Super League clubs receive first IMG scores

The futures of Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and St Helens all the way down to the clubs in League One are wrapped with IMG and their grading criteria.

You may have seen suggestions that clubs have now received their initial grades as promised they would.

This is not entirely true though they have received their first scores. This means they haven’t been provided with a complete grade but some of their scores under certain categories.

The grading cannot be finalised until the end of this season. The grades are expected to be finalised in September with figures for 2022 incomplete and with league positions having an effect.

Finances and attendances need to be finalised as well so the official grades will not be complete until September.

The following is the criteria for the grades:

Fandom (25%): encouraging clubs to attract more fans in stadia, at home and digitally, and to improve fan engagement, contributing to both club and central revenues.

Performance (25%): incentivising clubs to perform on the field and drive fan awareness and engagement. Teams will be ranked between 1 and 36 based on where they finish in the leagues for the previous three seasons. Bonus points will be awarded to teams who win league and cup competitions in the previous season.

Finances (25%): reflecting the success of fan engagement and business performance and rewarding sustainable investment, as well as diversified revenue streams and sound financial management.

Stadium (15%): based on a number of factors, including facilities and utilisation, which add value to the fan and broadcast or digital viewer experience, and match or exceed competition from other sports and events.

Catchment (10%): based on area population and the number of clubs in the area, with a view to maximising growth of the sport in the largest markets to generate new fan bases and incentivise investment.