Top post squire


Well thought out with a reasoned point of view, unfortunately the usual culprits won't see it that way.

I support Wakefield Trinity and M C just happens to be the chairman. My views on his performance don't matter, its his club and he will run it as he sees fit. I don't agree with many things that have gone on but like many I can only watch from the side lines . M C s got one hell of a responsibility not only to the club but also the city of Wakefield. Relationships need to be built with a hole host of organisations , fans, councils, and media to name a few and that's a problem area for the club and Mr Carter.

Just to set you straight on what happened to said fan. He was forcefully removed from the ground by two stewards. And when people who knew him complained to the club, Chris bretherton arranged a meeting with said fan the following week down at the club. Said fan believed for the club to go to this measure that he the club felt at fault. But no, the meeting basically was an attempt to belittle and blame him. Leaving him humiliated and feeling he had no choice but to walk away.
Essentially CB and MC were happy to lose a fan (and his family) who not only has been around 30/40 years but also someone who had done large amount of hours voluntary work and charity work (Brenan Rooney and Adam Watene fundraising) related to the club. All because they wouldn't apologise.

Back on topic now. I reckon this weekend we will see our best perfomance all year. I can see us winning by 18+. MOM Jacob Miller

Think that's a bit unfair, no ones a culprit either way and I'm just as guilty because I called MC's followers cronies.

It's far to important an issue to split down partisan lines.

True if I were MC I might look at the posts on this thread and say what an ungrateful bunch what do they know I'm the only man with all the facts - and of course he's right.

However there is clearly something not working at the club and to me it's a lack of togetherness - and understanding between the board, players and fans.

I feel people are choosing to stick their heads in the sand like they did with Glover and Richardson.

They all had failings and to me MC's failing is to connect the club to the fans. The excuse used is lack of money but that is no excuse. The best period in this clubs recent history IMHO was the 3 seasons we were in the CVA after the Pearman debacle. There were no if's or buts we really were utterly skint and the clubs accounts were run completely by the administrators of the CVA. Ted couldn't screw the club because he didn't have the cheque book.

Yet somehow with a real scrape the bottom of the barrel team the club and fans pulled together and rescued the club to such a point that by 2004 we were a top 6 team! Then despite a dip in 2006 we were pretty good from then on with crowds reaching a genuine peak around 2008.

Since then it's gone pear shaped and you can't just blame MC for most of that. However for me he's not arrested the slide, not even on the balance sheet - because - IMHO some of his actions are the reason our income has reduced - I don't see how you or anyone else can deny that. Unlike 2000 where we pulled together since 2010 under Glover and MC we have gone the other way - it shocks me tbh.

Again you can't blame it all on MC not by any stretch, but he is the man currently in charge and as such the only one we can address our fears to and the only one who can sort things - fact.

I'm nearly done, but I'll give you one example of where I feel MC gets it wrong and where his seemingly black or white philosophy lets him down.

The KC is a fabulous stadium but it comes with many rules and regs - but hey who cares you're living in luxury. Step away to BV, it's a dump and the facilities would disgrace a third world nation.

Previous boards have recognised this and acted accordingly by operating a more relaxed policy - and rightly so. You simply can't apply the same rules to those who use the KC as those who use BV. It's an affront to our intelligence and frankly a rip off. You are not just offering an inferior product you are actually offering a completely different product masquerading as the same. If the KC is Caviar then the BV experience is like eating cold mud.

With that in mind for me you simply can't adopt the same policies to fans that proper clubs with proper facilities do - it's simply unreasonable IMHO.

Of course MC won't see it that way because as someone says RL and RL in Wakefield in particular is not in his DNA.

He may eventually be vindicated and people like me proved wrong but not to question him on an open forum is lunacy especially considering recent events - it does surprise me that you feel this way with the experiences you have - I understand your motives and know you mean well but I don't get your hostility to those who IMHO put forward legitimate concerns.

I never thought I'd been in this position or feel like this but I actually feel we need to drop down a league, I'm looking at tomorrow's game desperate to see a win, but deep down I'm thinking that if by some chance we stay up this season we're gonna have another season of bitterness and termoil, no players, no ground, it's all too painful these days.
This is from a guy who's done midweek winter fixtures to Wigan, Widnes, done Barrow, Whitehaven, Workington, London and a fair few memorable Perpignan's.
I've been here since 1987, and had a small hand in SWAG but find games a nightmare, I used to get up on a match day even if playing Leeds and always thought we could/would win, not these days, we're so far off the rest of the teams in SL that you can't envisage a win.
If relegation comes it'll hurt for a week, I'll get a load of p&&p from Cas fans in my local but hopefully next season I can look forward to watching my team instead instead of dreading it.

Mate I feel the same way. I came to the same conclusion earlier this season. It’s pretty clear as a club we are struggling to keep up with even the poorer teams in the competition and if by some miracle we manage to survive the drop we will be in an evener poorer position next year with no confirmed coach, only a few contracted players and no confirmed place to play. It’s pretty much guaranteeing the same situation next year and forever and a day.

Who give a about being in SL if the experience is the season we’ve just had? Would we be better off competing at a more sustainable level and actually enjoying the games (perhaps even winning a few) in front of by championship standards a decent home crowd of around 2k?

Just for balance can I just say that I have only had good experiences with the ground stewards, always polite, smiling face. Very nice polite stewards look after the stand and the staff in the Benidorn flats are great. I understand that the issue with drinks etc is an insurance related concern.

I agree that the drinks and student ticket issue has got up most noses.
If MC does not take notice of this, it is a mistake. Your customers are not wrong.
By the way, I have taken water and a flask into the ground every week and never once been asked or checked?
However, I always buy a beer, even though it takes 15 minutes!

A big win this weekend will make us all smile again.

IMO we have to survive in SL this season. I believe if we do it could have much more positive effect on problems regarding our stadium etc and whose to say our coach or certain players won't be here next year if we retain our SL status.. Yes it's been an horrendous season but this is the first season in many we have n't spent way beyond our means and must put us in a much stronger position for the next one. Starting a season without paying off some debt or other will be a first for a long time.
Come on folks lets keep going and shout our heads off and help bring that much needed win tomorrow, to me dropping down would be a total disaster.

Whilst there is no doubt that we would be more competitive in the Championship, getting relegated could spell the end for this once great club. We have been hanging on for most of our SL history but, a drop down to the championship could see us "doing a Swinton" and whilst it would be "fun" visiting some different grounds etc, IMO, our chances of survival would decrease if we end up in the Championship.

Having said that, the new structure leaves the bottom 4 clubs with an annual struggle for survival.
The top 8 are already stronger and they have the advantage of being able to sort out their recruitment for next season, already knowing their top flight status is assured.

The bottom 4, plus the wanabes from the Championship cant properly recruit until they know which level they will be playing in, further destabilising the lower clubs.

The best seasons I can remember were mid 1997 through to mid 1999.

What happened and why did it feel the best to me?

We had players who really connected to the fans and showed it during every game and after every game. "I know what and who I am" wasn't just a song that was sung with passion by the players and fans it genuinely had meaning.
The truth was then as it is now,

'This club is the fans' period!

No fans no club!

Alienate the fans and you're on a slow but certain path the end of Wakefield Trinity!

The good news is that the opposite is true, engage with the fans, make Belle Vue as inviting as possible and fans will return even at full price.

A competitive, not necessarily winning, team would be nice but Wakefield Trinity fans have been brought up on scraps of success so competitive will do for now.

The current regime have done so many many things well and I for one think they're potentially the best owners we've had since Stuart Hadfield. In order to justify that statement they need to find a way to re-engage the City and its people.

Easier said than done but incremental improvement toward that goal will soon show significant benefits to the income of the business.

It really is easy to criticise, but remember it is impossible to get everything right.
Why doesn't someone on here take up the offer and buy the club from MC for the quid it is going for .
Some have even said there is money, just redirect it.
Well get in there and do it.
I certainly would not be willing to accelerate myself into an early grave.
Surely there must be some feelings of sympathy for the management.
We were all fairly confident at the beginning of the season and no one foresaw such a disastrous on field season, which has heightened and intensified the overall criticism.
Carter and co must be as desperate as we all are.
Well ,the majority,for I feel there are those who are wanting and willing us to fail, who would take some illogical and demonic pleasure in that failure.

Back on topic!

My prediction for Saturday is a convincing win, not just on the score board but as a performance!

If we all listen carefully during the game I'm sure we'll hear a definite 'click' coming from the vicinity of the pitch.

Wakefield 34 v 14 Bradford

I too have found the people on the gate ,the stewards, bar staff all very helpful and friendly. Everything has combined to reduce crowds this year. First match away. Easter home match against Catalans, potential big crowd matches televised, and most important the dreadful playing record.

Have to agree regarding the stewards…never had a problem .

I'm sure you'll agree we all have our opinions, and imo his post was was excellently put forward without bias, the only exception to that was about bigal and his dealings with the club, as a person I know him and his family reasonably well, I've socialised with them been to matches with them from as far apart as Edinboro to The Stoop and Bridgend, I've been to fundraisers and walked to Hudds' and back as well as Cas x3, so I would always lean towards him and his family, unfortunately I'm ignorant of what went on that day and therefore not wishing to spoil his post did not comment on it.
As for the usual culprit allegation, so as to not cause confusion I'll name the three of them, Wilzay, Scarlet(bless her) and kalavnikosh, There are times when I find it difficult to disagree with their posts, but at the same time feel they always let themselves down with their constant whining and their bucket loads of negativity, whether it be Carter, the club, player recruitment, team selection, or tactics, nothing ever suits them hence my usual suspect accusation, and as you yourself imply Carter cannot be blamed for everything.
Personally I would take offence if anybody called me a crony, apart from the less savoury meanings it does not sound nice as you yourself admitted, I might be wrong here old boy, but I doubt you'd be too happy and feel insulted if somebody referred to you as one of Ted's cronies, so I agree with you, you should not have said it, and just because someone somewhere agrees with any of Carters or more to the point does not disagree with him, like myself does not make me one of his cronies.

You will

I was one of Teds lesser cronies, doesn't bother me in the least. However I do not know Carter so I can only take what I see as a club first stance.

Must admit I do feel uncomfortable naming Carter in particular but he is the only point of reference. I had no such issue with Glover as I think many will recall I called him a fraud very early on. The problem with this guy is he’s very hard to actually pin down. Other than his obvious desire to balance the book he’s offered very little in the way of a vision for the future both in word and deed. I just don’t know what if any ambition he has for the club. It’s clearly got under his skin else he wouldn’t be here but what that pans out to in terms of a future remains a mystery - unless you know something I don’t.

His stance on the ground is matter of fact with no emotion, to me he clearly sees us as a franchise rather than a club that represents Wakefield and I think people need to wake up to that.

Carter could go on to be our finest Chairman ever but at the moment I’m struggling to see how - and I genuinely hope he does go on to great things.

In all honesty I just don’t get the guy.

Ahhh those were the days....

Garen Casey leading the singalong, Adam & Ian Hughes, Roy Southernwood, Martyn Holland etc etc, decent solid pros who gave everything, leading to that never to be forgotten September Saturday at the McAlpine was it then?! Celebrating in the pubs in Huddersfield, promotion to the promised land......



You are right, in simple terms, no fans buying season tickets, paying on the day = no club. I don't to profess to know what it takes to run a 'successful' RL club, and of course success is relative to lots of things within that particular club, but I don't recall the club as a whole being at such a low ebb as it is right now, it's a real shame that people are almost 'turning' on each other on here, relationships strained in reality also at the current situation.

Apart from a very select few, there won't have been many so called experts who would have given us a cat in hell's chance of surviving this long? What has it been, 16 successive seasons in the top flight? When you think about having probably the worst ground, always behind the eight ball when it came to funding, player recruitment, odds always seemingly stacked against us in so many ways, maybe we have done pretty well, even though some of our 'problems' were of our own making. Maybe that was us being successful in relative terms, simply being here in the top flight, refusing to go away and p*****g off the majority into the bargain

Last chance probably tomorrow, if we lose I think that's it, we have had it, and we'll have to say, it was good while it lasted, then we enter the unknown.....

If we win, we still have hope, live to fight another day, win some more and we may just do it, stay up, and, enter the unknown.....?!



Think we will win, probably the hard way as per usual......28-22.

I don't know Michael Carter and have never met him but I really feel for the bloke. He's caught between a rock and a hard place.
Does he follow previous regimes and spend money we haven't got going for some moderate success (e.g a couple of top 8 finishes over 16 years and a cup semi) or does he make painful decisions and get the club on an even keel financially and surviving in whatever division that may be?
I like most on here thought that Glover was the 'saviour' but at the end of the day he was all fur coat and no knickers and for the second (third?) time the club nearly went to the wall as a result.
In my opinion he made mistakes hanging on to Agar and Webster for too long but that was, I feel, born out of loyalty, a commodity sadly lacking these days in all areas of business, so I won't knock him for that. Tough decisions had/have to be made but he's the guy along with CB who put his money where his mouth is to save the club so the guy has to feel something for the club otherwise he wouldn't have done it. I'm sure he's not as niaeve to believe he would ever make money out of it.
The club does need to engage with the City of Wakefield again, how about half s dozen volunteers in the precinct on a Saturday asking questions. e.g
1. Do you Watch Wakefield Trinity?
2. Have you ever watched and now stopped?
3.Why did you stop? (have a selection of answers . eg Price, lack of success, other, etc)
4. What would it take to get you back?
5. Do you care about professional sport in Wakefield.
These might be crap examples but I'm sure minds far superior than mine could come up with something. Heck, I might even take up a clipboard myself. From this we may learn what we need to do to re-connect with the support.

Just a thought.

The weather looks great this morning, perfect for an entertaining game of Rugby League.

Belle Vue is a great venue when the suns shining and we might not have too many more opportunities to follow Wakefield Trinity at our historical home.

Don't watch it on SKY having to listen to the muppets ruining the game with their inane rambling and negative spin. Get yourself down to the ground, get in the North stand and make yourself heard along with many other proud Wakefield Trinity supporters.

Agreed, the sun is shining. Perfect day to watch RL live.
We need to adopt a seige mentality at BV today.

Yep, perfect day for watching RL.

Anyone know if the club have been out in force trying to entice the Wakefield public in the run up to the game? Lots of parents looking for something for their bored school children to do.

They have tweeted about it, and posted on facebook.

tweeted and facebook gates locked half an hour before kick off then.