Castleford Tigers owner Martin Jepson expects the club to regain Grade A status in 2026 after falling out of the top bracket in IMG gradings.
The Tigers claimed Grade A status in 2024, which came as a surprise to some at the time, but the club have fallen to 11th in the gradings this year, behind Bradford Bulls, who have been promoted to Super League after a huge jump in points.
In a statement released this morning, the club admit that minor fall, from 15.02 to 14.66, was expected with the Tigers losing points in a number of key areas. A lack of social media engagement due to their limited media team accounts for a small loss, while the club’s falling attendances due to another miserable year on the field have also been taken into account.
However, Castleford expect to boast of a score of 16 or higher in 2026, due to non-centralised turnover, owner investment, better attendances, improved performance and the new media team.
As such, the Tigers aren’t too concerned by this morning’s news, with the loss of Grade A status being manageable and controlled. And, with the club pushing on towards would looks set to be a bright future, Jepson has sent a message out to supporters.
Castleford Tigers owner releases statement
“I wanted to take this opportunity to write to you all to ensure that you are aware that, despite a drop in our IMG grade, the future remains bright for Cas Tigers,” he wrote.
“We are disappointed by the score and the grade, and we know that you will be too — but disappointment is all we should feel, because we know that everything looks much more positive for 2026.
“We are staying in the Super League. There is no additional revenue won or lost by being a Grade B rather than a Grade A, and we now need to put 2025 firmly behind us and focus on our centenary year. Planning for 2026 began midway through last season. Ryan Carr will be arriving in the country imminently to coach a squad that we can all be genuinely excited about.
“I feel for Danny and the staff who are at the club day to day. Every indication we received throughout the year suggested that we would repeat last year’s score. Unfortunately, our lack of a media department earlier in the season, combined with a justified drop in attendance due to poor performance, has left us short of the standard we expect.
“We already know that my investment, along with the percentage of non-centralised turnover for 2026, is going to see us reach Grade A once again — and I am sure that Chris and Ryan will help ensure we have more success on the field too. I remain committed to doing everything within my power to help Cas become a top-six Super League club — not just next year, but for many years to come.
“Work is well underway at the OneBore Stadium to ensure conditions are better for the players and for supporters too. This is a new era for our club, and we can already see from membership sales that you are joining us on this journey. Together, we are going to create something special.
“Thank you for your continued support — let’s look ahead confidently, as one.”
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