Statement: IMG Grading

Today, you will all have seen that the RFL IMG Gradings have now been published for all clubs that still participate in this concept.

Whilst our current score may come as a disappointment to our loyal fans, I think it is important that I provide some details regarding our current score.

The IMG scoring process is split into six key areas:

• Fandom
• Performance
• Finance
• Stadium
• Community
• Minimum Standards

If we take Fandom first, thanks to our wonderful media team, our score in this area has risen since 2025, with strong growth across all our social media platforms. Where we have lost ground this year is on attendances, as we have fallen below the base requirement of a 1,500 average attendance.

Of course, this hasn’t been helped by the fact that, early in the season, we were playing games away from Boundary Park. This resulted in a significant fall in our attendance figures, but a major factor has been the downright honesty of the new board.
Whilst I have been absent from a couple of home games since taking over, I have been an ever-present at all away matches. On a couple of these occasions, I have been quite shocked to hear the announced attendance at these games, which, quite frankly, has been completely exaggerated.

I can recall one game where the stated attendance was in excess of 2,000, but when I spoke to one of the opposition’s Directors, he confessed to me that it was nearer 1,300 than 2,000. When I asked why they had done this, I got a very short, succinct answer: “IMG”.

Since taking over the club in June, every attendance we have quoted at home games has been based on factual information provided by the turnstile operators on the day. Perhaps we are wrong to do this, but what you have to understand is that attendance is an important barometer for us in terms of gauging how the club grows under our leadership.

The second measure is Performance, with our highest position secured since IMG was brought in. The points gained from this have also increased significantly.

The third measure is Finance. Again, this is an area where, believe it or not, we have recorded strong performance.

It is well known by all our fans the commitment shown by the previous Chairman, Bill Quinn, in terms of Director investment. I would like to assure all fans that the current Board have also invested significant funds into the club, albeit perhaps for different reasons, since our initial takeover.

Going forward, whilst there remains a commitment for this to continue under the current Board, it will not be on the same level, with our preference being to build a sustainable business model which helps secure the club not just now, but for years to come. The level of investment committed, however, will see us maintain a strong rating in this area.

The fourth measure is Stadium, which perhaps, for me, has produced the most disappointing result.

I have no doubt that if Oldham Athletic managed to get themselves back into the Premier League, their stadium would tick every box under the Premier League requirements. What this demonstrates to me is that the methodology for grading stadiums from an IMG perspective is flawed.

Without being disrespectful to other clubs, I can only think of Doncaster where I would rate the facilities on a par with Boundary Park.

If I drill down into the data, we have been deducted one point because the TV gantry at Boundary Park is a couple of feet shorter than it needs to be.

But, as someone who supports both of our town’s clubs, what I can say is that I have attended many televised games, the most recent being the Latics vs Salford game, where covering the game hasn’t been a problem for the broadcasters.

The fifth measure is Foundation. As we all know, the club does have a Foundation which supports our women’s and pathways teams, so we achieved the maximum rating here.

The last of the measures is Minimum Standards. It has been well documented that the club has faced some challenges this year, particularly around its off-field activities.

It will come as no surprise to any of you, therefore, that the club has received a deduction of 0.5 points as a result of it being placed into special measures during the 2026 season, which directly penalised our final grading score. Without those specific penalties, our overall score would have risen from last year.

Rest assured, under the club’s new ownership, this is something that is top of our agenda, and our total focus will be on preventing this from happening again.

This is the first time under the current ownership that we have had to submit this data and, to be clear, as a club we support IMG, as we feel it is important that the sport’s governing body has a measuring system that underpins the competition.

What has surprised me, though, having spent a lifetime in compliance for one of the most regulated industries in the UK, is the lack of validation attached to the process.

Of the six measures, only four are required to be evidenced, with the other two, Fandom and Stadium, being assessed by self-declaration. If IMG is going to continue, there needs to be a process which sees all six areas subject to validation. Only then will we see clubs receive a true and accurate grading.

So, in summary, where am I? Yes, I am disappointed with our score, but at the same time I am heartened by the fact that our score is based on factual data.

There are some easy wins in there which would see our score going over nine and pushing 10. One thing I can’t fix, though, is our attendances, and I urge all of you to get behind the club by attending matches.

We remain on the verge of reaching the 1,500 average attendance threshold – a milestone that would double our score in that pillar and unlock an extra 0.75 points.

You, as fans, have already seen some of the signings we have made so far, and there are more to come which will excite you even more.

Season Tickets are now on sale and, to use a Terry phrase, “let’s pack the park”.

Gary Kershaw
Director