Stevo left frustrated by “stupid” aspect of IMG vote and the actions of some clubs

IMG’s proposals have been voted in favour by rugby league clubs.

Ten of the 11 Betfred Super League clubs voted in favour, with one abstention. (The 12^th club, Catalans Dragons, were not entitled to vote) though Salford Red Devils later changed their vote from abstention to in favour after some confusion over the vote.

Eight of the 13 Betfred Championship clubs voted in favour, with one abstention. (The 14^th club, Toulouse Olympique, were not entitled to vote)

Seven of the 11 Betfred League One clubs voted in favour, with one abstention.

However, former Sky Sports commentator Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson has slammed the way some clubs handled the vote especially those who abstained.

“I’m confused  about what on earth clubs are doing in regards to the meeting with IMG,” he said on the Eddie and Stevo podcast.

“Some wanted to pull out, others have changed their mind, others didn’t vote. Why on earth do they allow anybody to say they don’t want to vote?

“How can you have a club abstain?

Stevo was also unimpressed that Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique didn’t get a vote: “By the way, don’t you think that’s stupid?

“In other words they can’t vote to have anything to do with it but they’ll be impacted by it. It’s daft. It’s an embarrassment to our game.”

He is unsure where we go from here: “I’m searching in my pocket for a coin, heads we go forwards, tails we go backwards.

“I cannot believe we’re messing around all this thing because to my mind I don’t think we have a TV contract in the future.

“That’s madness! What on earth are we allowing IMG to do?”