I think the NRL would be interested in SL is because they’ll see untapped potential in places like London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester but I think they underestimate how tribal sport is in this country and also just how entrenched football is. Existing RL fans even won’t get behind mergers and joint ventures like they do in Aus and people in the football towns and cities just won’t watch anything else. No amount of marketing will change that IMO.

Sorry but this sport has never been marketed.My opinion if its done correctly then it would have an impact
I agree with you about football and this is another area where the sport could look to.
Just imagine if Manchester United or several other top football clubs had a R/L franchise team.
massive potential there.Just look at what they have done with womens football and thats like watching paint dry.
Until you have forward thinking professionals at the RFL looking at things like this the sport will stagnate.
It may seem like pie in the sky but until you provide a proposal and sell the idea to a top football club you never know.
You only need one to come in and i have no doubt others would follow
Just think how that would revolutionise the sport especially in TV revenue

The big Spanish football clubs do it with basketball teams, I still don’t see Geordies turning up in there thousands to watch Newcastle United RL but some kind of link up with football might work. Women’s football is often ran at a loss and not self sustaining at the moment, more of a moral duty from the football clubs and they’d be no moral attachment to RL. Interesting point though about football clubs. I can just see the NRL falling down the trap of just thinking they’ll be able to stick an existing RL team in a big city and expect it to work like it has in Aus, it might work for them having the North Sydney Bears brand playing in Perth but it just won’t work here.

Well Adam Pearson eh love him or hate him he’s been around a long time, saved the Club, made some baffling decisions and also gave us the best day of our lives!! But for what it’s worth here is my own take on him!

I knew Adam way back when he was running Hull City from a portercabin on the front of Boothferry Park and visited him there workwise on many occasions.

I worked with him on behalf of my previous employers on the opening of the KCCom, on the stadiums community interface and indeed was there when he signed up with Richo to share the Stadium, something that had to be in place before the Government would release the Capital allocation and allow the City Council to release the funds, (to start work), from their profits after the sale of Kingston Communications.

I was also party to the creation of the SMC and as Pearson was the only person who wanted to run the Stadium, he dictated the terms including its tying into the Football club which in the end came back to seriously bite him. Richo was only interested in three things back then, getting the FC into a bigger Stadium, getting the RL sweetener for merging and getting back to Aus.

Subsequently Adam sold up and left for pastures new and Mid Kath era I wrote to him wishing him well and saying if he ever wanted to buy a RL club We’d be the one. He replied that aint ever gonna happen,

but after a few years of being involved with Leeds and Derby County and having to work with Directors etc. that diluted his power, so next up, conned somewhat by Kath and Co, he bought us. Subsequently he has insisted until this year that he was the sole ‘owner’ and had if you like ‘all the power’. He said he was open to investors but many thought that he only really paid lip service to that. That’s his style he likes to be in control and I guess you can’t knock it.

He built the club whilst making a few mistakes and then took us to the two greatest days of our supporting lives but then his health faultered, he struggled to continue to invest in the team whilst diminishing Sky funds and dropping income made for tough times which when Covid came knocking became even tougher.

He made sure everyone got paid during all that (probably including himself) but in so doing he ran up a massive government loan that some reckon was in the region of £2m the bulk of which had to be paid back this year. Year on year since 2017 we have lost good players and appointed not so good ones as hardship bit and Covid and that loan were the last straw. But he over saw all that and must have realised what was happening in fact his only possibly option was to oversee that happening.

His daughters interest fired him up for a while but perhaps he’s lost interest, perhaps his health is a struggle, or perhaps he’s just got older and wants to get out and enjoy life, but for whatever reason it’s my belief that of late his heart hasn’t been in it.

But then again, the game is failing in this country its relegated as a sport as far as media interest is concerned there are few personalities in it, games are boring, loop fixtures make it even more boring and nationally its profile has declined, and this last weekend proves that interest even in the most dedicated is waning.

I know that Adam, honestly wants to ensure the heritage of a great club continues and I’d defend that belief against any on here, but who in any case would want to be remembered by the fact that they oversaw the FC go under? But the lease on the Stadium, spiralling off field costs, the cack television deal we have, the administrators at the top of the game, the lack of quality players around and the draw of the NRL (and an inability to attract the quality players from there anymore), has all transpired to see us where we are. Yes, it’s the same for all clubs, but our current demise financially has seen it impact particularly heavily on us.

As for this season well the players know they can’t go down and be out of work, so just like the last 6 or 7 campaigns once they are safe, they don’t give a toss and that’s the single biggest historical issue conundrum and mystery at our club. For as Shaun McCrae once said, all those years ago in 2003 it runs through our club like a cancer.

For me, for so many reasons, it's time for Adam to go, no doubt! but he has to hand on to someone else.

All this Pearson out stuff is short sighted for if he were to walk (and I believe he would never do that without Guaranteeing the continuation of the club) we would fold, so be careful what you wish for. The only reason this season he is actively seeking a financial backer is because I believe (and its only my thoughts) that he is tired and looking at the great up’s and the countless downs of his tenure who can blame him. If you choose to be the sole arbitor at the top, it might be nice and powerful, but it’s a lonely old place at times (like now!).

But don’t be too hard or vociferous at castigating him because he is a decent guy faults and all and we need someone else in place before he goes. We are a great club with a fabulous band of supporters and a proper history of great times (some even in our recent history) so we all just have to hold the line support Adam until he moves on (for at least I think he’s trying to do that) and keep hoping and believing. It’s going to be a long haul and these are as low a point as I can remember. Wigan at the weekend is a nightmare! But, a new coach and hopefully (after many times of asking) an answer to that ‘cancer’. It reminds me of giving a guy 5 loaves and three fishes and asking him to make a 4 course meal for 5000 people. Adams OK so let’s just see what the next few weeks bring!

A great insight Pete and some real optimism among lots of pessimism at the moment. We’re often thrown from one thought to another as we read these threads and it’s easy to cling onto the thoughts of others but one things for sure, without AP we’d be nothing. I’m sure the bloke’s spinning plates all over the place to get the best possible outcome, so even in these dark times for our club, let’s cling onto AP’s hope of financial backers/owners soon.

So we've got an owner too pig headed to let others help out as he wants FC all to himself but at the same time he can't be d with the club anymore.

Please let Thurkill be our new owner

Who said that he won’t let others help out? Can’t be a recent thing because in that radio Humberside interview it was almost like it was a sales pitch begging for investment, he also said how disappointed he was that nobody from within the city has shown any interest in investing or buying the club.

I think it’s pretty obvious he’s fed up with the club and the sport and would like to sell up, it’s difficult if nobody wants to buy it though.

IMHO - he has never had the correct help and guidance during his tenure; perhaps because he didn't believe he needed it, either through obstinacy, or hubris? When he did, it became a succession of bad choices.

He has never struck me as naive, so it is somewhat baffling that he seems to have been led down the garden path a number of times whilst at the club. From the outside it as if he has learned little about the world and nature of RL since taking over from (and being misled by) the Hetheringtons.

I do not demand he departs, as who knows what may follow; and he certainly didn't get into this to trash his own reputation and lose money: but it has seemed that the platform was being (Gentle era) or partially had been laid (Wembley wins) for longer term stability and success, only to mess it all up in short order.

However, by far the biggest error has been the yawning chasm allowed to build between the club and the fan base, with the chickens now coming home to roost. How much of that is down to AP who knows, but as owner he should be acutely aware that the fans are the only real asset that Hull FC has.

Great post, summed up the situation very well. Like him or not, It’s not like a coach we can demand to be sacked and then simply replace him with someone else. He owns the club outright and there’s not exactly a waiting list of takers. He’s said he’s actively looking for investment that might help us get back on track we’ve got no option but to trust him and let him get on with it.

I think he knows very well that the supporters are the clubs only asset. People can talk about ‘communication with the fans’ or ‘detachment from supporters’ but this is just nonsense IMO. The only way to heal the relationship with the fans is to have a decent side and all the noise and negativity goes away. That is obviously easier said than done with the financial situation. I genuinely think he thought that Tony Smith would get it right and this seasons recruitment was actually ‘shrewd’ but that’s gone spectacularly wrong and we have no plan B.

Quote ="RC15"IMHO - he has never had the correct help and guidance during his tenure; perhaps because he didn't believe he needed it, either through obstinacy, or hubris? When he did, it became a succession of bad choices. He has never struck me as naive, so it is somewhat baffling that he seems to have been led down the garden path a number of times whilst at the club. From the outside it as if he has learned little about the world and nature of RL since taking over from (and being misled by) the Hetheringtons. I do not demand he departs, as who knows what may follow; and he certainly didn't get into this to trash his own reputation and lose money: but it has seemed that the platform was being (Gentle era) or partially had been laid (Wembley wins) for longer term stability and success, only to mess it all up in short order. However, by far the biggest error has been the yawning chasm allowed to build between the club and the fan base, with the chickens now coming home to roost. How much of that is down to AP who knows, but as owner he should be acutely aware that the fans are the only real asset that Hull FC has.[/quote Good Post !! Best comment so far for me that's our biggest asset or at least it was. You can't disenchant your biggest asset like we have for clubs like London Salford Cas Leigh and Huddersfield would kill for a supporter base like ours, the passes the shirts the merchandise and the ticket sales home and away going blindly on in hope rather than any sort of expectation. Everything should have always been done to protect and nurture that 10,000 but folks who were literally 'FC till they died' have stopped going and that's why some of us really fear for the future of the club and a continued spiral downwards into the Championship and almost certain oblivion. Who even 5 years ago would have envisaged where we are now and despite the biggest and most embaracing performance for years and years, there is nothing from the top of the club today to give us a bit of succour. No wonder folks are disenchanted But for me that is why, despite everything he has done or not done we have to stick by Adam and hope he sells up to someone who gets all that stuff and does something to rekindle the flame in the hearts of so many who have drifted or just given up. Its twice as hard however to get folks back as it it to retain them something sadly we have never learned. Let's stick together if we can and hope for some good news soon. ADDED and lo and behold after that here come IMG with the solution ( ) all I need now is someone to explain what the heck it all about https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/rugby-le ... ans-96129/ “Rugby League Commercial (RL Commercial) is set to supercharge its fan engagement through a partnership with Simon Data, a leading Customer Data Platform (CDP) for enterprise marketing teams, and Iterable, an AI-powered customer communication platform, to unlock data driven insights and hyper-personalized communications.

Quote ="RC15"IMHO - he has never had the correct help and guidance during his tenure; perhaps because he didn't believe he needed it, either through obstinacy, or hubris? When he did, it became a succession of bad choices. He has never struck me as naive, so it is somewhat baffling that he seems to have been led down the garden path a number of times whilst at the club. From the outside it as if he has learned little about the world and nature of RL since taking over from (and being misled by) the Hetheringtons. I do not demand he departs, as who knows what may follow; and he certainly didn't get into this to trash his own reputation and lose money: but it has seemed that the platform was being (Gentle era) or partially had been laid (Wembley wins) for longer term stability and success, only to mess it all up in short order. However, by far the biggest error has been the yawning chasm allowed to build between the club and the fan base, with the chickens now coming home to roost. How much of that is down to AP who knows, but as owner he should be acutely aware that the fans are the only real asset that Hull FC has.[/quote Good Post !! Best comment so far for me that's our biggest asset or at least it was. You can't disenchant your biggest asset like we have for clubs like London Salford Cas Leigh and Huddersfield would kill for a supporter base like ours, the passes the shirts the merchandise and the ticket sales home and away going blindly on in hope rather than any sort of expectation. Everything should have always been done to protect and nurture that 10,000 but folks who were literally 'FC till they died' have stopped going and that's why some of us really fear for the future of the club and a continued spiral downwards into the Championship and almost certain oblivion. Who even 5 years ago would have envisaged where we are now and despite the biggest and most embaracing performance for years and years, there is nothing from the top of the club today to give us a bit of succour. No wonder folks are disenchanted But for me that is why, despite everything he has done or not done we have to stick by Adam and hope he sells up to someone who gets all that stuff and does something to rekindle the flame in the hearts of so many who have drifted or just given up. Its twice as hard however to get folks back as it it to retain them something sadly we have never learned. Let's stick together if we can and hope for some good news soon. ADDED and lo and behold after that here come IMG with the solution ( ) all I need now is someone to explain what the heck it all about https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/rugby-le ... ans-96129/ “Rugby League Commercial (RL Commercial) is set to supercharge its fan engagement through a partnership with Simon Data, a leading Customer Data Platform (CDP) for enterprise marketing teams, and Iterable, an AI-powered customer communication platform, to unlock data driven insights and hyper-personalized communications.

I agree and I would totally endorse what you say if I could understand what the hell they're on about talk about explaining things and giving clarity to the fans the ship is sinking fast and all we get is more smoke and mirrors from IMG! No wonder the vultures at the NRL are circling!

I would suggest to all fans to look on the website of IMG and try to find anything they say that has been applied to Rugby League to enhance the sport..
What they do regularly is bring in another company like in this case Simon Data to increase their revenues by charging them fees or commision when their system is introduced to a client and IMG seemingly have ran out of ideas.
The more i see and hear from Staff at the RFL the more i despair about the game.
If they cant see they are having the wool pulled over their eyes and at great expense then they are not fit for purpose.

The comments from RFL Commerical about Magic are an embarassment. 2nd lowest weekend crowd ever, lowest single day crowd ever yet all a success because the ground was cheap and now dreaming of fans heading across the Irish sea to sxpensive Dublin??

Think most fans know as we all said at the time that Elland Rd was announced as the venue instead of St James' Park it was nothing more than a cost cutting measure. These comments do nothing but reaffirm the thoughts of the majority of fans and the fact the RFL and SL Chairman aren't capable of being in charge of running and looking after the best interests of the sport.

FFS not that old chestnut. Radford was not sacked on live TV. His sacking was announced on live TV.

Ever heard of the Mandela Effect?

Pearson's error was not sacking Radford in 2018 after eleven straight losses including 10-72 at Wakefield and 10-80 at Warrington.

Some People eh

Pearson should have sacked Radfud in 2015 !!! That’s a FACT

We would have won more than 2 CCs with that team under a much better coach

Do you recall any other club announcing the sacking of a coach on live tv post match? Whatever way you wish to view it, it was a poor way to go about it. Radford deserved the sack, but not in that manner.

To be fair, it wasn't AP's finest moment.
Loads of different ways to have gone about it, and with hindsight, a quiet call into the office on the Monday morning would have been a better way of going about things.
One way or another, it's been a slippery slope ever since.

We were already well on the downward side of the slippery slope

Yep he started it, should have been sacked for playing Fash at hooker when we had Litten.

Did everything but play Litten. Washy, Hadley and Fash all had more of a crack

Yup, and that missing piece of the jigsaw, that experienced head coach, definitely finished the job good and proper .

All are responsible.