With promotion looking very likely and the team playing exceptionally well, what plans to the club have to radically improve the poor fanbase so the club could be competetive in the Championship?

It's going to be tough, the aim is to move back to blackpool from fylde ru but I don't know if that'll change a lot if they keep being as poorly publicised as they currently are. If Blackpool get promotion to the prem that will just leave any panther achievement in the background and so very few locals will take interest, so that could have an effect too. I have my own thoughts on things but I don't think many panthers people will agree so I don't want to start more fallouts!

Go on, if you've got ideas let 'em roll.

Just because others may not agree doesn't mean it's not a valid idea

As long as it doesn't involve moving to Chorley you'll be fine

I certainly believe that there are people who won't travel to Fylde RU to watch us for a variety of reasons which I've posted before. The locals in LSA just don't seem interested, the demographic of the population is wrong for RL imho.

Don't get me wrong, I like Fylde's set up and it suits me fine as I live no more than 6-7 minutes drive from the ground.

It also appears to be the board's stated aim that should we make the Championship a return to Blackpool is a vital part of the equation.

My worry is that whatever we do there wouldn't be that much more local interest, history should teach us that. A local fanbase of 500+ is attainable in Blackpool, but how many beyond that I wouldn't like to guess.

The club does appear to be trying to improve things, but you do feel all too often they are "preaching to the converted".

The veiled threats on the official website don't sit too comfortably either; it basically reads as "use it or lose it", which in one sense I can understand, but it does smack of desperation which is a turn off to many.

The current crest of a wave the football club is on won't be helping either; people only have so much spare cash to spend (moreso than ever at the moment) and BFC potentially heading for the Premiership is huge news and also a big drain on sports fans' pockets.

I don't know what the quick solution is, in truth, I doubt there is a [iquick[/i one.

If the amount of promotion work and that with the schools was viewed as a long term project then there may be an upsurge in longer term support over time.

But to expect it to have massive effects instantly, in the current financial climate, simply isn't particularly realistic.

Just saw what you were on about on the official site at the bottom of the write up on the gateshead game. What a joke. I don't really see why they've done that, maybe they should've put the try scorers down correctly before they issue threats to the fans!

Here is something I want to see - individual advertising on the remaining home games:
Oldham and hunslet to be marketed as widely as possible promotion deciders
Skolars to be cut price tickets otherwise people will do other things as fans don't enjoy walkovers all the time.
Maybe quid a kid or something for south wales, or play on the 'scorpions' name by offering special deals through blackpool scorpions.

I also think the supporters club need to be more visible. I go to most home games, try and keep up on things through the internet etc. but I wouldn't know who to contact about away trips really, or any other supporters club stuff. Stronger supporter relationships would be a good thing.

A ticket outlet in blackpool, even if its on the reception of bobby's hotels so no extra costs. Flyers in whatever the sports fan pubs are in blackpool, st annes and lytham and also in blossoms and fairhaven which are near woodlands. Both things I want to see. The odd radio spot, more coverage in the gazette and express etc. should be possible. I've heard all the old "they aren't interested in us" stuff, but make them interested! Hand the stories to them! There are small things that could be done to raise the profile, which would increase fan base through time and persistence.

Some of my ideas there - and if some of them already exist I apologise but the club haven't made me aware.

I think the potential move to Blackpool is seen as a saving grace by the powers that be at the club, but it is used as an excuse for the low attendances. The club would have to find somewhere very cheap to rent to make any increase in attendances make extra profits and not just be wasted on the extra cost of playing actually in Blackpool- it would seem that the deal at Fylde results in little rental cost but then the club loses out in any food/beer revenues. Did the club not already try playing in Blackpool and was forced to move to Fylde as the attendances did not cover the cost of Bloomfield Road? If Blackpool FC go up, then the club has no chance of renting there for a season.

The issue the club should be looking at is how to increase the fan base. The work in schools done by Nick will help to improve awareness of the sport and may get a few kids along with their Dad's in tow. However, this is a long term strategy and not a quick fix that the club needs. How about targeting local (all the fylde coast) businesses and trying to flog them tickets in bulk and cheap- this could be sub-let to a telesales centre to do the ringing around, and give them a cut of the sales revenue.

Communication from the club is the main problem- we hear very little, and I have to go hunting to find stuff out- albeit the website has improved of late but still gets key things like the fixtures wrong! How about the club writing the game reviews/ articles themselves and then passing them on to the Gazette/ Lancashire Evening Post/ LSA Express- if they don't print them, so be it, but if they are short of material, I think they will.

Promotion will bring about an increase in attendances as club's like Leigh & Widnes will bring a number of away fans- I can imagine 1k wouldn't be ridiculous. Can you imagine how outnumbered we would be though!

Considering Bobby Hope seems to support the team, I am surprised he doesn't try to sell his hotel rooms at discount rates to visiting fans and try to push the weekend break angle- "Call xxxxxxxxxxxx and quote Blackpool Panthers and get a room the night before the game for £40 (or whatever)- subject to availability" This way he would be getting revenue on both counts- in his hotel and on the turnstile. Why doesn't he ask his hotel sales staff to send emails to clubs asking them to advertise hotel deals on their respective websites and also post on the various fans forums.

Everything that has been discussed so far has been mentioned before, but has still not been taken up by the club. Simply threatening the fans who already attend will not boost numbers, it will just hack people off. If the club cannot attract fans now as we have a successful team, high media coverage with the Gateshead scoreline and the Leeds game, and a good coach, then I fear that the club will never develop it's fan base.

Glad it's not just me then - stop putting these stuopid comments on the base of match reports, it obviously is getting people's backs up!

be positive in everything you put out as a media communication, anything negative will get seized upon.

Look at the RFL website and read some of the press releases from other clubs and you'll get the idea.

I know we've had a few good news stories on there, but as much as the publicity regarding our community work is great, it's not getting extra people through the turnstiles. BANG THE DRUM ABOUT HOW GOOD THE TEAM IS, that will have more chance of putting bums on seats.

And for goodness sakes start getting some news out there - news on the team, injuries, latest on the Wigan tie up etc. As has been said elsewhere, if the hardcore fans have to trawl to find news, the new fan isn't going to know where to look.

Make more use of the Gazette, the LSA Express and for goodness sakes get more positive on field related stuff on the website.

The fixture list is inaccurate and the download too, the former doesn't even load properly on some browsers, how on earth do you expect people to come when it's not clear when the games are due to take place.

Much of this is in their own hands - stop threatening those that do turn up and start using the tools available to spread the word. We certainly are, my mates are sick of hearing about us!!

Would be good if we could get some response to our suggestions/criticisms from someone inside the club. And maybe some sort of information on what is being done! Would love a weekly update on the website on injuries - could be combined with announcement on squad for the next games, which are known because they have to give 19 man squad to rfl I thought

Was looking for a match report/ match views on the Oldham forums on total rl website and came across this thread...

rlhttp://www.totalrl.com/index.php?showtopic

No idea if there is any truth in it as I can imagine that both teams on Sun are hoping our promotion push comes off the tracks and it may just be hearsay.

However, I can also see it being plausible after the recent comments made at the bottom of the recent match reports!

Does any one know anything to support this rumour/ dismiss it?

I suspect it's nothing more than rumour mongering - putting two and two together and getting five.

Panthers win lots of games, have good players in squad, must be on big money, but gates are poor, benefactor gets disheartened therefore pulls plug.

It's happened that many times before in RL that it's inevitable that someone is going to reach that conclusion.

Equally though, you have to assume now that any chance of playing at Bloomfield Road next season is a non starter, so where do we go if Fylde isn't the answer?

(the first one that says Chorley will be sent to the funny farm )

The BFC situation plus the lack of support does raise some questions though, some clarification of our position and aims for the future from the board would be welcome.

Meaning to post about this for a week (tried once but phone messed up!) Got to reading bobby hope's letter from the gateshead game. Few interesting points:

"as you are aware I personally provided Martin with the funds to assemble the team, but we do need help in many other areas" followed at the end by "i have done my best and now ask all our supporters to help your club to bring in the extra income to further the success of the blackpool panthers" - not too positive a message from the chairman, suggests what is feared thar he is getting frustrated and bored of the project. And also, that all he considered was the playing side of things. I'm sure this isn't the case, but I revisit the what did we need more - halliwell or marketing argument?

"the new panthers fundraising shop situated at 76 waterloo road (next to betfred) is in need of donations" - I hadn't heard of it. Anyone been? Does it just sell second hand stuff or does it sell merchandise and tickets etc.?

Also, wonder if we will be having fans meeting like last year. That'd be good.

It is a second hand shop but also devotes one window to club merch, I popped in and bought a Panthers t-shirt a couple of weeks back. Chap in there said that trade hasn't been too bad. Re. Hobson/disciplinary actions you can read any cases referred to the RFL at the following link www.therfl.co.uk/about/disciplinary.php You will see that this is up to date and there is no mention of any Panthers players since Leather a couple of months back. I found this as a few weeks back someone supposedly "in the know" told my mate that a number of our players has been cited. Load of rubbish it turned out to be.

It is a second hand shop but also devotes one window to club merch, I popped in and bought a Panthers t-shirt a couple of weeks back. Chap in there said that trade hasn't been too bad. Re. Hobson/disciplinary actions you can read any cases referred to the RFL at the following link www.therfl.co.uk/about/disciplinary.php You will see that this is up to date and there is no mention of any Panthers players since Leather a couple of months back. I found this as a few weeks back someone supposedly "in the know" told my mate that a number of our players has been cited. Load of rubbish it turned out to be.

Oops note quite up to date obviously. Mr Hobson could be in deep do by the looks of it. www.therfl.co.uk/about/disciplinary.php

Oops note quite up to date obviously. Mr Hobson could be in deep do by the looks of it. www.therfl.co.uk/about/disciplinary.php

current location at Fylde rugby club is the problem - area is populated by older people and is mainly a rugby union area. So not the best start to begin with. Other problem is local press - Panthers dont get much press coverage and if they do is very poor indeed. We have a good squad this season and the away game at the super league champions Leeds rhinos proved we can get fans as 150 made the trip. Where are these people every week? Move to blackpool and we would get better crowds and im sure would get holidaymakers coming along to catch a game. Club should av kicked on from the leeds game. I am now getting involved with the blackpool rugby league supporters club. Anyone want anymore info just give me a shout