Yesterday every Super League club backed IMG’s proposals.
This was despite talk that some clubs were going to vote against them.
Michael Carter wrote in his programme notes that the club would not vote in favour until concerns were addressed whilst there were reports that Castleford Tigers could also vote against it.
It has since been suggested that further clarification provided to these clubs in the days before the vote helped determine their vote.
Speaking yesterday, RFL CEO said of these conversations with clubs:
“From my point of view our aims since the 9th of March was that clubs were well-informed. Of course we were supportive of this resolution all the way through and wanted clubs to vote in favour, but we haven’t been trying to change anybody’s minds. We’ve been trying to make sure they’re well-informed so that they can vote accordingly.
“But yes we have had lots of conversations over the last six weeks and they’ve become more concentrated in the last 72 hours as well.
“I think in terms of the principle of grading, with exception of the six clubs who voted against, the 88% have always been approving of grading. They just wanted to have a bit more detail and I guess the last 72 hours has prompted us to give people a bit more detail on this.
“Teams have been supportive but just wanted that little bit more info so this last 72 hours has been us asking what it is that they need to help them vote in full mind.
“One of the pieces of work that we shared with the clubs last Wednesday was to show how a Grade B club could get to that assumed Super League threshold of 11 to 12 points, I think that probably answered quite a few questions and then it was up to us to follow through with them.
“It was just trying to educate those top Championship B clubs and to some extent the lower Super League B clubs who might be looking over their shoulder, just to show them how 12 or 13 points can be achieved. That then develops the conversation of how they can get to an A grade club.”
