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Incoming Chief Operating Officer for the RFL, Ralph Rimmer has been confirmed as the latest speaker in the line up for the first ever Supporters Direct rugby league conference. Rimmer, who takes up his new role on October 11th has stepped in to cover for original speaker, Chris Thair who has unfortunately had to pull out of the event. He will be speaking about his role with the RFL and offering his take on supporter involvement in the game. Ralph will be joined by previously announced speakers, Robbie Paul, Danny Lockwood, Martyn Cheney and Jason McCartney along with Neil Kelly, Foundation Director at Warrington Wolves and a number of supporters trusts from across the movement. Rugby League: An Alternative Future takes place at The George Hotel Huddersfield on Saturday October 9th and aims to show supporters how they can influence the future of the game by increasing their own involvement. There are still a few places remaining for the conference and anyone interested in attending is urged to register as soon as possible so as not to be disappointed. The conference is free to attend and is open to anyone with an interest in rugby league. To register please visit the Supporters Direct website at www.supporters-direct.org or for more information, please contact Rugby League Supporters Trusts Development Officer Laura Harrison on Laura.Harrison@supporters-direct.org

Last Few Places Available for RL Conference A small number of places are still available for Supporters Directs first ever rugby league conference, to be held at The George Hotel Huddersfield on Saturday October 9th. The conference, which brings together supporters, players and journalists from across rugby league, aims to show the positive differences that can be made to the game through greater supporter involvement and representation. Laura Harrison, Rugby League Development Officer for Supporters Direct said of the conference:

Guest speakers just announced: Chris Thair, RFL Robbie Paul, professional RL player with Leigh and BBC RL pundit Danny Lockwood, Owner, League Weekly Jason McCartney, MP for Colne Valley and member of the All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group Martyn Cheney, Chair, Bramley Buffaloes and Director, Supporters Direct Plus, a number of rugby league trusts will be along on the day to share their work with delegates and show exactly how good supporters trusts can be for rugby league! To register, visit www.supporters-direct.org or for more information contact me at Laura.Harrison@supporters-direct.org

No problem at all - I'm sure there are lots of people who either don't know anything about SD or who think we do something completely different. Hopefully this conference and the continued good work of all of the supporters trusts across rugby league will help to change all of that.

Maximus, I'm not sure where you got that information from but you couldn't be further from the truth. Supporters Direct is an organisation which campaigns for greater supporter representation within professional sport. It is fact that many clubs are not being well run and this is shown by the number that have been in trouble in the last couple of years. When clubs go bust, it is the supporters who are left behind to pick up the pieces yet they are rarely given a say in how the club is being run in the first place and are expected to blindly hand over money left, right and centre and ask no questions about where it is being spent. We are trying to change this and ensure that supporters do have a say and can make sure their clubs are being run sustainably so that future generations can enjoy them as much as we do. As a rugby league supporter I do of course have my own personal opinions on licensing but these are certainly not something I push through my role as Rugby League Supporters Trusts Development Officer with Supporters Direct. The conference is for people to find out more about Supporters Direct and the good work being done by supporters trusts across rugby league. The aim is to show that there is an alternative to the boom and bust scenario we are seeing so much of at the moment. Laura Harrison Supporters Direct

Jonty is right. We will be focusing on how supporters can gain influence within their clubs in order to create more sustainable, community focussed clubs. However, our (Supporters Direct) relationship with the RFL is strong and all delegates will have the opportunity to make comments/suggestions on how they feel the game should move forward as a whole which will be passed on. The way I see it, the more supporters trusts we have working together, the more influence we can gain over the game as a whole. After all, the supporters put a great deal of money into clubs every year through support alone so why shouldn't they have a say?

Supporters Direct, the umbrella organisation that promotes supporter representation at Rugby League clubs across the UK, is pleased to announce its first ever rugby league conference, to be held on Saturday October 9th 2010 at the historic George Hotel Huddersfield. The conference, entitled