For the first time in as long as i can remember i can't see a Fax victory at Mount Pleasant this weekend. Players out, can't put 80 minutes together, same old discipline/unforced errors costing us and players with minds elsewhere give me no reason to be optimistic at all. Batley have had a bit of an upturn in form too, so another defeat on the cards for me. Here's hoping I'm wrong because we need to change our fortunes around, and quickly. P. S. no concession prices either which is becoming a worrying trend just adds to the gloom!

Batley by 30, if it does get that bad there is always the beer garden.

Indeed..we stayed there till 630 after last seasons debacle.Hard to imagine at that point that we'd beat em at Wembley...

I know I keep banging on about it, but it's complete madness. £21 to get in at Batley, you're having a laugh, it's no wonder away followings are becoming non-existent. Fev used to bring a fair few to the Shay but you could hear a pin drop when they won. How many did Widnes bring? Can't blame the absentees (I used to attend most away matches, now I don't attend any, even picking the home games). Crowd of 1,409 for the visit of Widnes compared to last season 1,685 and 2,046 in 2022. Need I say more?

I notice Batley don't publish their crowds so don't know how their own hike has impacted following last season when they charged just a tenner. But I'm guessing they'll get under 1k. Grass roots RL is slowly dying as less and less bother watching.

Most clubs at our level are stuck between a rock and a hard place. And it’s getting worse.

If you are not financially supported by someone/group/Sponsor then you have to maximise income week on week, month on month to pay the immediate wages and bills. Even clubs like Batley, well run and with an excellent owner, need to find short term cash to ensure the owner is financially drained. Hence short term focus on next home games cash and £21 entry there is no opportunity to plan for longer.

At Fax, we are now only a few weeks away from going bust unless the BOD can find cash to maintain some short term cashflow, paying off the enormous debts they have created is way beyond them. The whole semi professional edifice is on foundations made of water.

Pains me to say it, but with relegation looking likely maybe it's time to go into administration , get a big points deduction, and start from scratch. And that includes the stadium. Otherwise the BOD are just throwing good money after bad and simply kicking the can down the road.

I can see several other clubs in the same boat. A complete mess, clubs have been digging themselves a hole for several years now pricing fans out of attending. Everyone has a tipping point. Mine was 20 quid to cut down, much higher and I'll stop altogether and this is from a life long fan so you can see why it's getting almost impossible to attract new fans.

It's been said with tongue in cheek before that attendances are probably falling as fans die off. But it's true.

Was told this morning that Crooks broke his jaw on sunday if true that doesn't help with him being our only recognized centre. He is still interested in joining London but his partner doesn't want to move down south so he will have do some sweet talking to get her to change her mind.

Fortunately that's hard with a broken jaw..

Reading this thread and it just says to me IMG/SL are succeeding in their plans for the future. Job's buggered. Lindley Liberal Club. Ossett White Rat 4.0% Mmm!

the online ticket price for Batley is £21. ( £20 plus £1 admin fee )

pay at the gate is £20, for all standing plus seating areas .

( if you look 17 or under , lucky you, it is £5 )