Re: Dear Board of Directors. : Tue Apr 25, 2023 8:30 am  

Spookisback wrote:

I’m not sure I agree with this…

we have gone through cycles of decency… apathy… relegation… promotion… excitement… boredom… reasonable league position… poor league position… rank bad league position… and that’s just in the 49 years I have been supporting the club… literally hundreds of players have worn the beloved shirt in that time… tens upon tens of coaches, elected club officials and company board members… the cycle of excitement and optimism countered by disappointment and apoplexy has been constant…

Each coach… each owner … has done the best they can with the resources available.

But for the majority of that time… one thing has been particularly noticeable… the cycle of boom and bust… teams have been built… but the ‘holy grail’ of success has not been forthcoming… crowds and investment have not allowed for that to be sustainable… debt was built.. resulting in an unacceptable financial strain… which at various times has led to the ground being sold… star players capitalised… areas of the ground being deemed unsafe and closed down… making Belle Vue a grim and unattractive place to fans, players and investors alike.

There are no queues of philanthropic millionaire RL fans or entrepreneurial businessmen, waiting in the wings… that’s just fantastical thinking … deluded thinking!

The only way forward is to apply sound business principles, which secures the name and the club for future generations of Wakefield people. Unlike previous regimes, that’s what the current board has done… sound business principles to operate within a sustainable budget… sound business principles to (finally) secure the ownership of Belle Vue and enable the gradual transformation into a 21st century stadium.

And this has been through a period of history which has seen investment in the sport in the UK slashed, a pandemic which crucified short term development thinking… conflict in Europe and Brexit which has grossly affected and impacted supply chain vale and matériel costs.

On this side of the world the investment in League is going through the roof… yes it means that more and more players are coming through the system , but their salary expectation even at lower levels in the game are beyond the British game’s means. E.g. I just watched an NRL reserve game between Bulldogs Reserves and Newtown Jets (Sharks reserves) and it was better… skill, intensity, speed… than any SL game I have seen this year.

Sure I’m disappointed, disaffected and ready to point the finger of blame, but posts like this thread… are little more than an adult writing to Santa or praying in church on a Sunday … cathartic maybe, but ultimately a waste of time…

Currently we have a down cycle… and its circadian rhythm is in time and in tune with ‘cost of living crisis’ … general feeling of instability internationally and within politics… a pervading lack of trust of anyone in authority…and a media fed fear of conspiracies.

There will be an up cycle… the dawn will follow the night… maybe not tomorrow, next month or next year (even)… but it will come.

I thought exactly the same which is why I didn’t respond to the initial post. In fact if it’s addressed to the directors it’s better to write a letter addressed direct to them or the club. I’m not a yes man and have my own opinions but these days if you don’t agree you tend to get ostracised (not on here but in general in social media).

The simple fact is mistakes have been made in a few areas but the club haven’t shied away from this. Fans are asking why? But sometimes mistakes are simply made. If these mistakes can be patched remains to be seen.

The club/coach have already said they accept things aren’t where they want it to be yet fans still are asking the club to explain. That’s rubbish and I would rather the club focus completely on how they can address it moving forwards.

I’m sure the poster has the best intentions and it’s wholehearted so I won’t criticise. I’ve just seen too many of these posts daily on various outlets. The focus needs to be on supporting the club turning things around not continually beating the club which are currently curled up in a ball in the feral position.

Re: Dear Board of Directors. : Tue Apr 25, 2023 9:08 am  

Trojan Horse wrote:

I thought exactly the same which is why I didn’t respond to the initial post. In fact if it’s addressed to the directors it’s better to write a letter addressed direct to them or the club. I’m not a yes man and have my own opinions but these days if you don’t agree you tend to get ostracised (not on here but in general in social media).

The simple fact is mistakes have been made in a few areas but the club haven’t shied away from this. Fans are asking why? But sometimes mistakes are simply made. If these mistakes can be patched remains to be seen.

The club/coach have already said they accept things aren’t where they want it to be yet fans still are asking the club to explain. That’s rubbish and I would rather the club focus completely on how they can address it moving forwards.

I’m sure the poster has the best intentions and it’s wholehearted so I won’t criticise. I’ve just seen too many of these posts daily on various outlets. The focus needs to be on supporting the club turning things around not continually beating the club which are currently curled up in a ball in the feral position.

So what do we expect the fans to do? Some of the stuff on FB is rubbish, yes I will grant you that, but in the absence of anything at all from the club other than fan bashing then naturally the fans will speculate, fester and eventually criticise. All I'm hearing is that dissent and criticism should be stopped, and full support should be given to the club. Thats naive as far as I am concerned.

Let me ask the forum this - what are we supporting? What's the new plan? What can we get behind? You have to give to receive, or at least demonstrate some leadership and inspire people. Let's start with the average £300-500 that most of us have given already this season. Regarding comms, and on balance, to the untrained eye, the Club speak to the fans either when they want something or they are criticising the fans. Nothing in between. Fans won't cop for that. Looking on RW&B you now even have the dutiful super fan's criticising - surely that's an indicator.

The only member of the club that is regularly speaking to the outside world is Mark Applegarth. That is the one and only source of truth from Wakefield Trinity RLFC as we stand. Even John Minards whom I enjoy reading has gone underground.

So I don't think it's as simple as "get behind 'em". Even the Pied Piper played a tune.

Re: Dear Board of Directors. : Tue Apr 25, 2023 9:35 am  

Trojan Horse wrote:

I thought exactly the same which is why I didn’t respond to the initial post. In fact if it’s addressed to the directors it’s better to write a letter addressed direct to them or the club. I’m not a yes man and have my own opinions but these days if you don’t agree you tend to get ostracised (not on here but in general in social media).

The simple fact is mistakes have been made in a few areas but the club haven’t shied away from this. Fans are asking why? But sometimes mistakes are simply made. If these mistakes can be patched remains to be seen.

The club/coach have already said they accept things aren’t where they want it to be yet fans still are asking the club to explain. That’s rubbish and I would rather the club focus completely on how they can address it moving forwards.

I’m sure the poster has the best intentions and it’s wholehearted so I won’t criticise. I’ve just seen too many of these posts daily on various outlets. The focus needs to be on supporting the club turning things around not continually beating the club which are currently curled up in a ball in the feral position.

A very reasoned post.
However, just how many games are we going to lose before a fundamental change is made with our head coach.

Accepting that mistakes have been made is one thing but, failure to try and rectify those mistakes is surely worse.
It's clear that we have zero or very little cash but, limping to the end of the season and accepting relegation and all that comes with that, without trying to change tack is bloody stupid..
Even "hardcore, loyal" fans have had enough.
When ST holders dont come to home games, something has to change.

Effectively, we are watching "sales" go down the plughole and without "customers", the game is up.

Re: Dear Board of Directors. : Tue Apr 25, 2023 9:35 am  

1315trinity wrote:

I'm also a supporter of 60 odd years, ST holder etc. I agree with Manuel but the damage now been done.
Our recruitment demise started with CC's star signings and has continued.
Most of our squad are, at best average championship players - most are trying but they aren't good enough!
we're reaping what we have sowed.
I haven't seen the loanee at No 6 so cannot comment if things will change while we have him, but our ability to attack has been the worst I have ever witnessed as a trinity supporter - absolutely clueless!
We lost class players in Fifita, Arona, Miller, Batchelor and Johnstone and have replaced them with players who would struggle to get in a championship team.
I realise money is limited but we have to get someone in the club in an advisory capacity pretty damned quick because it seems to me that our rugby league knowledge in terms of recruitment leaves a lot to be desired.
BUT I'm RWB through and through and when we are in the championship, I will still support them.
To all those 'supporters' who will no doubt be thinking the drop is the end of the world I say - keep supporting them - the more that turn up the better the matchday experience, and we might see some points scored!

Yep, where the problems started and have continued.

Re: Dear Board of Directors. : Tue Apr 25, 2023 10:12 am  

I tried a measured approach to things. I ran an international freight business for 40 years so have some knowledge. When recession hits, as it did three times, you cut your cloth accordingly but look for new business, if you sit and wait, you stagnate and rot. Trinity’s business is rotting. No visible signs of addressing the matter other than a few sticking plasters. If you keep doing the same thing, you get the same results. This equates to Proctor and Atoni. Utter failures and not completing their jobs to the best of their ability, so it looks. Their reward, carry on being a failure. The club is now its own worst enemy by not embracing 2023 and all it offers in social media,etc. Carry on Regardless. It’s becoming a farce. Everyone has an opinion, even from Australia. The big difference is your not watching poop here.

Re: Dear Board of Directors. : Tue Apr 25, 2023 10:25 am  

Spookisback wrote:

I’m not sure I agree with this…

we have gone through cycles of decency… apathy… relegation… promotion… excitement… boredom… reasonable league position… poor league position… rank bad league position… and that’s just in the 49 years I have been supporting the club… literally hundreds of players have worn the beloved shirt in that time… tens upon tens of coaches, elected club officials and company board members… the cycle of excitement and optimism countered by disappointment and apoplexy has been constant…

Each coach… each owner … has done the best they can with the resources available.

But for the majority of that time… one thing has been particularly noticeable… the cycle of boom and bust… teams have been built… but the ‘holy grail’ of success has not been forthcoming… crowds and investment have not allowed for that to be sustainable… debt was built.. resulting in an unacceptable financial strain… which at various times has led to the ground being sold… star players capitalised… areas of the ground being deemed unsafe and closed down… making Belle Vue a grim and unattractive place to fans, players and investors alike.

There are no queues of philanthropic millionaire RL fans or entrepreneurial businessmen, waiting in the wings… that’s just fantastical thinking … deluded thinking!

The only way forward is to apply sound business principles, which secures the name and the club for future generations of Wakefield people. Unlike previous regimes, that’s what the current board has done… sound business principles to operate within a sustainable budget… sound business principles to (finally) secure the ownership of Belle Vue and enable the gradual transformation into a 21st century stadium.

And this has been through a period of history which has seen investment in the sport in the UK slashed, a pandemic which crucified short term development thinking… conflict in Europe and Brexit which has grossly affected and impacted supply chain vale and matériel costs.

On this side of the world the investment in League is going through the roof… yes it means that more and more players are coming through the system , but their salary expectation even at lower levels in the game are beyond the British game’s means. E.g. I just watched an NRL reserve game between Bulldogs Reserves and Newtown Jets (Sharks reserves) and it was better… skill, intensity, speed… than any SL game I have seen this year.

Sure I’m disappointed, disaffected and ready to point the finger of blame, but posts like this thread… are little more than an adult writing to Santa or praying in church on a Sunday … cathartic maybe, but ultimately a waste of time…

Currently we have a down cycle… and its circadian rhythm is in time and in tune with ‘cost of living crisis’ … general feeling of instability internationally and within politics… a pervading lack of trust of anyone in authority…and a media fed fear of conspiracies.

There will be an up cycle… the dawn will follow the night… maybe not tomorrow, next month or next year (even)… but it will come.

I agree with a lot of what you say, but.....ups' and downs with us is relative isn't it! In 55 years we have finished in the top 4, 3 times!! That by any stretch is poor, through all the chairmen, players & coaches that have come and gone in that timeframe. We have never finished above 5th since '99. No CC final since '79. The golden era of the '60's, now nearly 60 years ago!! This season has been coming for at least 3/4 years, and currently it's pretty abysmal when you look at all the stats. We are on course to be the worst EVER team in Super league the way things are going. I can understand Manuel's post, I completely get it, and like someone else said, the minute season ticket holders start not bothering, the club's actual existence is on a very slippery slope indeed.

Re: Dear Board of Directors. : Tue Apr 25, 2023 11:56 am  

Manuel wrote:

I tried a measured approach to things. I ran an international freight business for 40 years so have some knowledge. When recession hits, as it did three times, you cut your cloth accordingly but look for new business, if you sit and wait, you stagnate and rot. Trinity’s business is rotting. No visible signs of addressing the matter other than a few sticking plasters. If you keep doing the same thing, you get the same results. This equates to Proctor and Atoni. Utter failures and not completing their jobs to the best of their ability, so it looks. Their reward, carry on being a failure. The club is now its own worst enemy by not embracing 2023 and all it offers in social media,etc. Carry on Regardless. It’s becoming a farce. Everyone has an opinion, even from Australia. The big difference is your not watching poop here.

Not one of my favourites either tbh.....

Re: Dear Board of Directors. : Tue Apr 25, 2023 1:23 pm  

My plea is sack Applegarth because there is no chance of filling the new stand in the championship under his style of rugby.

Re: Dear Board of Directors. : Tue Apr 25, 2023 2:08 pm  

Willzay wrote:

My plea is sack Applegarth because there is no chance of filling the new stand in the championship under his style of rugby.

Nah, we're currently breaking SL records every week, why change now.

Re: Dear Board of Directors. : Tue Apr 25, 2023 2:08 pm  

Willzay wrote:

My plea is sack Applegarth because there is no chance of filling the new stand in the championship under his style of rugby.

AGREE .Better to watch a team that plays attractive rugby in the Championship ,than the garbage rugby these coaches think is rugby