'Relegate bottom team' Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont's Hull FC dig and Toulouse promoted reveal

[josie andrews]

Leigh owner Derek Beaumont has been in a war of words with Hull FC of late and now says relegating London if they finish above last place would be unfair

Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont has implied that Toulouse Olympique will be a Super League side next year and says whoever finishes bottom this season should be relegated. The French club, currently playing in the Championship, are understood to be contenders for a place in the top flight next year through the IMG grading criteria.

Toulouse placed tenth in the indicative grading table last year, placing above the likes of Wakefield Trinity, Leigh Leopards and Castleford Tigers. Since then, they have kept a low profile with regards to their aspirations for 2025, but many believe that they are essentially competing with Castleford Tigers for the final spot in Super League next season.

Toulouse, who played in Super League during the 2022 season, missed out on a return last season after losing to London Broncos in the Million Pound Game. However, their grading last year has left many believing they will be back next year. That includes Beaumont, who posted on X suggesting they will join Catalans Dragons in the top flight next year.

Replying to a post, Beaumont said: "Let’s not also forget that we will also be bringing another French team into the league and providing 1/6 of the sports money outside our country! Which team will be relegated to accomplish that or not promoted. I am safe on IMG scoring but would not stay up if I finished bottom!"

Beaumont was posting after commenting on Hull FC's defeat to London Broncos. The Black and Whites and the Leopards have had something of a war of words in recent weeks over the handling of John Asiata's move amid talk of Adrian Lam, Oliver Holmes and Zak Hardaker all joining the club too.

Beaumont suggested the Black and Whites had let players leave as they knew they would be in the competition next year regardless of their league performance.

He posted: "I know let’s relegate a team that’s trying their heart out and has just beat a team that’s got rid of their players thinking they are safe as a grade A Club. A great example of why IMG scoring don’t work in this format! Let’s stand up for the game and insist on relegating the bottom team whoever that is!"

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... 4776833d50

[Southern Softy]

Can't disagree with promotion and relegation - why change it? I just assumed, judging by the way they're recruiting, Wakefield back in SL was a done deal.

[moto748]

P & R, yes. But a "no jeopardy" rule for promoted sides lasting three (?) years to give them a fair chance to settle.

[Mike]

Can't disagree with promotion and relegation - why change it? I just assumed, judging by the way they're recruiting, Wakefield back in SL was a done deal.

Changing it is down to pro vs semi-pro, finance and timing. The promoted team can't compete even if they have the money because they've been playing in a semi-pro league with a semi-pro squad, they didn't know they were coming up until the very last moment, and all the pro players are already signed up for next year except from the relegated club, who now face the same issue as the promoted team in reverse.

So you end up with a team like London coming up and being unable to compete on the pitch or financially. Is that good for the game? I'm not so sure. Its fun though, so we lose some of the fan engagement. Overall I prefer promotion and relegation, but its not good seeing clubs almost go out of existence after relegation and not being able to compete in the higher league after promotion.

[WarriorWinger]

It is difficult having a no jeopardy rule for a number of years as each year a different club would be relegated and then depending on the number of years, you could have a club finishing in the top 8 and in a play off spot getting relegated as those below are on a no relegation rule.
The one good thing about grading is that it gives clubs a chance to steady the ship for a number of years to try and complete with the usual top few, it also gives those out of the top flight a realistic chance of getting into SL and building a legacy, maybe a fusion of the two methods could be the way to go in the future, it means those in SL don't only have to think about fan engagement and the state of the ground, it also needs to compete on the pitch and at junior level

[Mike]

It is difficult having a no jeopardy rule for a number of years as each year a different club would be relegated and then depending on the number of years, you could have a club finishing in the top 8 and in a play off spot getting relegated as those below are on a no relegation rule.
The one good thing about grading is that it gives clubs a chance to steady the ship for a number of years to try and complete with the usual top few, it also gives those out of the top flight a realistic chance of getting into SL and building a legacy, maybe a fusion of the two methods could be the way to go in the future, it means those in SL don't only have to think about fan engagement and the state of the ground, it also needs to compete on the pitch and at junior level

Maybe you have to finish in the bottom 3 and not be exempt to go down? Some years that means no relegation, but most years it means there would be.

[the pieman]

from what i recall of the initial IMG stuff, there would be a period of exemption from relegation but equally clubs cant rest on their laurels

for too many years Wakey and Cas have done f*** all about their grounds, and only now because they've been told that they may not be in SL, have they done anything about it. the SL / RFL have been too soft with them given how many other clubs in SL / Championship have invested accordingly. Now, where the element of jeopardy may come in is if a club Grade B /C in SL, is not performing and there are clubs in the championship, that are also B/C. They may lose their place to one of those clubs if they finish bottom

at the end of the day, IMG wants all clubs to be A, that means we are playing in high quality stadiums, with good crowds / match day experience and they are all well run professional clubs, unlike what we have seen for the past few years. Thats the aspiration, and there has to be a period of everyone getting their ducks into a row, getting things in place but more importantly keeping them and improving them. I would also suggest that the criteria must also be reviewed on a regular basis given that they have missed out on having reserves / academy / scholarship / ladies / disability etc as any form of measure of criteria. Wigan scores the same as all other clubs, which cant be arsed in producing their own players ie 0 / nil points