Regret to say that 'knocking-back' crowd numbers by 'fans' is nothing new - it's been going on for years. In particular from clubs who have feel they are going to be hurt by these gates etc.

However know it's a load of balls......no club will inflate it's gate for two reasons that they have to pay a percentage of the gate monies to the RFL and second the local 'tax' office will be noting these numbers and checking them against the VAT/TVA paid or payable.

To be quite frank no club will 'inflate' their gate as it's going to cost them 'higher' tax payments........

So suggest Barrow, Widnes, Fev. & Leigh fans SHUT UP otherwise you may have HM C&E/Inland Rev. 'black' squad starting to take an 'interest' in your own returns.

There are many ways to inflate an "attendance" without actually doing anything to affect tax bills etc. Just so you know.

Sure, but that's through freebies - which would be real attendence and not the imaginary attendence implied.

Usually you would expect attendence to be higher than turnstiled attendence, since it goes on tickets "sold" (including freebies).

Are there lots of free tickets which end up not being used? If so it could explain the difference between the official number and what we can see in the stadium...

Indeed. Wouldn't be surprised if there have been a number of free tickets given away for each game that haven't been used, but have included in the attendance anyway (which, considering virtually every other club in the UK operates this practice, is fair game)

Wrong you pay vat on money into the club,not on stated attendances that is why lots of clubs give kids free tickets away.

Last year, when Wigan swam to victory against us, our ground was supposedly sold out, but was only 95% full. It doesn't just have to be freebies, it can also just be last minute change of plans.