By STEVE MASCORD
NEW London Broncos owner Gary Hetherington says IMG’s recommendations regarding promotion and relegation “lack sporting integrity”.
Hetherington was this week at Cherry Red Records Stadium taking questions from fans of the club he has taken over from David Hughes, and for which he is searching for multiple investors.
When asked about IMG’s involvement in the sport, which includes the contentious rankings that replaced pure promotion and relegation, the former Leeds chief executive said: “I think the principle of it is sound.
“There’s part of it that’s not, in my view, correct. I think the promotion and relegation lacks sporting integrity. I think sporting integrity is a crucial part of promotion and relegation in any sport and we’ve not quite got that right.”
Under the system, clubs graded A are guaranteed their place in the top flight while the rest of the places are determined by off-field indices combined with results – meaning the end of traditional promotion and relegation.
Hetherington said the international sports marketing firm was given “far too much credit” for recent developments in the sport but also admitted rugby league could not afford many of their recommendations.
Asked for his general on the 12-year partnership, he told more than 50 fans in a function room at Plough Lane: “IMG’s an interesting subject. There are all these misconceptions about IMG.
“IMG are purely an advisor. They have no constitutional power whatsoever. They can’t make any decision. Anything that they recommend has got to be – effectively – approved by the clubs.
“IMG are given far too much credit for the changes that have come into the game.
“They come into the sport and they are advocating that the sport should do this, that and the other and I agree with all they’re recommending.
“But of course the sport doesn’t have the money to fund the sort of things that they’re advocating.
“One of the problems with the game generally is that it lacks investment. It lacks having money to be able to fund growth.
“(IMG) advised the grading criteria. I agree in principle with the grading criteria. It includes and external examination of the business that tells you what you’ve succeeded in and what you can do better.
“We’re at a club in Leeds Rhinos that actually ticks most of the boxes. It’s a good exercise because it identifies areas where the club could do better.”
Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix