Now the article is back but with all the comments removed and comments section disabled. So they have a nerve pleading about being silenced when that's all Hull Live /Reach PLC do to the local people themselves, think the irony is obviously lost on them.

Good point about the game overall. And the fact they are trying to make a contact sport more sterile ain’t gonna help. If you box you know your going to get hit on the head, same goes for rugby, you know your going to get hurt at some point.

Good point about the game overall. And the fact they are trying to make a contact sport more sterile ain’t gonna help. If you box you know your going to get hit on the head, same goes for rugby, you know your going to get hurt at some point.

No change on the Reach group redundancies and Dan still at present goes in two weeks time. I'm hearing from the other side of the City that as expected Rovers are fully on board with paying a package for advertising in order to keep the HDM coverage as they recognise the value of local traditional media coverage as it impacts on their income as a club, but I'm told no word from our lot, so, as it stands, there's an even worse scenario than no club specific detailed RL coverage in the Mail from mid January, we could now end up with Rovers coverage continuing in the Mail and ours ceasing in two weeks time.

It's a sad situation for a game that is rapidly losing profile and status at a time when it desperately needs more coverage and exposure. I know I go on about this and I'll get flack about going on about it but it's a real backward step that is being replocated across the game in areas served by Reach Group newspapers.

The Rovers coverage has almost dried up on there Wilf, I scrolled down the sports pages the other day and there was no less than ten stories related to FC before one about Willie Peters enjoying Christmas over here, I'm guessing if things stay as they are then both teams will have the odd Matt Shaw article printed here and there.

It's definitely a kick in the teeth for rugby fans when your local rags not going to publish there stories, and even though Joe and Dan aren't particularly great journalists there efforts were definitely better than what we're going to get.

years ago every morning paper had an rl columnist,brian batty,paul harrison,martin richards,jack bentley,when the press decided to move down south from manchester to london,rl coverage declined rapidly,i used to wade through page after page of tedious football to try find a bit of rl coverage.i finally realised i was buying the paper,just to do the crossword.i bought a crossword book,and stopped buying a morning paper.ive not bought a morning paper in 30 plus years.

Sorry I missed your post but I agree with all of that and well said, because in the general context of the game nationally never mind the sport in Hull we just cannot afford to reduce the profile of RL anywhere.

When you add too, that here in Hull, both clubs sets of fans have benefitted in the past (when times were bad) from constructive targeted comment and even criticism which sends a message to the clubs and animates in the media exactly what the fans are thinking and saying, it is a pretty compelling arguement. Let's face it papers as such will disappear altogether before long, so Social media marketing is these days is everything.

Products, whatever they, are rely on engagement and awareness through social media more and more and measure their success as far as engaging customers is concerned by the number of hits they get on their adverts and sites and in this case their related stories.

Well i've done a bit of digging cos I'm really concerned about this one and it might surprise you to know that our two clubs should be concerned too, as they will be missing a massive 500,000 page views on their clubs stories, that talk directly about their brand, every month.

That is a massive opportunity to keep the clubs in the minds of the fans and to enthuse and engage with potential new customers. I'm told from your club over there in the east that some there recognise that and efforts are being made to put together an additional advertising package with the paper to facilitate some coverage continuing. But as you say you've already seen what an effect losing your dedicated correspondent has had on you media exposure. Our lot however don't seem to be doing much at all, although I'm told all is not quite lost yet but with just a week to go to Tomlinson leaving and the Rovers correspondent long gone, time is running out!!!!

Great to see HDM (Reach) paying Matt Shaw to Tenerife to follow Rovers camp.

Bet Appleyard is really happy about that.

You aware Joe Appleyard left the employment of the HDM a few weeks ago, aren't you ?

I believe he already has alternative employment still within his chosen field, including i believe one day a week working with Richard Horne at Doncaster doing all the media stuff from there.

I don't think you get the point, making people unemployed then paying aload of money to send someone abroad .

If that was a company I'd worked for I wouldn't be very happy. It not as if reporting on this trip is essential.

Rovers fanboy (Shaw) probably won't think like that!

I guess with the wide list of clubs he covers he's been kept on. Rovers have indicated that they see the value of a dedicated local media reporter and wanted to help who's to say they are not paying him or helping with paying him to go? constant news about the squad and how its going out there will sell a few seasons for them I guess. Our lot, incidentally, were not interested.

For me I don’t see any real value or benefit for either club paying for an advertising package to supplement coverage other than getting a few articles per week return.
In all honesty the articles would in effect be sponsored/paid by the club so there would little in terms of independent sports journalism to ask awkward and probing questions if/when needed.

For me I’d be more tempted to use any money to create a much more professional club media brand that truly engages the fan base. Then tie fans based marketing arm in to this and focus on attracting new fans to the club.

Whilst having RL news and club stories in the HDM I’m not sure it does an awful lot in attracting fans to either club from having a passing interest.

With the changes in broadcasting the games from this season it leaves Hull FC kind of redundant so why not look at offering a subscription based news outlet, with quality in depth news etc.
im sure there’d be a strong take up for such a service if priced right etc.

hull fc have lost the plot engaging with the fans,i get a weekly email from doncaster rl telling me how things are going at that club[ why i dont know].i get nothing from hull fc.they never even wished fans a merry christmas and happy new year on website this year.always have before.

Yeh I get all that and good points particularly about a subscription based news service run by the club, which could also cover for the now redundant match day programme and bring them some income. However I guess that the fact that the mail stories about Hull FC get half a million hits a month and are free access must rub off on some people, few brands whatever they represent would not turn that away, but I guess as an old 'en I just worry about any traditional media outlet being eroded because it is something I read every day and from what a lot of the kindred spirits I meet in Beverley say they will miss it too. (mind you they are all old as well As a rovers fan said earlier their stories before their Tenerife jolly have diminished considerably since their reporter has gone and its not that good since they have been out there accompanied by a reporter. However, all that said, for FC news all is not lost just yet as following extensive lobbying of those concerned a temporary extension has been granted to Dans contract!! but at present it is only temporary.