Never mind coming away from the game with a smile, I'm looking forward to going into games with optimism. We couldn't really compete with half the league over 80 minutes by the end of our SL tenure. Hope for a win had become trepidation about an embarrassing defeat. And ultimately resignation.

I'll certainly be happier if we do turn out to be a tuna in the Championship than I was last season, when we were a small, wounded and confused whitebait. We had our share of misfortune, and then some, but tbh it was a bit of a shambles. I can't imagine many won't be very eager to get back though.

I think there are a few reasons, a little bit of Dunkirk/blitz attitude as hezza mentioned but also the realisation of how badly we had lost our way in SL.
We now have a great coach and a decent squad that has a good balance of experience and young raw talent. The positives are that we can use the experience to learn and blood the young lads and hopefully return to SL stronger and better.

After watching championship rugby for many seasons I definitely don't want to be here I just think we need to take a step back to go forward as we've been going nowhere for about four years

to all who replied all fans are the same look at hull city they was getting better crowds in the championship on there promotion run than they are now in the premier league it would not surprise me to see your home support increase after a few games people love a winning teams no mater who you support or who your playing after all rugby is entertainment and we pay to be entertained and go home happy, what ever happens this year in the middle 8s if you do not make it back at the first time it will not be for lack of support I'm certain of that the truth is no matter how good your support is its a lottery being based over a few games rather than a whole season

It can go the other way when your going to a game knowing your going to win easily that can get a bit boring I am looking forward to the season and it will help seeing a winning team with players who want to play for the club I just hope it's one season

there is no way we will get better crowds in the championship than superleague but they may increase if we get in the middle 8s as we should most rovers fans were just happy to be in superleague and not expecting to win too many games . but we were not the worst team last year you saw yourself what happened so we may be able to pick off wakey, Salford. leigh . etc next year and be a bit wiser if it happens and maintain superleague status

We are in the Championship on merit. Any team that cannot prevent the opposition from scoring twice in the final 2 minutes of a "must win" game deserves to be in our position right now.

That said, we weren't the worst team in SL last year, but our coaching and recruitment went into reverse after Justin Morgan departed.

The relegation should give us a great opportunity to regenerate our optimism and refuel our winning mentality under one of the game's top coaches. It will be far from a walk in the park but it is an opportunity we ought to capitalise on. The signs are promising.

One of your issues next year will be a lack of competitive games for the first 23 rounds. Doesn't look likely you'll be challenged on a regular basis so won;t really prepare you well for the middle 8's

Also rumoured you have quinlan and shillington coming over so you will easily have the best team in the championship but look a bit short of experience in key positions for me. Having said that I think leigh, widnes and salford will al be poor next year so I still think you have a strong chance of being promoted

I would have agreed with you on the first point if it wasn't for the fact that the season Leigh failed miserably in the middle 8s they played a few SL teams in the CC beaten two of them last season they hadn't played anyone decent all year and were unbeaten except for the first game so who knows

It's optimism that we can learn, build and come back stronger that is driving our supporters at the moment. Not the possibility of watching a winning team every week at a lower level. Different mentality to that encountered at the kcom.

The lack of competitive games should not be to the detriment of the squad. Tim Sheens challenge is to keep players on their game by regularly rotating the first 17. With so many young players on the fringes the competition for a starting place should keep things sharp and help with development.
If we are professional in our aproach to every game, come the money end of the season the team should be focused.
Plus the opportunity to earn a super league contract in 2018 should act as a very good carrot to every squad member.

I agree I think there maybe a bit of a gap opening in super league with the bottom 4 been away off you could well be very competitive against these teams barring injuries it could even work in your favour playing easy teams you maybe a lot fresher than the super league teams which I think was the difference with Leigh you will have best coach for sure

What are the chances of the RFL changing the rules next year and changing the format again? Perhaps scrapping the mid 8's and allowing 2 champion teams to come up for a 14 team comp?

I will give you 12-1 if you want to send me a fiver.

The first and last issue will be! Where's the video ref? Will be very interesting to see how Sheens deals with it all.For me this is outside his CV.

I'm pretty sure he's coached in a time before video refs

What a pointless post. To think a coach like Sheens will be affected in any way by the presence or non presence of a video ref is laughable.

They're only used in televised games in SL even now, aren't they? Tbf, that may be all atomic has seen of SL.

Jukes hadn't been a head coach in the pro game, afaik, before last season and he got the job done. I think things being outside Sheens experience is an item of low concern.

Announced on Twitter that the 5000 barrier has been broken. Well done to the fans and let's get back to where we belong. Roll on 2017.

Well done..Hopefully no one has to touch their pockets come £650k time..

Got my pass tried to do it online wouldn't work so rang the number it said the shop was closed so rang another number finally got sorted they really need to sort out the online department and I decided not to take the discount in the end

I think that Neil Hudgell and Rob Crossland are well aware that they may have to dip into their pockets during 2017. Fortunately for us they have the inclination and ability to do so.

The early signs are that things may not be as bad as we all feared. Membership sales are going to be up on 2016. Craven Park hosting events such as Oktoberfest, Paul Heaton concert and Pantomine is bringing in upwards of 300k apparently. Rovers have brought back the running of the bars and catering back "in house" which the Club tell us will give us more profit, though will mean more work. All of last seasons sponsors have stuck with the club and there are plenty of articles on our website of individual sponsors actually increasing their financial support.
Initially we will be running with a squad that is costing circa 600k less than 2016 so in the short term it looks like the sums add up.

The crunch is obviously going to come with walk up support on a weekly basis which is going to hinge heavily I would think on our on field performances/results.

I reckon we will be more than ok.

I had a simular problem, tried to renew on line, it didn't recognise my email address so wouldn't let me. Tried ringing the shop for about 2 hours but to no avail. Finally drove into town and was told by the girl in the shop " there's only 3 of use so we ignore the phone"
Not very professional and certainly not what any new supporters want to hear.
Anyway joined the Rovers forever scheme, so committed for another 2 years.

The club has confirmed it has surpassed last years 5200 pass holders. 6000 may be possible?!

6000 pass holders may be possible but I wonder what sort of opposition team we all might be watching come Feb 5th and how this will affect the atmosphere and the occasion.