End of regular season Q&A with Ian Blease

I've submitted 15 questions to IB split into 3 topics - TEAM, PERSONAL and CLUB.

A lot of the questions seemed to overlap a bit, so I've reworded some of them. I have asked a question about the relocation/re-brand rumours, so with any luck we'll get an answer back from Ian on this.

Thanks.

A big thanks to Ian for taking the time to answer these questions.

TEAM

Have pre-season expectations been exceeded?
The club needed to get away from the dreaded middle 8's and we wanted a good cup run, so we have achieved but not won anything yet !

Can we expect more signings before the start of next season?
That's down to Marwan so we'll see what decisions he wants to make.

Who has been your stand out player this season?
DR Devil!! Seriously, ff it's one thing that we've done it's play as a team; successful RL teams are not down to individuals.

Are the players excited for the Semi Final on Sunday?
Oh gosh yes and so they should be! CC Semi finals don't come along too often.

PERSONAL

How does Superleague compare with the system that you played in?
I played Super League towards the back end of my career for Salford but it's changed the game continually over the years, both as a spectacle and the whole professionalism of the sport since it's arrival.

How does the CEO position compare with your previous jobs?
Sounds a bit crazy this but it's very different but the same in many respects, like all businesses we are trying to build a successful framework within the club structures, be careful what we spend and bring more income in!!

Regarding your position at Salford are you still as happy as you were on day 1, or is it beginning to feel like the labours of Hercules?
It is tough, very tough and none stop from the minute I walk through the doors. Dinner times are a thing of the past! Many weeks I'm doing 60+ hrs! not healthy but I know we need to keep working hard and it will be beneficial for the future.

Is it your direct influence that has led to the club tieing down much of the playing squad to longer term deals? Do you think your previous job as player agent has made this an easier task?
Myself & Coach Watson talked with our Owner Marwan throughout each signing, it was always agreed on what we did amongst us all which was good. Being an agent previously helped because I know all the strokes they try and pull!

How does it feel now dealing with agents?
It's fine; I knew most of the UK ones but waiting up at night till all hours for the time difference to talk the ones in the Southern Hemisphere was a new experience!

CLUB

What is the position with an A Team and an Academy setup?
We are still without. I've had initial talks with others about maybe a joint set up or something but I've learnt recently that more SL clubs may not do Reserves next season.

Can we expect to see the club stick by an idea and see it through, rather than how it has operated so far? 
I couldn't really say that we will or won't. Things move so fast that we need to change direction for various reasons depending on what the issues are.

Are you satisfied with the significant crowd / attendance %age increases this year?
How can we be satisfied - that builds complacency. When I've looked at the Stadium reports we've had done bigger away crowds than last season and also a good gate from the Leigh game that we didn't have last season. I've said it before we need to get our crowds up even more and continually so we become a real force In SL.

Will attendance figures and turnover have a direct impact on any decision to relocate or re-brand the club?
(no reply to this question).

Communication seems to be a constant bugbear and a reoccurring topic on the website. Are there plans to improve this?
If you can give me specific examples here I may be able to answer better?

What has happened to the Business Club and the regular Newsletter?
We're looking at some form of business club again soon on a large scale hopefully. We did a Business Breakfast when I first arrived, which was successful but brought us no extra revenue after a lot of hard work so it needs to be beneficial. All newsletter type material is on our website and we need to keep driving the fans going to our site.

Thanks BM, and thank Ian.

As Tony13 said, nothing new and Ian played everything with a straight defensive bat.

Sadly looking between the lines, his comments re new players, MK's continual negative comments on Radio Manchester last Friday and his statement in the Racing Press that's his efforts are going back into horse racing, and no supporters meetings, seems that we are going to move into something new next season.
Because it's not being aired it will likely be something we don't like. Oh well kooks like the end of another era.

Will Ian take further comments on communication and perhaps a few other topics?

Do you have his e addresss?

i'm pretty sure Ian is going to be reading this thread.

If bleasey is reading I'd like to thank him for his hard work this season, particularly at the start we were making good strides. The golden ticket will be good if it continues, but as has been said we need to continue with the good initiatives we start

Reading between the lines it sounds like things fizzle out because Marwan doesn't see instant return, suppose it's his money n does what he like with it. But logically he shouldn't be negative when crowds don't increase (my biggest bug bear, other than the proposed name change)

So it sounds like the doc won't be spending much money next year, that I can deal with. Just don't change the name

If IB is reading this it seems an odd way to communicate (by effectively snooping!). If he is then

* Get MK to stop the negativeness, everyone I speak to has had enough of it. Highlight the positives, the crowds are increasing.
* Utilise the supporters for collecting e mails to form the database, sorting out a weekly e mail newsletter, running the Business Club and lots more. IB CEO's manage. I've been one and am willing to help as are a lot of others.
* Utilise the ideas of the fans, lots of great ideas. RL is not rocket science. MK if it really is a family club, use the family. Not all good ideas were developed in Palestine
* Get the admin sorted out, it's not good
* Have the supportters meetings . IN TIMES OF CHANGE, KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED. A good management maxim. At the moment it's seems like we'll take the advice of some average consultants who, from what we have seen, have done an undergrad survey at best. It's not rocket science getting supporters in, but they don't all appear at your door overnight.