Ian Blease BLASTS stay-away fans : Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:38 pm  

The Salford CEO took to social media after the game to bemoan the stay-away fans who missed another poorly attended Salford match. The frustrations come amongst rumours that the club could be rebranding as Manchester Red Devils next season, parting with decades of tradition and history

Re: Ian Blease BLASTS stay-away fans : Sun Apr 30, 2017 10:09 pm  

Classic businessman move that. Try to sell a product by saying there's little to no demand for it. Classic Salford.

Re: Ian Blease BLASTS stay-away fans : Mon May 01, 2017 9:16 am  

Mario, you forgot to post how well Salford are playing and their position in SL pal. Or maybe you haven't checked recently, well were sitting pretty in 3rd playing a great brand of rugby. Hows things your end my negative chum?

Re: Ian Blease BLASTS stay-away fans : Mon May 01, 2017 6:57 pm  

REDRUM wrote:

Mario, you forgot to post how well Salford are playing and their position in SL pal. Or maybe you haven't checked recently, well were sitting pretty in 3rd playing a great brand of rugby. Hows things your end my negative chum?

Forgetting Mario as he is irrelevant.

To be fair our own hierarchy are doing us the biggest disservice, I posted recently about those at the top discrediting our club. It's getting beyond a joke now, 40 years of total dross and they expect the full house signs up on a third of one season.

We are playing some fantastic stuff those of us who have watched through thin and thinner deserve a bit more from those at the top, start by sending out positive vibes about what is going on on the field. The better the team goes the larger the following will get lets try heading towards being a top four club and maybe a visit to Wembley for the first time in almost half a century, since we last went in 69 every current Super League club has been since, and non current Super League clubs Featherstone Rovers-Bradford-HKR-Halifax-Sheffield Eagles-London Broncos.

SUCCESS It's the only thing the club hasn't tried ........

You don't see the AUSSIES knocking their premier sport when there are 7K rattling around in ANZ stadium

Koukash and Blease stop being so negative and LEAVE IT OUT !!!!!

Re: Ian Blease BLASTS stay-away fans : Tue May 02, 2017 6:33 am  

Re: Ian Blease BLASTS stay-away fans : Tue May 02, 2017 10:52 am  

I don’t agree with this talk of stay away fans. What stay away fans? The club has always struggled with attendances since the late 60’s/early 70’s which seemed to coincide with many locals in a densely populated area being rehoused to other parts of the city. In those days many more people could take a short walk to the game and didn't have the same leisure and entertainment choices that they have today. In my time following the club we have played in three Challenge cup semi’s and failed to take over 4,000-4500 fans to those huge games.

It is what it is and no amount of marketing or short term success is going to see the AJ Bell bursting at the seams. How many CEO's has the club employed over the years? Five or six and they can't all of been clueless could they? I think people have to be realistic and accept that RL is a second class minority sport and it’s target audience is hindered by so much choice these days and a history of a low percentage attending over the past four decades. I also think other clubs have much less leisure/sports competition compared to Salford/Manchester and I think this makes a significant difference. I know it’s a sore subject for many Salford supporters because opposing fans and our own club officials are always having a dig but those people who think they know the answers are optimistically deluded in my opinion. I think some people have to appreciate that just because they enjoy watching rugby league doesn't mean everyone else should. I just hope the club don't go for the (undenied rumour) name change to Manchester because I think all that will achieve is pi$$ing off all the patriotic die-hard Salfordian's.

The truth is we are a traditionally small and handicapped club that is financially fortunate than most clubs to fight well above our weight. Is this something the club and it's supporters should be thankful and proud of rather than having a blame culture for not having more people on the terraces? We simply aren't a rugby town/city like Wigan, Saints, Warrington, Widnes, Leeds, Castleford, Wakefield and Hull and never will be. As hard as it is let's just accept it and focus on doing the very best we can with the hand we have been dealt. Taking our frustration out and whinging and arguing on social media will achieve nothing other than unnecessary friction between the true supporters and the club. More people are likely to show interest if they see the team are consistent, entertaining and have a chance of success (over a longer period of time) rather than attempting to shame people into going.

Re: Ian Blease BLASTS stay-away fans : Wed May 03, 2017 2:08 pm  

theredshed wrote:

I don’t agree with this talk of stay away fans. What stay away fans? The club has always struggled with attendances since the late 60’s/early 70’s which seemed to coincide with many locals in a densely populated area being rehoused to other parts of the city. In those days many more people could take a short walk to the game and didn't have the same leisure and entertainment choices that they have today. In my time following the club we have played in three Challenge cup semi’s and failed to take over 4,000-4500 fans to those huge games.

It is what it is and no amount of marketing or short term success is going to see the AJ Bell bursting at the seams. How many CEO's has the club employed over the years? Five or six and they can't all of been clueless could they? I think people have to be realistic and accept that RL is a second class minority sport and it’s target audience is hindered by so much choice these days and a history of a low percentage attending over the past four decades. I also think other clubs have much less leisure/sports competition compared to Salford/Manchester and I think this makes a significant difference. I know it’s a sore subject for many Salford supporters because opposing fans and our own club officials are always having a dig but those people who think they know the answers are optimistically deluded in my opinion. I think some people have to appreciate that just because they enjoy watching rugby league doesn't mean everyone else should. I just hope the club don't go for the (undenied rumour) name change to Manchester because I think all that will achieve is pi$$ing off all the patriotic die-hard Salfordian's.

The truth is we are a traditionally small and handicapped club that is financially fortunate than most clubs to fight well above our weight. Is this something the club and it's supporters should be thankful and proud of rather than having a blame culture for not having more people on the terraces? We simply aren't a rugby town/city like Wigan, Saints, Warrington, Widnes, Leeds, Castleford, Wakefield and Hull and never will be. As hard as it is let's just accept it and focus on doing the very best we can with the hand we have been dealt. Taking our frustration out and whinging and arguing on social media will achieve nothing other than unnecessary friction between the true supporters and the club. More people are likely to show interest if they see the team are consistent, entertaining and have a chance of success (over a longer period of time) rather than attempting to shame people into going.

Widnes at the height of there success winning WCC never got big gates it seems every club has a certain number of fans and nothing really changes that

Re: Ian Blease BLASTS stay-away fans : Wed May 03, 2017 10:19 pm  

theredshed wrote:

I don’t agree with this talk of stay away fans. What stay away fans? The club has always struggled with attendances since the late 60’s/early 70’s which seemed to coincide with many locals in a densely populated area being rehoused to other parts of the city. In those days many more people could take a short walk to the game and didn't have the same leisure and entertainment choices that they have today. In my time following the club we have played in three Challenge cup semi’s and failed to take over 4,000-4500 fans to those huge games.

It is what it is and no amount of marketing or short term success is going to see the AJ Bell bursting at the seams. How many CEO's has the club employed over the years? Five or six and they can't all of been clueless could they? I think people have to be realistic and accept that RL is a second class minority sport and it’s target audience is hindered by so much choice these days and a history of a low percentage attending over the past four decades. I also think other clubs have much less leisure/sports competition compared to Salford/Manchester and I think this makes a significant difference. I know it’s a sore subject for many Salford supporters because opposing fans and our own club officials are always having a dig but those people who think they know the answers are optimistically deluded in my opinion. I think some people have to appreciate that just because they enjoy watching rugby league doesn't mean everyone else should. I just hope the club don't go for the (undenied rumour) name change to Manchester because I think all that will achieve is pi$$ing off all the patriotic die-hard Salfordian's.

The truth is we are a traditionally small and handicapped club that is financially fortunate than most clubs to fight well above our weight. Is this something the club and it's supporters should be thankful and proud of rather than having a blame culture for not having more people on the terraces? We simply aren't a rugby town/city like Wigan, Saints, Warrington, Widnes, Leeds, Castleford, Wakefield and Hull and never will be. As hard as it is let's just accept it and focus on doing the very best we can with the hand we have been dealt. Taking our frustration out and whinging and arguing on social media will achieve nothing other than unnecessary friction between the true supporters and the club. More people are likely to show interest if they see the team are consistent, entertaining and have a chance of success (over a longer period of time) rather than attempting to shame people into going.

Great post. I've had a dig at Salford myself in the past but I honestly can't see what more they can do now to improve attendances. There is no quick fix, just keep on playing attractive rugby and winning games. Its better to build slowly (as Cas have done) rather than boom and bust. We do have competition on our doorstep with Wakey and Fev so it is possible.
Back your team and encourage others to follow as its fantastic to see different teams in the top 4.

Re: Ian Blease BLASTS stay-away fans : Sat May 06, 2017 9:14 pm  

In my opinion their frustration is based on the variable attendances.
We had 5800 plus hundreds using complimentary tickets for the Leigh game.
The way the team is playing there would have been disappointment with the Widnes attendance as a fair percentage of people havent returned for the next home super league game to watch the team.
There is a challenge with getting casual fans attending regularly.
The team is now performing fantastically well. What we need now is some high profile games. Challenge Cup run, play off games. Back that up with aggressive marketing for season tickets next year. Perhaps try what Rochdale FC are doing for next season with prices structured on how many we sell. The more sold the cheaper the tickets could be if we sell over a certain amount.

Re: Ian Blease BLASTS stay-away fans : Sun May 07, 2017 3:45 pm  

I did wonder from the doc's comments whether a move away from the north west may eventually be on the cards? coventry red devils maybe?