Leigh Centurions Allan Rowley, Chief Executive - "May we take this opportunity to wish Salford and Celtic all the best but we also have to say we are thoroughly disgusted with the Celtic decision. We now have a team that fielded 10 overseas players against us because they are classed as a development team and are now in our elite competition, which is a complete contradiction of terms and we feel this decision is purely a geographical one...the decision makers should hang their heads in shame."
Ironic considering the number of Overseas players Leigh have used this season.
Leigh Centurions Allan Rowley, Chief Executive - "May we take this opportunity to wish Salford and Celtic all the best but we also have to say we are thoroughly disgusted with the Celtic decision. We now have a team that fielded 10 overseas players against us because they are classed as a development team and are now in our elite competition, which is a complete contradiction of terms and we feel this decision is purely a geographical one...the decision makers should hang their heads in shame."
Ironic considering the number of Overseas players Leigh have used this season.
Joined: Jul 25 2015 Posts: 3382 Location: Here (But Only for the Beer)
Saw one of those yellow road-sign announcements in Atherton on Tuesday and thought ahead to today's IMG meeting. It read; "Road closed here, October 13 2022."
Septimius Severus wrote:https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/will-img-succeed-where-others-have-failed-since-the-1970s/ Very interesting article, highlighting that Rugby League has been trying to put it's house in order for half a century.
I think the word should have been re-image. That’s IMG’s job. The lack of money in the sport now becomes a wake up call for all. No club is safe is how it should be.
One of the key indicators for IMG are going to be use of Social media. Many have argued that the lack of a functioning Website is not important as long as the team is successful.
According to the Social Media league table, we are due for relegation this season. Unless Leigh improve we are always going to be on the "at risk" register.
One of the key indicators for IMG are going to be use of Social media. Many have argued that the lack of a functioning Website is not important as long as the team is successful.
According to the Social Media league table, we are due for relegation this season. Unless Leigh improve we are always going to be on the "at risk" register.
It's a sad state of affairs when it's your presence on social media that will go towards whether you play in the top league or not. Should be the strength of your team on the field.
I keep saying it, but IMG are only interested in big clubs and big city clubs and making a lot of money, hence their push to get London back in the big time. Bradford will be another, and who can blame them with their history and the crowds they used to get. I don't think it will matter what small town teams like Leigh, Fev or Keighley do, they will find themselves pushed out. IMG know exactly which teams and which cities they want targeting for the top league. For now they will let all clubs think they have a chance of being at the top table and that they are trying to improve standards across all clubs but IMG are just licensing and franchising in disguise. Talk of mergers will probably rear its ugly head a few years down the line. They will implement the NRL model, franchises and mergers, because it is the only way for an international company like IMG to make a lot of money. Small town teams will be feeder clubs, if they can survive.
Rugby League is fighting a demographics war. Next time you go to the LSV look around and try to guess the average age of the people around you. I am in my 50's and feel like one of the youngest people there. Sure there are handful of under 11's, but the biggest demographic missing is teenagers and 20 somethings. Social Media is supposedly what they spend their time doing and let's face it The Leopards produce enough content to last less than 1 minute a day. Try comparing that to Man Utd, Man City or Liverpool. Leigh RL don't even have a current functioning website.
It is important and it involves a total package, Derek gets it and the Leopards rebrand is part of that. Being a regular in the top flight is only so good if they cannot reverse the demographic issues. IMG are about Media and creating a buzz, more eyes on content, more people watching games on TV and more people going through the turnstiles. The RL World Cup has finished and Super League has gone into a stupor. Everything is quiet and even the Fans Forums have hibernated.
IMG know the game is based on the M62 corridor, Leigh over Toulouse offers 6 more derbies. Derby games create local interest and rivalry, especially if the games are competitive. Wakefield v London is not what the neutral fan wants to see, but Wigan v St Helens in a feisty competitive game, twice a season is something to get excited about. Super League instead likes to reduce the number of teams and end up like Scottish Football where Celtic v Rangers is a fixture every other week.
Social Media is the key to the growth of the game, but it needs to be the right kind of content to interest all age groups.
But the most successful teams in SL are the most followed on social media, so you can rebrand as much as you like because if the team on the field isn't successful for a good number of years then figures will be low, both on social media and in attendance. Catch 22 scenario. You need to be winning trophies consistently and fielding the most exciting players that people want to watch. Edwin Ipape should boost Leigh's social media hits for example. Jai Field and Bevan French do it for Wiggin. But it still boils down to having the best team.
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