Barrow Raiders have been explaining how they achieved their IMG grading and how they plan to improve it.
In the Fandom section they scored 3.25 out of a possible five points.
The club says: “Average attendance for league fixtures over the last three years gave us 1.5pts from a possible 2.5pts.
“In order to achieve the 1.5pts, our average was greater than 1,500. To get 2pts this needs to rise to 3,000 and for 2.5pts the threshold is 7,500.
“Our plan must be to try to get to 3,000 for an extra 0.5pts. Our digital followers gave us 0.1 pts from a possible 0.2pts.
“In order to achieve 0.1pts we had a social following above 50,000 across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube. Above 100,000 followers would get 0.15pts, and above 500,000 would get 0.2pts.
“Our realistic plan would be to get to 100,000 for an extra 0.05pts Our social following engagement (comments, likes, shares etc) of over 700,000 gave us 0.4pts from a possible 0.8pts. In order to achieve 0.6pts, we would need to get to 2,500,000 and 0.8pts would need over 5,000,000.
“Our aim would be to get to 2.5 million (we aren’t too far away) for an extra 0.2pts. For website visits we were awarded 0.5pts from a possible 0.5pts with over 60,000 unique visits.
“We need to maintain the website traffic. TV viewership we scored 0.75pts from a possible 1.5pts.
“If you had an average viewership above 150,000 you gained 1.5pts, and less than that number you gain 0.75pts.
“With our games either streamed or tucked away on Viaplay, it is impossible for the club to put a plan in place to improve this score.”
In the section Performance, the Raiders scored 1.48 out of a possible five.
The Raiders say: “Clubs are ranked from 1-35. Our ranking with positions of 2023 23rd, 2022 18th and 2021 27th gave us a ranking between 23rd and 24th overall and 1.48pts.
“Our aim must be to be a top-six Championship club over a period of the three-year average. This would give us around 2.11pts, so an extra 0.63pts.
“There is also a 0.25pts bonus for winning the Championship and 0.1pt bonus for winning the 1895 Cup.”
On Finance Barrow scored 2.25 from a possible 4.5 points, all from a three-year average.
Explaining this, the club said: “We scored 0.5pts from a possible 2.25pts for having an average three-year non-centralised turnover above £500,000 (that is turnover discounting the monies given by the RFL from the TV deals).
“If turnover increased to £1.25m, the points would increase to 1.5pts and above £2.5million to 2.25pts.
“We are very likely to reach the £1.25 million average, so increasing our score by 1pt.
“For non-centralised turnover as a % of total turnover, we scored the maximum 0.75pts, with a score above 70%. We should be able to continue this high % with all of our varied income streams.
“For adjusted profit, which is profit with any investment in facilities or youth development added back, we scored the maximum 0.5pts for being profitable.
“This could possibly go down to 0.25pts as we have endured a couple of tougher years in 2022 and 2023, although we will need to do more detailed work to calculate our investment in facilities.
“For owner investment we scored 0pts from a possible o.5pts. Although there has been significant investment from some directors, £100k per annum average for three years would get 0.25pts and £500k per annum average would get 0.5pts.
“For balance sheet strength we scored 0.5pts from a possible 0.5pts for having net assets greater than £100k.”
On the stadium Barrow scored 1.19 out of a possible three.
The club said: “We scored 0.5pts for our stadium, with 1.5pts available for being Super League standard.
“We fall short in many areas, with the number of seats less than 2,000, covered sponsors area for 200 not in place, no corporate lounge for 200, less than 40 covered directors seats, no broadcast parking area, no TV studio space, no media press box for a minimum of 30 with media facilities.
“Unfortunately Craven Park is not fit for Super League and there is little prospect of being able to expand and improve given its location.
“Utilisation of stadium is the average attendance over three years divided by capacity. With our capacity over 5,000, our utilisation is 32%, giving 0.32pts. (We will be challenging this number as our average is around 2,000 over the last three seasons).
“If we can get our average crowds to 3,000 then this would rise to around 0.6pts, an extra 0.28pts.
“We scored the maximum 0.25pts for having primacy of tenure (owning our ground and can dictate when fixtures are played).
“We scored 0pts from 0.125pts for not having digital perimeter advertising. We scored the maximum 0.125pts for having a big screen.”
In the community section Barrow scored one point out of a possible 2.5.
Barrow explained: “We scored 0.5pts from 1.5pts for having a catchment below 130,000 divided by number of teams in the area.
“This was calculated using the 2021 population census for our local authority area.
“However, we will be awarded an extra 0.5pts as the RFL didn’t realise the change to Westmorland and Furness council and a new population around 220,000.
“To get to 1.5pts we need a population above 250,000. New jobs in the area and a university campus may help to increase our local population but probably not enough for another 0.5pts.
“We scored 0.5pts from a possible 1pt for the turnover of our foundation, averaging above £50k for the last three years. This rises to 0.75pts for £250k turnover and 1pt for £1 million turnover.
“We have a decent chance of expanding our community provision as long as we continue to receive the backing of grant providers and sponsors to take us to £250k turnover and another 0.25pts.
“In addition to the points on offer there are minimum standards:
“Grade A and B clubs must have a talent pathway which includes a women’s team. Non-achievement results in a 0.25 deduction in year 1, 0.5pts in year 2 and a full grade deduction for subsequent years.
“Grade A and B clubs must have a foundation registered with the charity commission and a Community Rugby League Development Plan. Non-achievement results in a 0.25 deduction in year 1, 0.5pts in year 2 and a full grade deduction for subsequent years.
“Breaches of Operational Rules, Breaches of other regulations and Insolvency all also result in deductions.
“Grade A and B clubs must submit an Equality, Inclusivity and Diversity action plan. Non-achievement results in a 0.25 deduction in year 1, 0.5pts in year 2 and a full grade deduction for subsequent years.
“Grade A and B clubs must not have three anti-doping violations in one year or face a 0.25pts deduction.
“Grade A and B clubs must have an Environmental Sustainability audit and action plan. Non-achievement results in a 0.25 deduction in year 1, 0.5pts in year 2 and a full grade deduction for subsequent years.
“Barrow Raiders should not have to face deductions with all of the above being actioned behind the scenes.
“If we review the scoring above, then there is probably an extra 3.5pts that we could put plans in place to achieve. This would put us in a fighting position with other high ranked B clubs to make a claim for Super League.
“However, the stadium issue will not go away. Craven Park is unlikely to meet minimum standards, and the time is now right to consider other options. With the town about to enter a period of prosperity due to the increased workforce in the Defence Industry, we call on BAE Systems to help with the improvement of the town with the provision of a top-class sporting venue.
“BAE Systems understand that in order to attract a high calibre workforce the town has to become more attractive, and having top-class rugby league (and EFL football) should be part of that attraction.
“The board of directors want our club to be something that our fans and sponsors can be proud of. We are working tirelessly to build a better club, not just a better team.
“Although we voted against the IMG proposals, as we still believe that sport should be decided on the playing field, albeit with minimum standards in place, the fundamental principles of what IMG are trying to achieve, we believe in.
“Better crowds, better facilities, well-run clubs that are the fabric of the local community are all admirable aims, and we share the belief that focusing on these aims will improve the game.
“Barrow Raiders is set-up as a not-for-profit organisation and everything we do is with the aim of improving the club. We have diversified our income streams, in part to help with the club growth but also to make our community a better place.
“Sometimes we do cheap offers to try to get more supporters into the ground, this is to help with the growth of our community game and newly-formed ladies teams. We only have one thing in mind and that is the growth of our club.
“We want to be a club that plays in front of thousands of people with all supporters and sponsors having a sense of belonging and pride that they are able to play their part in having such a vital and iconic club in our local area of Barrow and District and beyond.
“We want to thank every supporter and sponsor who is invested in the club, whether financially or emotionally, and we hope that you will continue to back the club and hopefully we can put plans in place to continue our upward trajectory.”
