Fairly interesting read overall and quite an honest view from AP, especially acknowledging that he has said similar things before and not got the results/performances though its does seem different this coming season.
Also the bit about IMG needing to be a success for the sake of the future of top flight pro RL.

Time seems right to do a lease deal, theres a better relationship with the SMC, a new party in power at the council and in this economic climate I cant see City wanting to have to cover all the stadium bills themselves. Likewise we realistically dont have the cash to build even a small new ground.

And yes there has been hype and no delivery many off seasons, but this is the first year I remember the staff and training facilities have so many changes so that will make it different (for better or worse) usually a big new signing arrives as a sticking plaster measure (Reynolds being the latest saviour) this time we seem serious in trying to find the root causes of our mediocre performances.

The new leader of the Council was interviewed this morning, talking about the stadium being very much our home hence why we are one of the parties round the table on development plans - he sounds keen for more detail to be made public in the near future. Hull Fair to be factored into redevelopment of the area with different funding options, would imagine some public money will be made available one way or another.

The improvement in relations between Hull and the SMC is certainly welcome. Hopefully no more of the nonsense we had under the previous SMC owners like the taking down of framed photos.

Fair to say though that at only twenty the MKM is looking a little tired and needs some TLC.

As you say there has been hype previous off seasons but I think it’s fair to say this is the first season we’ve actively addressed a number of the issues
Complete overhaul of coaching set up with experienced head coach, moved to new training facility complex, a new spine with pace and also addressing the fitness & injury problems.

So all in all it’s a much more organised and thought out host of changes rather than gambles. ,

Not like you to be negative. Has someone cracked your account? Let’s wait until we see what happens in the first few weeks before you write everything off.

Don’t even think it’s about next season. Hopefully TS will build some foundations for future years.

Agree, fans need to be patient and understand it may be 6th if everything clicks and goes out way, but could be 10th if we get a bad injury run and suspensions.

As long as we are heading in the right direction I will be happy. In particular I want to see some wins in August and September. 2 points are 2 points whenever you win them in a season but for the sake of morale, and ticket and merchandise sales we need to stop our end of season slumps.

Just seen Hull Live are saying season pass sales are steady at 5k, think we were down at 6.5k last year. So probably end up around that level.

Does mean stadium is now a third full rather than half full like it was the end of the 00s though and that small difference makes a big difference in atmosphere. But not just our disapointing seasons causing that, I saw Warrington said the other week the average age of their fan base is in their 50s and getting older. The game needs this latest big revamp to work.

Agree with both posts re the future, the changes made are what has been needed and what as fans we have been asking for. With so many contracts ending after this up coming season then the time between now and 2024 is important to build the foundations and get the recruitment right.

This close season and pre season does seem to have a different feel to it. Whilst I don’t think we will be a top 4 side I do think Smith has the experience and proven record to get a big improvement out of the players at his disposal.
As long as we show real signs of improvement and competing win of lose then that’s a massive plus and so things things look promising.

To me there seems a lot of 'love-in' going on re the Stadium.
For me - let the Turk build what he likes and I can already see AP sorting a very healthy new lease for us as part of the FC wave through for developments.

Hope the club can at least exceed last years total of 6.5K passes, a lot of changes made and one of the cheapest passes in SL on offer, the incentives have been made by the club.

Keep paying your rent and you probably won't have a problem. The price will be going up mind.

As Adam Pearson said when Rovers purchased Craven Park 'I can only look at Hull KR with envy'.

Won’t feed the troll

Hopefully we can get back to enjoying our rugby again, and still competing up until the end of the season.

Have a feeling there’s things going on that we’re not aware of behind the scenes.

With all what people have to worry about, an entertaining rugby team will be a welcome distraction.

I quote Sewell

“ it’s shabby sheek”

I’ve been laughing for weeks at that