Hull FC survey

Quote: Jake the Peg "Genuine answer - I think it's what the board hides behind every time something goes wrong. There is so much of the licence assessment tied up in the onfield success of the club that the halo will slip very quickly if things don't improve. More garbage like we're serving up at the minute will result in less fans through the turnstiles, reducing turnover (possible loss of point), reducing attendances below 10k (losing us 2 points including the 40% rule), falling turnover would see us trading at a loss potentially meaning we are insolvent - another point lost.

So yes, it's important but the A grade was a by product of 3 or 4 years of improvement and momentum from the club which has now ground to a halt and we are going backwards on the playing front.

The A ;icence is a smokescreen which some can see through'"

I'd guess we scored a point for each of the following
Capacity of 12,000 +
Premier competition standard ground
Average crowd of 10,000 +
Operating at 40 per cent full
Turn over £4million
Solvent
Junior development
No salary cap breaches
Contribution to competition

But not this one:
No club within 20 miles

So 9 points. On the basis of current criteria, we'd get 8 (losing a point on the contribution to competition point due to our league position last year). Realistically we're OK on the crowd numbers and turnover, even if they fall from current levels slightly, and from a solvency perspective we have reduced levels of debt.

As you say, there is a risk of a significant fall in attendances if we don't start performing to our potential. I do think that we're better placed than most clubs to benefit from the quota and homegrown regulations in 2011. We'll probably have 16 British players out of 17 tomorrow (admittedly not by choice) which puts us in a strong position when the quota drops to 5 and the homegrown requirement increases to 8. We need some inspirational quota recruitment, though.