I did get the impression it's a bit make-or-break this season. The North and South stands possibly closed next season if crowds don't improve. Onky 200 or so passes sold in October. Pearson is desperate to rally sales and push for a better atmosphere (mentioned the new floodlights contributing to that). Although he insisted vocally on being 'professional' and 'diplomatic', it's clear it's all out war with the Allams.

He mentioned several times we are being 'squeezed' and he only just managed to broker the deal to keep the full stadium open for the next 12 months. If gates fall below an average 9500 he will struggle to fight that position next year. Then it's the slippery slope.

What was most telling is he cited the huge debts of the SMC as their leverage and justification for this. He also stated that he cannot understand while the SMC balance-sheet situation is so 'complicated' when it was very simple - and marginally profitable - when he ran it.

It was also mentioned that the relationship with the SMC was previously 'amicable' whereas now... it isn't. Now it is 'functional'.

The Allams, he said, are 100% definite in their desire to sell the club. Presumably that aspiration would be much simpler with us 'squeezed out'.

Now is the time to rally. If every family could introduce one new passholder, or convince a stay-away to return, that'd probably do it.

Of course there will be other factors at play but the main one will always be what happens on the pitch week in week out, maybe those staying away have simply been worn down over a period of time.

he's failing to see that the dropping attendance is down to him and his decisions. We're bored of his empty promises and inability to make good decisions in terms of recruitment.

No pass for me this year but I'll be there first game of the season. I just hope I'm made to eat large portions of humble pie.

Why do Leeds, Wigan and Saints make a success of choosing Fridays? I agree on the family point to some extent, but for us Fridays are less disruptive to the weekend in the summer. It's certainly not clear cut IMO.

I hope we stick with Friday's tbh

For me that about encapsulates it all well said. James Smailes said tonight to me that tomorrows Mail front page and additional articles inside will make worrying reading for us all. Its about the state of the SMC and what they intend to do next!

He tweeted "Had a chat with Pearson this afternoon. Some very strong words in tomorrow's HDM which Adam may touch on tonight regarding attendances & SMC"

I agree that Fridays are the best option from a family perspective as it leaves us one full day (Sunday) to do family things. I've never understood the late night issue as it's Saturday the next day and night matches are part and parcel of the excitement of being a kid and going to rugby. I well remember the thrill when I was small.

Personally, I'd like a couple of Sundays chucked into the mix as there's nothing nicer than a balmy stroll down to the Stadium via Sunday lunch and a few drinks then a leisurely stroll back. But too many leaves too little family time if the whole family -like mine- aren't addicts.

Plus what about the kids who play Sunday rugby. A few parents were chuntering about that tonight when the point was raised.

End of the day, the preference will always be a split. No sauce suits every gander.

Does anyone know if it will be put on FCLive as a podcast or a video at any point? Working tonight and no chance to listen to it.

I think they said it will be on fclive as a free video/podcast.

If the stayaway (apart from going to Wembley) supporters are waiting for a successful club they might find the club disappears before they see it.

I understand people's frustrations and impatience but the club need to be backed in numbers now.

The idea that a move to Sundays would improve attendances is a complete red herring.

This year we played Widnes and Wakefield on Sundays and got 10,306 and 10,088 respectively.

In 2012 we switched to Sunday games and our average attendance dropped about 5% compared to 2011. Only the opening game against Warrington drew more than 12,000 apart from the Good Friday derby.

Most of our big attendances (aside from the 19k against Bradford in 2003) have been Friday night games.

There are arguments both ways, of course. Some will always want Sunday fixtures, some (me included) Fridays. There are far more things for people to do on a Sunday compared to, say, twenty years ago. Especially people with children.

"In any kind of weather" unless we are losing. How anyone can call Pearson is beyond me. He is not making threats he is stating the obvious. IMO whatever day/night we play some will not like it but what can he do either way he cannot win.Yes he wants fans to spend money without that we have no club its not rocket science ,do fans expect him to fund it all out his own pocket? for gods sake get real.What did fans want him to say ,"we are not selling passes but i dont really care" he is asking why?he wants whats best for the Club and unless fans buy into it then it will be the end,,rant over

I didn't get a chance to listen to the forum but here's my take on things. I think pearson's period in charge has been very much a mixed bag. I'm grateful for him coming in and effectively saving the club through significant amounts of his own money being pumped in. He has done some good things, including trying to improve the culture, improving player welfare and investing in facilities and youth development. He has also made some monumental mistakes during that time which have damaged the club significantly IMO.

The worst of these was misjudging his position with the allams whilst at city and crossing them in a way which we are still suffering for (And looking like it could get much worse). allam appears to be a man who holds a grudge and even worse, seems like he's prepared to be vindictive in achieving what he sees as redress against those who cross him. You only have to look at his treatment of city's fans who have dared to question his running of that club. I've said since allam's first rumblings over the stadium that it will end badly for us and I still hold to that opinion.

pearson has also made some major feck ups in running the club. Firstly in trusting mcrae, who seemed to have his own agenda in working with howes and his recruitment strategy, through to firing a coach who wasn't perfect but who had taken us to 2 top 6 finishes and a wembley final (Yes I know it was a disaster on the day and the huddersfield game was a shambles but you have to question why he'd "lost" the players by that point) and then appointing a very inexperienced coach who took us to our worst finish since the dark early days of agar's tenure.

Communication and marketing seem to have got much worse for me in the last 3 years. Every article I read on the website is poorly constructed and seems to be written in the style of a local radio presenter (Which is, perhaps, what it is). We've also have a situation where we have so few businesses involved with the club that there have been occassions where the circle restaurant hasn't even opened. This a is a far cry from when I used to go in there and the place was packed. Do we have any professional marketers at the club? For all his faults, rule was very good on the marketing front but things have declined since he left.

I have bought my pass and will continue to support the club but I can fully understand those who have made the decision not to after too many seasons of false hope .

Anyway, just y take and I'm sure there will be plenty ready to shoot me down

Is rlTHISrl allam saying it's his stadium and he can do what he wants with it or him firing the first shots in a legal battle against the council?

Exactly what I was going to say, we've tried Sunday rugby and it wasn't any better, and the club finds it easier to get Corporate fans in on a Friday night.

with people working ever different times and days in the modern world I don't think there's a perfect time/day for everyone to attend a game anymore. IMO the biggest factors in our crowds are our form/confidence in the team and whether the game is on SKY or not.