|
|
Post by stouffer on Jun 6, 2017 6:31:37 GMT
Could have been Lee Van Cleef tbf.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 11:30:39 GMT
Has anything else been put in place since the fans meeting in Eccles a few weeks ago regarding opposition to the name change? I've seen a few ideas floating around but nothing concrete.
IMO Koukash is slowly allowing the Salford brand to die out, and we are all allowing it to happen.
Fans being roped into distributing 5000 posters (with the wrong date for the upcoming hull game on them), then the club put out a 'marketing update' to tell the outside world how great the marketing campaign is. Blease then goes on NWT and the superleague show to tell everyone how the crowds still won't turn up. The club have put out the myth about how great their marketing is when in reality it is pretty feeble.
Two upcoming TV games now for us to show off the strength of the Salford fanbase to a wider audience. I know it shouldn't be the fans responsibility but in this situation with the club deliberately doing **** all I think it is necessary.
If we aren't going to get decent numbers then let's at least put on a decent show atmosphere wise. We're SECOND IN THE LEAGUE and in a cup quarter final. The stadium should be bouncing for 80 minutes regardless of how the game is going.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 11:59:13 GMT
To ensure the crowd looks reasonable the club needs to give out 100's of free kids tickets for the East stand, the rest of the gaff could be rammed but if the stand directly in front of the cameras is empty it just looks dire.
|
|
|
|
Post by wiganred on Jun 6, 2017 13:00:30 GMT
I said this whilst the stadium was being built on the other forum. Do you remember when we thought the East (stand) was going to be a replacement of the shed. Given where we are I cannot understand why there isn't a tv gantry on the east side that wold look great on the cameras. What would it cost for a bit of scaffolding FFS?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 13:25:00 GMT
I said this whilst the stadium was being built on the other forum. Do you remember when we thought the East (stand) was going to be a replacement of the shed. Given where we are I cannot understand why there isn't a tv gantry on the east side that wold look great on the cameras. What would it cost for a bit of scaffolding FFS? Don't think there is enough elevation in the east stand for the cameras. Maybe when Manchester Red & Blue Devils are winning the WCC in a couple of years time they will extend the stand to accommodate the huddled masses who will trek from all over Manchester to watch the team. |
|
|
|
Post by aveit on Jun 6, 2017 16:09:56 GMT
Has anything else been put in place since the fans meeting in Eccles a few weeks ago regarding opposition to the name change? I've seen a few ideas floating around but nothing concrete. IMO Koukash is slowly allowing the Salford brand to die out, and we are all allowing it to happen. Fans being roped into distributing 5000 posters (with the wrong date for the upcoming hull game on them), then the club put out a 'marketing update' to tell the outside world how great the marketing campaign is. Blease then goes on NWT and the superleague show to tell everyone how the crowds still won't turn up. The club have put out the myth about how great their marketing is when in reality it is pretty feeble. Two upcoming TV games now for us to show off the strength of the Salford fanbase to a wider audience. I know it shouldn't be the fans responsibility but in this situation with the club deliberately doing **** all I think it is necessary. If we aren't going to get decent numbers then let's at least put on a decent show atmosphere wise. We're SECOND IN THE LEAGUE and in a cup quarter final. The stadium should be bouncing for 80 minutes regardless of how the game is going.
Following on from the Eccles meeting a Salford Forever Action Group was formed and met last week. A review of actions to date was carried out and a list of further actions put forward which will be implemented as and when an announcement is made. A letter was sent to the RFL hierarchy last week and is below for your information. Now is the time for action – if we all just sit back and ‘enjoyed the season’ we won't have a (Salford) club to support next season.
Dear Mr Wood,
We are sure you will be aware that last month, our owner, Marwan Koukash, announced that he is considering changing the name of our club.
We have formed an action group to oppose this preposterous idea and will do everything within our power to ensure it does not happen and the proud Salford name continues.
We are talking about Salford RLFC here, formed in 1879, the original Red Devils and star team of the 1930’s, the great entertainers and twice Champions in the 1970’s. Although we have not been challenging for honours for some time – until this season - we are still a fantastic rugby league football club which appears to have a bright future on the field.
The reason Dr Koukash cites for the name change is his belief that the attendance figures at the AJ Bell stadium are inadequate, despite gates being up on the previous two seasons. Indeed, our gate figures are reduced to indicate only the number of paying spectators, unlike other clubs who include all attendees in their stated figures. We also do not include any season ticket holders who do not attend a match! Whatever the reason for this, the reduction in our crowd numbers by hundreds of people for every home game does not reflect well on Salford when comparing attendances with other Super League clubs and affects the perception of the wider rugby league public.
Since Dr Koukash arrived at our club in 2013, the club’s efforts in the marketing department have been very poor indeed and he simply continued with the woeful set up inherited from the previous regime. Consequently, he has put little financial or time investment into the sort of marketing needed to generate extra spectators and the club’s advertising consists of preaching to the converted via social media messages. This is the crux of the problem. If Dr Koukash could point to professional marketing activities that had been tried and failed then there may be some understanding of his plan, but this is definitely not the case; a change of name is an easy ‘quick fix’ option that requires no work and is doomed to failure.
As you know, we are enjoying our best season for 37 years; we are in second place in Super League and have reached the quarter final stage of the Challenge Cup. We should be celebrating at the moment but we are not. Everything off the pitch feels flat due to our owner’s insistence on pursuing this ridiculous idea. Surely Dr Koukash should be looking at every positive marketing idea known to man to promote this current winning team but that is not the case. He has recently resorted to blackmail tactics telling us supporters that he might have a change of mind if WE increase the numbers. Deplorable really.
We can guarantee the name of ‘Manchester’ (or any other name for that matter), will not add one person to the supporter base. In fact, it will have the opposite effect and at least 2500 Salford supporters will be lost to Rugby League for ever. We have spoken to hundreds of our supporters over the last few weeks and the message is coming across loud and clear: ‘Change our name from Salford and we will never go again’. Also, we cannot find one person who supports the idea or can explain any benefits of a change of name.
This is not just a few voices speaking; this is the overwhelming majority of our support. Local politicians are fully behind us. You may have also read press articles on the subject from respected journalists like Martyn Sadler, David Burke, Gary Carter and others, who are all repeating the same message. There are no advantages to be had from a change of name, it is commercial suicide!
I would like to draw your attention to the following two Rugby Football League bye-laws please:
Rugby Football League rule A1.12(c) states ‘A club should not change its name or logo during a playing season’.
Rugby Football League rule A1.12(d) states ‘ Subject to (c) any club wishing to change its name or logo must receive the prior written consent of the RFL’.
As I am sure you are aware from previous dealings, Dr Koukash can be a difficult man who likes to get his own way. He is presently in his fifth year as temporary custodian of our club and he has threatened to walk away on a number of occasions during his short tenure. Realistically, he is unlikely to be around for many years to come. Unfortunately, he has little understanding of British rugby league and its associated heritage. Do we really want one man to destroy 137 years of great rugby league history on a personal whim due to his inability to market the club and generate increased numbers?
We know of no re-brandings in British Rugby League that have been successful; we worry about the investigative process the club has initiated; we feel that the Salford Club has a large appeal that is being untapped; we feel that the new road that is being constructed to link the current stadium to the Trafford Centre could be a real positive for the Salford Club going forward. We know of no true Rugby League fans who think the proposed name change is a sensible idea. Consequently, we ask that you and your board give us your full support in this matter. Please do not kowtow to Dr Koukash’s wishes and refuse any application he may make to change the great name of Salford Rugby League Football Club.
Yours sincerely,
Salford Forever Action Group
|
|
|
|
Post by Carnster on Jun 6, 2017 16:44:09 GMT
Perhaps a more inspirational open letter to the Salford public to get off their rumps and attend would do better than this. While passionate, it's basically just a whinge.
|
|
|
|
Post by gadger on Jun 6, 2017 17:14:39 GMT
Perhaps a more inspirational open letter to the Salford public to get off their rumps and attend would do better than this. While passionate, it's basically just a whinge. That's the job of Salford marketing team, is it not? Not the fans. |
|
|
|
Post by dixon13 on Jun 6, 2017 17:23:54 GMT
Perhaps a more inspirational open letter to the Salford public to get off their rumps and attend would do better than this. While passionate, it's basically just a whinge. Why don't you pen one then.We are at least trying to do something. |
|
|
|
Post by gadger on Jun 6, 2017 17:26:39 GMT
I think it's this simple, if you don't care about the name change that's fair enough, that's up to you.
If you do care then do something about it because make no mistake this isn't some clever ploy to stir up support, it's going to happen unless it's stopped by the fans
|
|
|
|
Post by Carnster on Jun 6, 2017 17:38:52 GMT
Perhaps a more inspirational open letter to the Salford public to get off their rumps and attend would do better than this. While passionate, it's basically just a whinge. That's the job of Salford marketing team, is it not? Not the fans. Absolutely. Was just making a point that if you feel so passionately about something, to channel it correctly. |
|
|
|
Post by Carnster on Jun 6, 2017 17:40:51 GMT
Perhaps a more inspirational open letter to the Salford public to get off their rumps and attend would do better than this. While passionate, it's basically just a whinge. Why don't you pen one then.We are at least trying to do something. Just making a point about channeling it correctly. It is a forum after all. Just my opinion, as you're fond of saying. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 18:40:02 GMT
Thanks for the update AveIt. Good work.
One thing I would maybe take issue with is the stance of why should we do the clubs work re promoting the club. Normally I would agree with this however in the current scenario where the club are deliberately lowering crowd figures and producing zero marketing maybe its up to us as fans to do something. At the moment Koukash can effectively justify his stance to outsiders just by droning on about low crowd figures. The more it happens the more (non Salford) people he gets on his side.
I'm not suggesting the fans should be going on any sort of mass promotional campaign however the one thing we can effect is the atmosphere and matchday experience. It would be good if we could put on a bit of a show atmosphere wise for the next 2 tv games and at least show there's a bit of life in the fanbase and some decent vocal support for the Salford club.
|
|
|
|
Post by hammerlessnail on Jun 6, 2017 19:33:51 GMT
Perhaps a more inspirational open letter to the Salford public to get off their rumps and attend would do better than this. While passionate, it's basically just a whinge. An open letter? To be published where? In the Salford edition of the Manchester Weekly News (or whatever it's now called) in the hope that someone might see it on that particular organ's one minute journey from doormat to recycling bin? In the Manchester Evening News where it can sit alongside a stream of asinine offerings from gumptards complaining about bin collections and car parking? Any ideas gratefully received. To dismiss a constructive attempt to enlist the help of the RFL to head off this disastrous name change, and, in the process, express the heartfelt opinions of many Salford fans reflects badly on you (in my opinion, of course). You're better than that. You might not agree with the opinion expressed in that letter - you are perfectly free not to - but responding in the way that you have just comes across as whinging: "It's not my battle, therefore you shouldn't talk about it". I've been staying away from the name change stuff on here, because I agree with the sentiment expressed elsewhere on this forum: "I'll moderate this thread but I wont contribute to this or other similar threads until we actually know what's going on as it's just turning into a freak show." Maybe it's time we all heeded that advice (I know I will be), while those who are vehemently opposed to the change continue to do everything they can to prevent it happening. |
|
|
|
Post by gadger on Jun 6, 2017 19:38:12 GMT
Where else do we discuss though, for those of us not on social media? It's of great importance to many Salford fans, and this is the Salford fans forum. I appreciate some just want to enjoy the ride I totally get that, it's the best ride we've had for a long time  but to many the potential name change is if greater importance. It should be discussed, in my opinion. |
|
but to many the potential name change is if greater importance. It should be discussed, in my opinion.