I never said that what you put was lies or inaccurate, I just said that there was context around certain statements etc.

From the rest of the post I guess I'm just a happy clapper, and coincidentally every other person who I spoke to must be as well as they all thought it was a good event.

Its also nice to know that we know nothing and are just naive happy clappers and its only the angry ones who couldn't get a ticket that actually know "The real truth".

I'd also find it strange that your mate who seems to be very unhappy with pretty much everything bill and Ben said, didn't stand up and ask them thise hard questions? Tell the. They were telling lies etc. They had ample chance to do so?

Personally I’d love the IL from 2010/2011 but unfortunately time goes by.

I’m not sure of IL age but unless he has a particularly good constitution retirement cannot be delayed indefinitely. If he feels that he has the energy and desire to turn things around (and only he knows that and possibly his family) then I’m fine with that as long as communications and the standards of the club across the board are significantly improved.
I tend to find that most people who criticise IL are usually “fans” who don’t attend games and haven’t done for over 10 years or more. I’m not a “happy clapper” ( don’t really like that term but unsure as to what else to us) but IL has done infinitely more good than bad however, some the decisions in the last couple of years have been questionable and in some cases just downright wrong but hopefully, he can kick on and find some of his old vigour.

I agree with you in that my biggest single worry is the stadium but that is closely followed by general finances of the club however, even if those issues can be resolved we need a significant stepped change in attitude/communication/ professionalism/marketing and a bit stoicism wouldn’t go amiss.
As a club we seem to lost a bit of get up and go which is understandable but eminently fixable. We cannot afford to get it wrong for another year hence my “step aside” comment. I want us to be successful but just as importantly I want to enjoy my club again. The last 3 years have been nothingness apart from the very odd occasions at say Huddersfield and Saints last year.
We need someone to grab us by the collar and drag into a new successful and professional era. IL may have to loosen the reigns a bit with senior management in achieving this but I’m not sure if that’s his style.

A Wigan lad willing to help out in difficult Times.
I believe he doesn’t want to run a sports club.

I could be more cynical and think the longer we drift the cost of buying out the remaining 75% becomes increasingly less.

I haven’t got a clue what the correct answer is but in a perverse way the latter does have some semblance of a business plan if I were Danson albeit not very moral.

I'm going to draw a line under the first part of the response, I'm not talking about the use of the word elitism, Condescending, contemptuous, I was more concerned about the next words that to be honest I done want to repeat (not for fear of saying it, I've said worse in private etc, but I just don't think making last nights forum an analogy to a sex ring and the connotations behind it is a great thing to do).

However

The last 3 paragraphs pretty much nail my feelings.
They didn't whitewash everything and say they got everything right, a number of times they held their hands up, but they gave some explanation behind their thinking and decision making.
They didn't agree with everyone on the floor, but they explained their decisions and why they feel they're right on those subjects.
As I've said, I know people who are and were involved and know about numerous situations, whilst not telling us everything (how can you in a 2hr meeting were dozens and dozens of topics are discussed before you even get i to whether they should tell us) i can say that nothing they said contradicted what I've previously been told so IMO they didn't lie about thise things.

I'm only interested in moving forward

Finances - took a massive hit, worked hard to get through it and have plans in place to improve and get back on track to 2020 forecasts pre pandemic, and have a mitigating plans for various circumstances

Stadium - didn't work out the way they wanted, but are dealing with new owners to put ourselves on a mutually agreeable path.

Squad - and I keep repeating this, they asked did anyone think the way they promote youth etc is wrong, no one complained or said they didn't think it was the right way to go, they explained the situations with a number of players, its up to each individual to believe or not believe them.. certainly on the GW one I believe them, as I've been told previously how much wigan offered and what he went to Wire for. But ultimately the question was asked do we think the identification, nurturing and payment structure that allows us to bring youth, retain youth and guide them into the 1st team environment is the right one.

Coach - they explained their thought processes, they explained the options they could potentially take moving forward, they explained their rationale behind how these things are done and to me I heard nothing controversial in what they said, people may not agree, but its hardly controversial.

Ultimately my feeling was that were 10/20% off were we would like to be in a lot of areas, but with a backdrop of covid and the issues that has brought then a lot of this is understandable.

They gave confidence that coming out the other side they are in the right position to move forward, and whilst not saying there aren't questions and issues surrounding certain subjects it certainly would be fair that they had an optimistic but cautious view.

Yep, that’s fair enough. Post amended. Said in anger and frustration but in hindsight it was unacceptable.

Which bit?

Can't believe nobody piped up when asked if anybody had an issue with the policy of promoting youth. There's a difference between promoting it and the complete over reliance we've got on it now, especially in the pack. Half that pack is not Super League standard and I doubt ever will be. Paul Sculthorpe hit the nail on the head last week when he said too many in our pack don't look Super League ready. The reason the gap between Saints and us is getting wider is because they know how to bring their youth through. Gradually and with the support of seasoned pros all around them. There's method in the Saints approach. And fair play to them, they're reaping the rewards.

And why no goal kicker since Pat Richards left? Presumably another department Radlinski knows nowt about, along with forwards.

Our young forwards don’t have the luxury of playing with seasoned and other good forwards (with the obvious exceptions of Farrell and Bateman). Havard would be, and still is IMO, on course to be a top, top front rower if he had the likes of Walmsley, Knowles, Prior, Millington tutoring him and I doubt Byrne/Partington would even get a look in.

Smithies works hard, he’s a real grafter and you do need players like him in your team but a question mark remains over him for me over his effectiveness. He reminds me of Harrison Hansen; willing to do the tough stuff and dependable but just not there.

Shorrocks I like, he has something about him but I’ve said it before in that I just don’t know whether he has what it takes to be at a top level SL club.

KPP is a star in the making IMO an absolute must keep at all costs. I would possibly put Halsall in that bracket too.

Smith I’d like to see under a new (and competent) coach before calling for him to go. There is clear talent there but as I’ve repeatedly said he looks lost and completely devoid of any confidence which is clearly affecting his game. It’s like sending a lamb to the slaughter having him kick, why not Zak? That’s not going to help him.

The issue we have is as you’ve pointed out, our over reliance on the youngsters which has been down to poor senior player form, or injuries. Clubb and Clarke aren’t great role models for our young props, Bullock is a total waste of time and Singleton though I like him and out of our senior props I’d rate him the highest, blows hot and cold. He was outstanding v Cas but has been virtually anonymous in other games. If French/Field had been fit I doubt we’d have seen Smith half as much and now Field is fit again but clearly struggling for form.

The Saints approach is without doubt the best way to do it, but let’s be fair; they’ve not had anywhere near the injuries or loss of form of senior players we have. That’s a huge reason for this IMO.

Who was the last 'top quality' player the Wigan academy brought through? Gildart maybe (1st team debut in 2015)?

Its not meant as a criticism as such but whilst the academy has always been effective at developing a good quantity of SL / Championship standard players, perhaps not as effective in recent years at developing top quality.

Most of it.

I seem to remember that from from around 2009 to around 2018 nobody complained about our youth policy and how it was brought through, whilst at the same time saints weren't getting the best out of their youngster until around 2017?

I wonder what changed at wigan 2018 and at saints 2017 that changed that?

Oh, and once again and i will elaborate on later, they didn't say roads and IL choose the players etc. They said ultimately they are the ones that sign off on it, they said they had staff that Identifies and researches, they have different people who have input into it including the head and assistant coaches and but ultimately they sign off on the deal.
Pretty much how most sporting organizations work these days.

I haven’t got a clue to be honest with you Grimmy. I’d be surprised with a dad of the intellect of IL if they haven’t got good business skills but couldn’t comment if they the core skills to run a multi million pound sports club.

From what I’ve heard one of his son’s (apologies I don’t know which one) goes on Twitter occasionally to give updates and opinions on the club. Apparently he comes across very well and does appear to be pretty knowledgable about the club.

I suppose another issue could be geography in that they may not want to work in Wigan but live in Oxfordshire

The youth policy has been fantastic and it gives you huge pride to see successful Wigan teams with a healthy percentage of local juniors in it but I can’t help think we really pushed our luck too far in the last couple of off seasons. The set up of the academy system and cutting of the reserves means the jump to first team rugby from the level below is absolutely massive.

We coped for many years losing 6-10 first teams players (a mix of first choice and fringe players) and only bringing in 2 or 3 players and filling gaps with juniors but that happened too many years on the trot and it’s left us with a squad lacking in experience. The pack is just all wrong in balance terms and it’s really hurt us. One thing we absolutely cannot afford for 2022 is to lose more players again than we bring in. If we lose 6, we need 6 replacements IMO and ideally 6 experienced replacements. The four signings confirmed are all a decent age but the overseas lads again aren’t the most experienced but it’s better than it’s been. If we lose Hardaker he must be replaced in addition to signing a halfback and us not just accept a swap with somebody like Miller and then the halfback cap space (plus 75k) reported from last night isn’t being used. It doesn’t sound like they pleaded absolute poverty last night or levelled that we can’t spend up to the cap, so we can only presume they can. Tough to say without seeing much this season but it doesn’t feel like anymore juniors are ready to step up (Matty Nicholson maybe).

Still nothing on Wigan TV

If you currently look at the club website or Twitter feed, last night didn't happen.

Not sure I follow the whole KR and IL bashing here.
Haven't they delivered the most successful decade we've had pre COVID since the early 90s? Completed turned the fortunes of the club around from where we were 2005/2006. They've earned our trust & respect.

Not interested in George Burgess or Shaun Edwards. Old news.
Disappointing to hear Hardaker is likely leaving. We need all the top class players we can get and he definitely is one.
The coach and backroom recruits will be an important one.
Clearly the George Williams rumours were true at the time RE contract offer. Nothing we can do about a player not wanting to re-join (wonder why?). It feels like we are scraping about for a new halfback now.
Promoting youth definitely the right approach but we must not overly rely on youth like we are doing. You need that class and quality/experience to compliment - especially in the forwards.
Clearly the 25% stakeholder is looking at the next stage of the club after IL is (to be blu t) no longer here. Sensible and to be expected. The lack of PR over it could be for a host of reasons.

Huge year for recruitment for us. A new coach + halfback. Not easy to recruit. Very limited market too.

The supposed chat with the WEP, which was supposed to happen today, also didn't go ahead.

To be honest i started writing this reply 2rs ago, had a phone call from a mate and went through an hour and half with him about last night
I know you want to be outraged
But just to pre warn you, even though some people have said that it was recorded and will be show on Wigan TV, I haven't seen that anywhere and didn't hear anyone say that on the night.

Now the reason I say this is if your going to post every 24hrs saying still nothing, then don't be surprised if your still saying it in months and months time.

I mentioned earlier that people were complaing about there being no twitter feed, to be honest, and I dont do twitter etc, I've asked other people and they say they haven't seen anywhere were the club didnsay they would tweet it out, if they did, they did. But I certainly didn't see it.

I can see other peoples replies, to be honest I'm not doing individual replies but!

Are you guys sure that wigan did day theybwould tweet? That they did say they would edit and out on Wigan TV?
Or could it be that someone on here or twitter said it and everyone now believes rather wigan said they would????

Like I say if it was officially said I apologise

Before I whinge I want to say that what IL has done for this club is fantastic and as a fan of the club I am very grateful.

I find this forum immensely frustrating. I cannot understand why the club have not released a transcript or put this forum on Wigan TV for the rest of us.

I’ve no problem with them not streaming it live, it wouldn’t take long to edit out (if there was any) bad language or behaviour that is inappropriate and upload it to Wigan TV, or at the very least state their intention to do so. It kind of feels like they are saying if you couldn’t attend you’re not important to us.

I can only say it one more time
They gave a 2/3minute explanation as to why they didn't want to show it.
It made sense to me, and I can only say that I understand people being suspicious, but their explanation made sense.
Unfortunately I'm not going to explain it because that in itself would lead to more questions etc.

What I will say is that the closed nature of it imo allowed them to be more open about things.
A friend who went last night said that all the people saying it was whitewash etc would have got exactly that if it was streamed etc because by nature the answers given by the club would have to be sanitised etc and then everyone would have said it was a whitewash etc.

Now we're obviously going to go round in circles
And I'm not going to deny that those that weren't here will be happy with this (although I find cadoo and crunchers repkies amongst others encouraging) but i can say that in a very troubled period what I feel (and every person I've spoken to that was there said the same) was that it was a very very good meeting, lots of openness and lots of transparency and info.

They did - [urlhttps://twitter.com/WiganWarriorsRL/status/1430449059278594049?s=20[/url

So another lie to add to the list.

The way they've handled the communication (or lack of) around this speaks volumes.