ourselves.

I saw a good suggestion yesterday about Wakefield and Hull being able to put their Reserve sides into League 1 for the year, whilst that league gets some consistency with the sides in it

I know that it is far from ideal but I wonder if Hull could arrange a series of Reserve friendlies against the likes of GB students, British Army, Police force, BARLA etc.

It would serve to keep players match fit and generate a fair bit of publicity and goodwill for your club. You may even unearth a prospect or 2.

I don't see how it is a farce or flogging a dead horse. Yes it's a farce as far as the game is concerned but from the perspective of our two clubs i don't agree.

I'm talking from a Wakefield perspective hear but I suspect it's the similar to yourselves.

Currently we don't have too much in the academy but we so have a glut of players getting beyond it who are still good enough to persist with. In terms of keeping those players active I don't see even a diminished reserve grade as any less useful that DR which I hate with a passion. Most of these players I'm on about are capable of playing a limited amount of SL where as few if any of our under 19's are. To me I'm far happier to see them training with the first team and being a part of it whilst and playing the odd game than being DR.

It's just my opinion but it gives us a certain depth we otherwise wouldn't have. Also it's a nice platform to explore trialist, something you simply cannot do with the under 19's and you never know what gems you might fine.

Over all I'm happier with what we have that Hetherington's ludicrous argument that Leeds Academy is there reserve - that Gary has worked only once in 25 years!

Unless the quality of the reserve league is significantly better than the current u19s then there's no point in having it. Just make the u19s the reserves, which would allow clubs to keep on to players a little longer, give recovering players some game time, allow older players in the squad to mentor the younger players during games.

The problem is we stupidly “merged” our U19’s .
It would then be difficult for us ,and the unwashed from the East to use an Academy side as a Reserves side.
Simple fact is for SL status it should be stipulated , either a Reserve team or your own U19’s .
Do all the SL Clubs have an Academy set up ?

Salford run neither a reserves or a Academy

Last year's academy league table.... www.hullfc.com/team/city-of-hull ... ague-table

Last year's academy league table.... www.hullfc.com/team/city-of-hull ... ague-table