I didn`t know we had a marketing Director whose that then?

I would hazard a guess at Tony Abbott.

Tony ten thousand!

Can't wait for you experts to throw your hat into the ring to run the club on a voluntary basis.

Had i read some of the crap you lot have posted - slagging me off - i'd have told you all to swivel a long time ago. Thankfully the board members have a better resolve than i do.

You're pathetic. Put your time and money where your fat mouths are or shut the feck up.

Fanboys ITT. Slow on the uptake today littlerich, i expected you a long time before this. Theres not an aspect of this thread that the club could possibly look to improve on maybe even a teenie tiny little bit?

Yes indeed.

As usual, thread started off well with JFF but then as usual, descends into "cackling old women mode" and then cherry topped with personal insults towards a board member - again - someone sinking his time and money into the club. Mind you, i'm sure as hell none of them do it for the plaudits.

I read a Tweet from Tony Abbott the other day that someone in his development dept said the Halifax RLFC Phone App was taking over their lives, so something is in the pipeline

Im not sure it really started that well tbh.

I couldnt tell if the OP`s comment was genuine or a dig so i chose to answer it thinking it must be genuine.

I can never tell what the story is. Is the club been run as a business or a hobby? If its a hobby then fair enough the odd cock up due to been run by `un-paid` volunteers is probably acceptable. If its a business then they should try and take the criticism and try to turn it in to a positive and maybe even try and learn something from it. Maybe the next time theres a game that the club are involved in they could let people know where and at what time it takes place more than a day in advance. Do that and we have already seen improvement and a step in the right direction.

They are volunteers trying to run a business as well as they can. There's a couple of employed office staff.

It may not run like a business should - although let me tell you, in 25 years of working for so-called professional businesses what does/does not happen at The Shay pretty much mirrors everywhere I've worked.

What's the ultimate aim of the club? Be successful? Win trophies? Have the Board not delivered on that front? What would you have said to the Leigh Board had you been a Leigh fan this year? Financial meltdown and points deduction - but wait - they've won a trophy and have performed admirably this year. So how do the "cackling old women" play that one? How about a professional set up then? Castleford maybe. You'd think the administrators of that club would at least turn up with the right kit, wouldn't you? Crusaders then? Nope. Catch my drift?

I guess it's not in my nature to pick holes in an organisation I feel loyal to and to lay the boot into a board member so easily, especially knowing the reason why they put their time and effort in. In case you hadn't noticed, money and resources are finite. We do well with what we've got. I will always defend those that run the club and I appreciate that some people - like yourself -will always be at the front of the queue with your pitchfork and burning effigy. At the risk of reviving the "Dare not criticise" thread - some people should "put up" or shut up.

The ultimate aim of the club changed with the introduction of Franchising and everything the club has done since then has been geared at winning a Franchise, well it certainly appeared that way anyway. Unfortunatley a catologue of errors made in the run up to the decision probably didnt help our cause and the bid was ultimatley a failure. Our bid was so `good` that we all know what transpired after the results with all the bitching and crying and was also deemed to be so `good` that the people who actually keep the club afloat, the fans, have no idea why the bid failed.

The only other points that i brought up in this thread i thought were valid. Internet access, obviously it dosnt matter if they have it down at the club because work needed to be done can be done elsewhere cant it? Letting fans know when a game is taking place should be done well in advance shouldnt it? Both valid points i feel.

People have offered constructive criticism on here that seems to be ignored quite a bit, infact there was one thread not so long ago where quite a few people including myself offered up ideas to help the club after they posted about people whinging. I seem to remember one of the things i mentioned was about advertising games, catch my drift? Its hard to help people who seemingly dont want to be helped.

We don't have a cash rich backer. Ultimately that's why the bid failed. That's an easy one and Michael Steele made that apparent shortly after the license announcement. If you want a waffly diatribe of other irrelevant excuses as to why we didn't get a license then i can send you an RFL style bu[illsh[/iit script about licensing requirements.

The club are about to announce various exciting things about 2012 and beyond. Perhaps we should wait for these before we stab forth the pitchforks and set fire to the effigies.

Isnt that what the supporters of the club do as well rich? Put their time and money into the club?

We will never know the reasons as the club have not released any info on the feed back they received. One thing that stands out to me though was what you previously said, the club is run by volunteers, good ones yes, but how could the RFL replace a club that appears to employ professional people to run their operation, with one run by a handful of volunteers?

And therein lies the problem. Look at the Widnes set up:

Steve O'Connor - Chairman
Julie Gaskell - CEO

Chris Shirling-Rooke - Head Of Commercial
Janet Pheysey - Football Secretary
Alison Quinn - Accounts Administrator
Mark Naughton - Media & P R Manager
Michele Carter - Lottery & Ticket Manager
John Foran - Community Co-ordinator
Paul Hansbury - Office Administrator
=#0000FFInteresting that these last few have sponsors!

They also have 4 matchday staff (i assume these are volunteers though) and 10 coaching staff.

When Wakefield went into administration, 28 members of the back-office staff were made redundant. 28!!!!


You need brass for a professional back office.

Getting back on the original topic.

Do Leigh East play at the LSV?

It's a cracking facility next door to the LSV.

You would think so. Over the last 25 years ive been involved in various schemes and sponsorship etc and missed at most a handful of home games(and away games for that matter). Yet even the slightest criticism of the most basic errors is attacked by the clubs fanboys who are blinded by the "well they are volunteers, what do you expect" line.(I believe theres less volunteers than what is made out on here anyway) The only thing i now get involved in is paying on the gate at every home game, believing the club get more money from me this way rather than me purchasing a season ticket and in all honesty i may purchase a season ticket next year to save myself some money. It seems any advice that is offered to these people, who must be struggling considering the errors that are made, is ignored or taken as having a go. I think the fans that do so much good work for the club like JFFC, Chris Smith and FBAW etc deserve a medal for helping the club out, Linda especially for the way she has been treated in the past. Lets hope the some of things mentioned in the Blog become a reality and the club collectivly start upping their game.

Leigh 26 v 20 Fax.

Last minute try from Leigh to win the game. Deja vu.

Just got back,what a cracking game, two evenly matched teams right down to the wire. A credit to both pro clubs for getting both sets of lads together.

Having watched more than my fair share of lethargic performances by the first team over the course of this season; tonight has been refreshing to see a group of players, playing as if the match meant something. For a group of players, all of whom are so inexperienced, to have matured over the course of their first season to be able to achieve a play off place is nothing other than phenomenal, not only are they are credit to the club but also a credit to themselves. Martin Gonzalez also has to take some praise, to assemble a team from scratch that then goes onto the play-offs takes some doing and (regardless of what people’s opinions are regarding his involvement for the first team) he deserves all the accolades for his work with the 23s, whatever happens with the coaching set-up for next year, I wish him all the best.

However, one thing that has disappointed me, not only tonight, but over the course of the season, is the lack of support for this team. This is a team that is essentially funded by the fans; however, the fans seem reluctant to offer their support, when it comes to watching the games and for the fundraising. It is the same small number of people that you see at the games week in week out, which is such a pity.

I only hope resources at the club and the Faxbuilder allow for them to continue to go forward in future seasons, as it would be such a shame to loose out on all the progress made. You’ve had a great season boys and there is certainly something there to build on. Well done!

I would like to echo these words re` the Under 23s and Martin Gonzales I was really proud of the lads tonight I thought they were slightly the better team . They got pipped at the very last minute but tried hard all night, Martin is superb with them and drives them on with his enthusiasm . A mention must go to volunteers again here who support this team all season Hilda, Malcom , Sean and anyone else who turns out to take care of them.
It is a shame not more turn out but a fan base has to grow with time and inconsistencies can soon put people off. At the begining of the season they had to play at other grounds , then the nights alter as to whoever they are playing plus this is their first year . In the old Thrum Hall days there would be as many watching the second team as there are watching the first team matches now.
But then they were always Fri night 7-30pm Thrum Hall if the Club intend to keep the Under 23s going then a fan base will grow with them , one that has not been able to take shape because their has been no consistency with our youth teams over the last few years, it has been stop and start.

It was a good game that could easily have gone either way , enjoyed it and was impressed with some of the play displayed by the Fax youngsters

Well done , both sets of players

I agree, with what you’re saying - Rome wasn't built in a day etc.

However, tonight was the last night off a superb season, yet to have (as far as I could make out) less than 10 supporters there must be nothing other than disheartening for anyone involved.

It took me 36 hrs to find out where it was and time and everything , I think a bit of selling by the Club would not go amiss but even they had the match as being held on the wrong night on their website .
Next year will show a differance I`m sure .

In fairness I don't think anybody expects much of an away following for a reserve fixture, especially in midweek.