idrewthehaggis

Just after quitting rugby to be a "mature" student, I meet a fella in a Derby RL top at a chippie at the junction of Abbey and Burton Road. The lad was from Cas I think and I took the chance to ask him about his shirt. He told me that there was a burgeoning RL community in the east Midlands still reeling from Uncle Mo's collapsing of Nottingham some years before. I declined the opportunity to try it (sadly), picked up our respective fish suppers and departed. So for me it makes complete sense for Midland to branch out. People need to understand the perspective. This is League One in front of a few hundred if that. More fellas will be having a pie at Pride Park at half time most Saturdays (even against lofty opponents like erm Stevenage haha)than there. Maybe it will revive RL there, maybe not. Maybe fish supper fella will greet you. I hope so.

And Play off games. I guess then-as suggested by others-that a form of refunds would need to be arranged. Easier said than done. Padge. if you accept his premise that there isn't enough SL level players to fill 14 top level teams, don't people think RL should have a long term plan to reverse this?

Toby comfortably one of the best posts on here, guided by reasoned, sensible consideration. This is no panacea, magic bullet or forever charm. It is though a wise modest immediate solution to keeping Salford competitive and the lack of a sugar daddy. It is also a significant victory for supporters democracy. Maybe it's success might inspire others. Indeed imagine the wealth say a crowd funder or bond could have raised for the RFL if such schemes had been run since the birth of SL. Literally millions. Good grief.

Well well. £364,270 raised. 1291 investors. It belongs to you and me. Let my people sing at the People's Club!

I tend to agree, but both models envisaged, first by the club/Dennett and Burnham and the other by IMG implies alot about the communitarian aspects imagined.

£271,000 and 960 donations as we speak. A bid is being written to use this to claim further grants. Overall, it's a remarkable victory for the club, but especially the fans. We are the People!

Gifts for others.

£200,000 raised so far this afternoon. Almost 800 co-owners. Possibly an extra £750,000 could be in coming from various grants due to the nature of the crowd funder, following from Tuesday's meeting between club officials and co-owners.

Clearly what this forum is lacking is some threads about Salford........

Well so far yes, but I am minded to imagine first there will be some fee to remain a stakeholder and that there will be concurrent fund raisers. If you re-read my post, I was speculating on a RFL supporters Bond.

And as the sun falls on this Saturday, the total is £131,000 from 470 supporters. 1/10 of average attendance. Like an extra game. Or an extra 5,000 fans on the gate. That and the unique benefits of the democratization of the club and the Game. Thought is imagine if the RFL had established such a similar supporters Bond from day one. Each year 1/10 of the 110,000 total support of SL clubs, investing £100 per season over 25 plus years. Are we talking the millions that would make the difference?

The other code was lucky in previously having the likes of MacLaren, Eddie Butler and Cliff Morgan. Lads whose luxurious, rich rhythms out weighted the sense of privilege and often dullarity attached to that sport. An era of embracing the tonality as much as the talk. RL was unlucky in having end of the Blackpool pier showmanship in Eddie et al, evoking a sense less of remarkable voices and more a gaggle of Butch Dingles let loose to express their sharp eyed parochialism and random violence. #### up or conspiracy, we seemed to lack, miss having our own well honed, knowledgeable voice who was a pleasure to listen to, irrespective of how compelling the game was or not. I would argue that era is over. Instead it is either the perfectly acceptable office efficient voices like Dave Woods or bantz. Think Chris Sutton, Alan Brazil, David Flatman, Jon Wilkins. Often unnecessarily contradictory, sometimes mindless or trite. Always provoking. Which is the point. For me RL is an honest, tough but hugely technical and skilful game and thus its commentary should reflect that. Certainly less the crushing "iron man" cargo cult which seems dated now. And more the adeptness and resilience. People who are approachable, smart, knowledgeable and able to use the definite article in a sentence would make the ideal commentator today. More Dave Woods then.

Mature sensible post Ray. Just to say back when Koukash asked for feedback on a possible re-design, I and a number of supporters argued SRD should be looking to fan ownership like FC United for inspiration. The Supporters Trust have long advocated this. And King announced it was going to be delivered this year, last summer. So no, it isn't born this Spring as a last desperate action. It is a long term desire.

Mature sensible post Ray. Just to say back when Koukash asked for feedback on a possible, I and a number of supporters argued SRD should be looking to fan owners like FC United for inspiration. Was that 2017/18. The Supporters Trust have advocated it for the last few years. And King announced it was going to be delivered last summer. So no, it isn't born this Spring as a last gasp desperate action. Covid left all bar Wakey in debt. Relying on the fans is the right thing as without a sugar daddy to pay off any debt/cost as "loans" then what else is there. Plus this is essentially about remaining competitive rather than just remaining alive.

Nay visionary, surely a prophet our Oxford. And ye Prophet spoketh from ye terrace to ye doubters, who amassed numerous a plenty . "What ye who have little faith in the Community Shares scheme? Are ye so afflicted by ye demons of malevolence, of spite and ye foulless of reason?" announced ye Prophet. But the throng replied as one;"Can ye nay heareth the cries that you have nearly runneth out of road! Surely tides of great peril awaiteth ye Salford bretheren.?" For which the Prophet replied: "For I do aye, heareth the distant rumblings, but more so the greater song of triumph against adversely ringeth in thy dirty oldeth town." And from ye market place, the story was passed around of the rightness of the Salford brotherhood and how their numbers had exceeded 63000 on the first dayeth. And ye blessedeth cried mightily at ye generous and fruitethful gifts received.

Hey ho the auld RL family Oxford. The People' Club. Full or partial citizen ownership is significantly more democratically and morally better. It turns a mere sporting club into a community asset. Added to the facilities becoming wholly council owned, SRD can truly claim to be RL's People's Club. There is a spectrum of what people ownership can develop into. Everything from 50+1 German model to membership run FC United or Wimbledon. Then there is John Lewis', Nationwide, the Co-Op and Arla. Each have well publicised strengths and weaknesses. At this time, this proposal seems correct for Solly. Bereft of a "sugar daddy" recruiting the fans makes economic sense. It additionally throws a light of the Sport's owners finances, the fiscal doping, the levels of debt masquerading as "loans" and the "curious" sources of the monies. Join the evolution now. You know it's right. https://salfordreddevils.net/owntheclub/

Surely the reality is 6 grade A clubs and around another 12 at B. Some will struggle to become an A. Cas/Wakey/Bradford-grounds, SRD/London-crowds, Widnes-finances. So is it one division and grading is rewarded in other ways, and gradings is to stay in or be replaced. Or two small divisions with a contrived form of P/R?

Good old RFL eh...... I read Toppey's post. Grading might/should raise standards, and the Saint and all is right in pointing this out as a defining means to secure the Game. But surely IMG's chief role is to help increase revenues, coverage and participation. Directed correctly, then only this can bring a comprehensive increase standards. Otherwise it's merely changing the deckchairs with the added aspect of an even entrenched rigged system.

Which role? Surely neither DS George Carter in The Sweeney or enforcer Terry McCann in Minder. Nor Dennis playing Bob Jones, captain of Lipton Cup winners West Auckland FC. A one off football world trophy or in Stay Lucky where he was as Wikipedia says: "Drama about a small-time gangster Thomas Gynn from London who discovers a new life up north in Yorkshire." On another note is this a proposed flesh n blood contest ? If I get myself down to one of the franchise's with me boots, will I get a game? Or is it an E sport online or dare I say Rugby Subbeteo?

Another good post. You can see why IMG have dangled the carrot of SL near permance as a valid prize for clubs to achieve an A grading. You can arguably see it's working positively - ersaltz Elvis -Leigh, new stand at Wakefield, fan engagement-Salford, bog rolls- Castleford. The uncertainty arises not in A graders being in the "elite" but in - a. Are we talking about P and R or not? b. If so who, how gets in/out c, if not, where, who draws the line? But this refers to structure. Personally I am as keen on how IMG can suggest increasing revenue, coverage and participation. Tortuous?

Fair response. My thoughts. Yeah I would hope most wise RL fans can distinguish that the criticized words are of the individuals concerned and not a reflection on the views of the supporters. That's why I am certain people would prefer to hear about what KCRLFC do in the community than the sub-Brexitarian/parochial yokel mutterings of some ephermal gone tomorrow suit. I agree with your notion of a half dozen of A raters and another dozen of Bs. Will be be two small leagues or one "Senior" division and the rest in an "Immediate" NSW Cup style tournament here.? I do question whether this will entrench the Lucky Few. And if it encourages bogus recording for bogus grading which would render the Game as dodgy as the Stasi bias DDR league was. Good post. Non the less.

Aside from 3 of the 4 Irish Provinces, no rugby club in any code consistently travels abroad in big numbers. Pretty much a poor argument. Oh course the streets of Keighley would be deserted as it's fine folk would have flocked en masse if the Cougars were in a final lost in France. RL seems to be making a challenging job even more so. In essence we have asked IMG ways to increase revenue, coverage and maybe participation. We want a premier division with high standards, with the thrill/despair of promotion/relegation to a second tier, which should be packed with clubs able to bridge the gap. And ideally we should be playing Australia and NZ. Why has it become so tortuous then?

Good to agree. I hope IMG can be that impartial agency, although I'd prefer something wholly separate (with appropriate industrial knowledge). Two additional issues I'd like people think about- Should us fans have a say? I do. Would it be better if there was an end plan for those regarded at B grade. Clear identifiers what is needed to be an A. And a collective support plan than rely on individual clubs to achieve this.

Well I would not dispute we have some clarity, but some true transparency? It's great to know that 25% of the gradings will be devoted to say Fandom (sic). But what exactly does: "encouraging clubs to attract more fans in stadia, both at home and digitally, and improve fan engagement, contributing to both club and central revenues," mean? We only have recommendations. But personally I would prefer an open access working document with clear definitions of what and why each gradings are achieved. And an industrial impartial agency to adjudge those gradings and a collective plan/support to upgrade.

So essentially that would- Replace an objective test (league win points) with the subjective (Grading points decided by a committee). Done purely likes would in my opinion breed allegations of unfairness, strengthen the thought the Sport has a proclivity for random, chaos coupled with dysfunctional, parochialism for a handful of clubs. I suspect gradings will be a proviso for where a club is placed, but secondary to on field form.