Your thoughts on the RFL...

[HKR AWAY DAYS]

Considering recently developments at Bradford, and taking into consideration Crusaders's demise, Wakefield entering administration in 2011, the loss of the Elonex deal and the non-financial sponsorship deal struck with Stobarts, how do you feel personally about the RFL?

Do you have faith in our leaderless hierarchical incumbency at present?

I always like to play devil's advocate, apply emphathy and generally look at it for all sides when I give an opinion but I think I've had just about enough the the Rugby Football League.

I have no faith in Nigel Woods; in fact, I never really did in the first place.

From a governing body, I want leadership with direction and purpose and I don't think we are getting that. When problems arise like they have been at Odsal, I want to see the RFL stamp their authority on the situation and take control. The Bradford board are largely responsible for the financial decline of the club but I didn't seen anyone from Red Hall take the 'bull by the horns' (pun intended) and kick them up the arse.

The Richard Lewis-headed RFL took the sport out of debt in 2002 and brought in franchising. In theory, the idea was the best they've ever come up with. In practice, I don't think it works as a model.

What do you think of the RFL?

[Derbysi]

I think that the RFL are guilty of lack of attention to detail. They should've picked up on Bradford's situation during the licencing applications.

But I don't hold them responsible for the problems. The RFL didn't cover up problems and lie, and the RFL didn't selll season tickets so cheap that there was clearly something fishy going on.

Licencing in theroy works. It also works in practice (look at american sports teams). But it needs the clubs to live within their means. Greed causes clubs to spend more than they can afford. The point of licencing is to releive the pressure to do this. Look at puffball. How many teams get relegated from the premier league and then plumet down to league 1 & 2, picking up administration along the way? There's no way Rugby can support that system.

I propose that we stick with licencing, but any club entering administration is automatically refused one next time around. If their is a team ready to step up, then they should be able to do so immediately if this happens.

With regards the current situation, the Bulls have to finish this season, even if that means the RFL paying the players. But there's no way that they should be granted a licence for 2015. And the checks clearly need to be tightened up.

One thing I do like about the RFL is their willingness to try something new. The "pick your opponent" system for the playoffs is something I don't like myself, but they gave it a go. Same with the magic weekend, which I think is fantastic.

[The Swede]

I made my feelings known on the RFL in an article a month ago:

http://www.superleaguefans.com/rugby-lea...truth.html

[westy_warrior]

Great post Derby there, totally agree. They are not to blame for the cover ups and lies of certain clubs, the clubs themselves are, yes they could look more in detail at clubs financies but that easy to say in hignsight (sp).

When they put on a great weekend like Magic and "supporters" of our game manage a megre 60k attendance despit it being an or 2 away from most fans and the tickets being cheap as chips then what are they supposed to do? When they cant fill out Wembley for a CC Final again even though they offer great deals then what are they supposed to do? When attendances drop for the play offs cos people wont pay an extra 20 quid then what can they do?

I'm not ssaying the RFL are flawless, they are far from it but when the so called fans of this game cant be arsed leaving their northern town or spending a bit of cash to support the game then they are swimming against the tied all day long. Coming on here and posting every day slagging the RFL is no good unless your helping the game yourself by supporting it.

[MossdaleRhino]

The RFL like to promote our sport as being innovative with stuff like licensing, Magic Week-End, club-call etc etc....And to a point that's fair enough, but when something appears to be unpopular with us supporters, or has problems of another nature, they do seem stuck in their ways and will carry on with the plan regardless. The recent problems with Wakefield, Crusaders, and now Bradford, is a clear sign to me that something is wrong with the licensing system, because that's three clubs who were awarded three year franchises, only to fail the requirements of their submitted business plans. Clearly they are not being thorough enough when looking at clubs business plans. In the case of Bradford, I will concede that things seem to have been covered up, so it's not the sole fault of the RFL in this case.
With other aspects of the game, they are not doing a completely hopeless job, but there are always lessons to learn.
One thing I would say, is that with the current plight of the Bradford Bulls, the silence from Red Hall has been deafening, and that should be a concern, that the RFL idly stand by while one of our most famous and historic clubs potentially goes to the wall, leaving Mr Guilfoyle to pick up the pieces. The RFL could be much more proactive, and public with statements regarding this situation, to keep fans informed and aware that they do actually care!!

[westy_warrior]

(07-04-2012 12:40 PM)MossdaleRhino Wrote:  The RFL like to promote our sport as being innovative with stuff like licensing, Magic Week-End, club-call etc etc....And to a point that's fair enough, but when something appears to be unpopular with us supporters, or has problems of another nature, they do seem stuck in their ways and will carry on with the plan regardless. The recent problems with Wakefield, Crusaders, and now Bradford, is a clear sign to me that something is wrong with the licensing system, because that's three clubs who were awarded three year franchises, only to fail the requirements of their submitted business plans. Clearly they are not being thorough enough when looking at clubs business plans. In the case of Bradford, I will concede that things seem to have been covered up, so it's not the sole fault of the RFL in this case.
With other aspects of the game, they are not doing a completely hopeless job, but there are always lessons to learn.
One thing I would say, is that with the current plight of the Bradford Bulls, the silence from Red Hall has been deafening, and that should be a concern, that the RFL idly stand by while one of our most famous and historic clubs potentially goes to the wall, leaving Mr Guilfoyle to pick up the pieces. The RFL could be much more proactive, and public with statements regarding this situation, to keep fans informed and aware that they do actually care!!

Totally agree with the bit ive highlighted!!

[Cheese]

fans always demand to know more than they r entitled to, then claim more knowledge than they are entitled to.

[eddington]

(07-04-2012 12:30 PM)westy_warrior Wrote:  Great post Derby there, totally agree. They are not to blame for the cover ups and lies of certain clubs, the clubs themselves are, yes they could look more in detail at clubs financies but that easy to say in hignsight (sp).

When they put on a great weekend like Magic and "supporters" of our game manage a megre 60k attendance despit it being an or 2 away from most fans and the tickets being cheap as chips then what are they supposed to do? When they cant fill out Wembley for a CC Final again even though they offer great deals then what are they supposed to do? When attendances drop for the play offs cos people wont pay an extra 20 quid then what can they do?

I'm not ssaying the RFL are flawless, they are far from it but when the so called fans of this game cant be arsed leaving their northern town or spending a bit of cash to support the game then they are swimming against the tied all day long. Coming on here and posting every day slagging the RFL is no good unless your helping the game yourself by supporting it.

Superb post! Those who shout loudest.................etc

[Gateaux]

I agree with Derby and most of what westy said. However as good as the RFL are getting at promoting events to existing fans (I get at least 6 flyers through the post for everything!) I do have doubts over the amount of promotion the RFL do to encourage newcomers to these things and it would see there could be room for improvement in that area.

I do think in some ways the RFL like to try to run before they can walk though, they take an idea like Crusaders and push them so fast it ends up being damaging.

[MossdaleRhino]

(07-04-2012 01:44 PM)Gateaux Wrote:  I agree with Derby and most of what westy said. However as good as the RFL are getting at promoting events to existing fans (I get at least 6 flyers through the post for everything!) I do have doubts over the amount of promotion the RFL do to encourage newcomers to these things and it would see there could be room for improvement in that area.

I do think in some ways the RFL like to try to run before they can walk though, they take an idea like Crusaders and push them so fast it ends up being damaging.

Takng that point, re attracting newcomers to the sport, thay have an ideal chance to get that right with the 2013 RLWC coming up in this country. The trouble is, as pointed out, the publicity flyers get sent out to established rl supporters, (I get them too!!), so a much more general media campaign is needed, perhaps some TV advertising or similar, to attract new customers through the gates. The problem is, we all know that almost certainly will not happen.