www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... place.html FEATHERSTONE ROVERS are to compete with Bradford for a Super League place. The Bulls must re-apply to stay in the top flight for 2013 and onwards, even if a consortium of Asian businessmen decides to take them on. And Championship title holders Featherstone have signalled their intent to go up against them. Rovers boosted their claim by beating Castleford in the Challenge Cup and pushing Wigan close. Backer Feisal Nahaboo (left) is part of a group who will finance Featherstone’s bid. He said: “The victory over Castleford and the battle with Wigan has proven Featherstone is ready. “There is a consortium queuing with investors to back this club.” Halifax have also entered the race for a Super League place. The clubs will know by the end of the month if they have been successful.

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... place.html FEATHERSTONE ROVERS are to compete with Bradford for a Super League place. The Bulls must re-apply to stay in the top flight for 2013 and onwards, even if a consortium of Asian businessmen decides to take them on. And Championship title holders Featherstone have signalled their intent to go up against them. Rovers boosted their claim by beating Castleford in the Challenge Cup and pushing Wigan close. Backer Feisal Nahaboo (left) is part of a group who will finance Featherstone’s bid. He said: “The victory over Castleford and the battle with Wigan has proven Featherstone is ready. “There is a consortium queuing with investors to back this club.” Halifax have also entered the race for a Super League place. The clubs will know by the end of the month if they have been successful.

Before or after the battle in Blackpool??

Sounds likeload of "flim flam" to me ,I was wondering a couple of weeks ago why Feisel did`nt come in for the Bulls instead of trying to promote a Champ side.
I bet the RFL would be hard pushed to promote any Champ side for now regardless of what happens in Blackpool as the last thing they are bothered about is what happens on the pitch.Plus they`ll still be too busy trying to dig themselves out of that big hole they dug for themselves.
I would think they would be more inclined to drop the number of teams in the league the Super League lot have been moaning for ages there are too many teams ,they all want a bigger share.Although the RFL would prefer them I think to finish the season just to keep things tidy like but that would be up to the Administrator not the RFL.
The next round of licsencing would then be interesting if they decided it`s 12 in the league.

Having reviewed the super league licence applications of both Featherstone and Halifax, it is felt that the figures presented by both clubs are speculative. Northern Bradford Patak's ATTA RLFC licence application was delivered by a leprechaun riding on the back of a shining unicorn, there for the RFL can see no reason why Bradford should not be given a grade B licence. The RFL have also decided, as a way of showing their gratitude to the new consortium, for working so diligently with the RFL in the run up to the licence application, to present them with Odsal stadium.

well i can't see it been fev with there state of the art facilities.

Relax, its probably just another space filler in the most reliable, trustworthy newspaper around.

As for our state of the art facilities, once the planning application is approved in approx 5 weeks, the diggers will be moving in and sorting that bit out.

I think this article is pie in the sky but for me Fev did not want to apply for a license to cover this current 3 year period and also haven't spent 6 months of hard graft putting an application together! We were the only team to lose out on the license debacle last year and were deemed worthy to apply and fit for a license. Fev if I remember rightly declined to apply for a license in this period as they stated they weren't ready??? As much as I think this story is a load of c rap the only logical and fair option is for Bradford and Halifax to swap places! Fev declined to apply and surely would need to do the due diligence of having a license review and the paper work done?? Not sure they reach all the criteria either on avg attendances, ground etc?? Yet more drivel to keep RL in the news for the wrong reasons I reckon.

all complete bllx.

The Bulls consortium will have already had assurances from the RFL that their franchise is safe.

RFL have stood the wages and paid for a Sh!t tip of a ground, do you honestly think they will put that at risk by not giving the Bulls a SL licence!

Our only hope is that if the Bulls get liquidated which the RFL won't allow to happen.

business as usual unfortunately with RFL not being interested in the heartland clubs.

oh well bring on Blackpool

Chris. I can see the "if Braford do go @r_se uppards, pick us, don't pick Fev" post, but it matters not one jot. I kind of agree with wyti87.
These are extraordinary times. Just assuming that Bradford do indeed go out of business or return as a shadow of themselves, i.e Crusaders, then the RFL will put into SL exactly who they want regardless of whether you think it's right or wrong.
You and I could argue/debate the rights and wrongs or either clubs suitability for SL and who should/should not be considered til the cows come home (which incidently I'm not inclinded to do), but the RFL will stick to their own agenda regardless of how it looks - regardles of whether it's Fev, Fax or another club who are awarded the interim licence.

I'm pretty much inclined to agree. I really don't see any point in Fax or Fev wasting time and money in putting together any sort of bid to apply to something that doesn't want them, when we have a major final to enjoy.

Also, can't see the ABC consortium pumping money in to a team that may not be in SL, pretty much the same as Wakey, as I'm sure the Crusaders were primed well before the night before to pull out, but that's just my conspiracy theory.

I agree, it's right that Halifax should be the standby team for this period, being the only one that applied.

I personally think that an elevation to SL at this moment would ruin Fev, we are building for 2015, not 2013.

That said, if Faisal has got a team of backers and the RFL come knocking, I won't argue with them.

Quote ="chris_smith"I think this article is pie in the sky but for me Fev did not want to apply for a license to cover this current 3 year period and also haven't spent 6 months of hard graft putting an application together! We were the only team to lose out on the license debacle last year and were deemed worthy to apply and fit for a license. Fev if I remember rightly declined to apply for a license in this period as they stated they weren't ready??? As much as I think this story is a load of c rap the only logical and fair option is for Bradford and Halifax to swap places! Fev declined to apply and surely would need to do the due diligence of having a license review and the paper work done?? Not sure they reach all the criteria either on avg attendances, ground etc?? Yet more drivel to keep RL in the news for the wrong reasons I reckon.'" You right Fev haven't spent 6 months getting an application together the have spent much longer. If Fax only spent 6 months then its probably part of the reason they were denied. Its quite a while since those applications from Fax and Widnes first went In and Fev have been building ever since and have had a few meeting with the RL and updates about their status. Pretty naive to say fev haven't spent 6 months hard graft and that checks need to be done etc. The RL know exactly were we are (featherstonerovers.net/article.php?id=7943). We have moved on a lot and are now awaiting approval from the council for our ground development plans. This was one of the main reasons for not applying when fax did. Fax have one advantage over fev and one only - thats the ground. The fact is SL want teams that can compete and currently theres only one team in the Championship that could do and its not fax. I think there will be shift from off field being more important.. My opinion i that they will keep Bradford in it, But if not then it should be one of Fev Leigh or sheffield The teams who meet the on field criteria since the last Review

Quote ="chris_smith"I think this article is pie in the sky but for me Fev did not want to apply for a license to cover this current 3 year period and also haven't spent 6 months of hard graft putting an application together! We were the only team to lose out on the license debacle last year and were deemed worthy to apply and fit for a license. Fev if I remember rightly declined to apply for a license in this period as they stated they weren't ready??? As much as I think this story is a load of c rap the only logical and fair option is for Bradford and Halifax to swap places! Fev declined to apply and surely would need to do the due diligence of having a license review and the paper work done?? Not sure they reach all the criteria either on avg attendances, ground etc?? Yet more drivel to keep RL in the news for the wrong reasons I reckon.'" You right Fev haven't spent 6 months getting an application together the have spent much longer. If Fax only spent 6 months then its probably part of the reason they were denied. Its quite a while since those applications from Fax and Widnes first went In and Fev have been building ever since and have had a few meeting with the RL and updates about their status. Pretty naive to say fev haven't spent 6 months hard graft and that checks need to be done etc. The RL know exactly were we are (featherstonerovers.net/article.php?id=7943). We have moved on a lot and are now awaiting approval from the council for our ground development plans. This was one of the main reasons for not applying when fax did. Fax have one advantage over fev and one only - thats the ground. The fact is SL want teams that can compete and currently theres only one team in the Championship that could do and its not fax. I think there will be shift from off field being more important.. My opinion i that they will keep Bradford in it, But if not then it should be one of Fev Leigh or sheffield The teams who meet the on field criteria since the last Review

Quote ="fevfan76"You right Fev haven't spent 6 months getting an application together the have spent much longer. If Fax only spent 6 months then its probably part of the reason they were denied. Its quite a while since those applications from Fax and Widnes first went In and Fev have been building ever since and have had a few meeting with the RL and updates about their status. Pretty naive to say fev haven't spent 6 months hard graft and that checks need to be done etc. The RL know exactly were we are (featherstonerovers.net/article.php?id=7943). We have moved on a lot and are now awaiting approval from the council for our ground development plans. This was one of the main reasons for not applying when fax did. Fax have one advantage over fev and one only - thats the ground. The fact is SL want teams that can compete and currently theres only one team in the Championship that could do and its not fax. I think there will be shift from off field being more important.. My opinion i that they will keep Bradford in it, But if not then it should be one of Fev Leigh or sheffield The teams who meet the on field criteria since the last Review'" Silly Silly Man, You havnt applied for a Franchise licence for 2012-2015, You havnt ticked the boxes for stadium, Average crowds etc yet just becuase in the first year of the 3 year licence you have ticked one box you think its right you should go in, Get a hold of yourself Man. If this was the case i can certainly see Legal implications that you were just invited it. If anyone was to go in within this license period then it should be Halifax due to meeting all criterea for this license period, If however they want it done properly then it should be decided by Promotion and relegation perhaps for next year only, reducing the SL by one place and let everyone have one season to do the business within our Salary cap and within the rules, Provided this was done, then may the best team win.

Quote ="fevfan76"You right Fev haven't spent 6 months getting an application together the have spent much longer. If Fax only spent 6 months then its probably part of the reason they were denied. Its quite a while since those applications from Fax and Widnes first went In and Fev have been building ever since and have had a few meeting with the RL and updates about their status. Pretty naive to say fev haven't spent 6 months hard graft and that checks need to be done etc. The RL know exactly were we are (featherstonerovers.net/article.php?id=7943). We have moved on a lot and are now awaiting approval from the council for our ground development plans. This was one of the main reasons for not applying when fax did. Fax have one advantage over fev and one only - thats the ground. The fact is SL want teams that can compete and currently theres only one team in the Championship that could do and its not fax. I think there will be shift from off field being more important.. My opinion i that they will keep Bradford in it, But if not then it should be one of Fev Leigh or sheffield The teams who meet the on field criteria since the last Review'" Silly Silly Man, You havnt applied for a Franchise licence for 2012-2015, You havnt ticked the boxes for stadium, Average crowds etc yet just becuase in the first year of the 3 year licence you have ticked one box you think its right you should go in, Get a hold of yourself Man. If this was the case i can certainly see Legal implications that you were just invited it. If anyone was to go in within this license period then it should be Halifax due to meeting all criterea for this license period, If however they want it done properly then it should be decided by Promotion and relegation perhaps for next year only, reducing the SL by one place and let everyone have one season to do the business within our Salary cap and within the rules, Provided this was done, then may the best team win.

Quote ="fevfan76"You right Fev haven't spent 6 months getting an application together the have spent much longer. If Fax only spent 6 months then its probably part of the reason they were denied. Its quite a while since those applications from Fax and Widnes first went In and Fev have been building ever since and have had a few meeting with the RL and updates about their status. Pretty naive to say fev haven't spent 6 months hard graft and that checks need to be done etc. The RL know exactly were we are (featherstonerovers.net/article.php?id=7943). We have moved on a lot and are now awaiting approval from the council for our ground development plans. This was one of the main reasons for not applying when fax did. Fax have one advantage over fev and one only - thats the ground. The fact is SL want teams that can compete and currently theres only one team in the Championship that could do and its not fax. I think there will be shift from off field being more important.. My opinion i that they will keep Bradford in it, But if not then it should be one of Fev Leigh or =#0000FFsheffield The teams who meet the on field criteria since the last Review'" I accept Fev, Leigh or us but Sheffield? they can't guarantee where they will play their games. They shifted us to Dull Valley on a Friday evening with no consideration for their or our fans. The previous Northern rail game attracted 276 supporters.

Quote ="fevfan76"You right Fev haven't spent 6 months getting an application together the have spent much longer. If Fax only spent 6 months then its probably part of the reason they were denied. Its quite a while since those applications from Fax and Widnes first went In and Fev have been building ever since and have had a few meeting with the RL and updates about their status. Pretty naive to say fev haven't spent 6 months hard graft and that checks need to be done etc. The RL know exactly were we are (featherstonerovers.net/article.php?id=7943). We have moved on a lot and are now awaiting approval from the council for our ground development plans. This was one of the main reasons for not applying when fax did. Fax have one advantage over fev and one only - thats the ground. The fact is SL want teams that can compete and currently theres only one team in the Championship that could do and its not fax. I think there will be shift from off field being more important.. My opinion i that they will keep Bradford in it, But if not then it should be one of Fev Leigh or =#0000FFsheffield The teams who meet the on field criteria since the last Review'" I accept Fev, Leigh or us but Sheffield? they can't guarantee where they will play their games. They shifted us to Dull Valley on a Friday evening with no consideration for their or our fans. The previous Northern rail game attracted 276 supporters.

lol your the silly man. Batley could have applied for a license, it didn't mean they met the criteria. Don't think just because you applied you ticked every box. You definitely didn't. You applied for a license for the start of the franchise period for 3 years. You were denied game over. Doesn't mean you were on reserve just incase a team drops out.

Fev chose to tick more boxes and put a better application together

To be honest it was a bit tongue in cheek as they have actually met the on field criteria this time round for a license

Watch the announcement on you tube when the licenses were awarded , Nigel Wood confirmed that 2 Championship teams applied for a license and only Halifax were good enough to be thrown in the Mix and met the criterea, Barrows was not up to scratch. YES THATS RIGHT HALIFAX MET THE CRITERIA/b, He also went onto state that the RFL had the right to revoke anyones license and replace them with another team, Basically this was to appease fans due to the Wakefield and Castleford ground issue, Go and watch it as it is firmly inbedded in my memory, when asked why fax were not in and wakey were it was said that the financial forecasts were speculative, WE TICKED EVERY BOX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You really do need to go and have a look you bitter man.

The minimum criteria for a Championship club to be awarded a Super League licence are:

a. Club has reached a Championship Final or won the Northern Rail Cup in 2009 or 2010. TICK Do you remember this one ?. Drop goal or something i remember.




b. Club has a stadium with an operational capacity of 10,000. TICK not one that isnt even assembled yet
c. Club has turnover of at least £1,000,000 in financial year ending 2009 or 2010 (turnover of charitable Foundation can be included in this figure). TICK
d. Club has an average attendance of at least 2500 in 2009 or 2010. TICK Batley brought 3000 to the final game of the season



Oh look, dont let the facts get in the way though.

As Harry Hill would say,
I like FevFan76,
I like faxhali,
So how do I decide,
FIIIIGHT.

Doesn't say which team or a failed bidder etc



Yeah I vaguely remember the drop goal (seems such a long time ago, we won plenty since then), I think came after the interruption of Fax fans trying to burn the stand down



Bitter????

Bitter about what, absolutely nothing to be bitter about. Neither of us are in super league, RL will most likely keep Bradford in. Far better to be a Fev fan at the moment than any other team outside of SL so why bitter.

Shifted ?



What do you mean - "shifted" ?



My understanding of the word "shifted" is that it was somewhere and now it's somewhere else.



Where else was it ever going to be ?

I put bitter because of the way i percieve your posts. You just rant away without using the facts what so ever. Signs of a bitter man.

Bramall Lane.

Oxford Dictionary

Bitter - Speaking / posting without first seeking facts

lol Really

Can't believe I saw these two sentences in the same post. Pinch me, someone.

I think as far as Rovers are concerned this is a win / win situation.

At the least it keeps some pressure on the RFL by reminding then of Fev achievements both in the Championship over the last few years and more recently against current SL opponents in the CC.

Whilst there is no chance of them replacing Wigan even if they had beaten them that is not the case with Cas come the next round of applications.

If an earlier than expected oppourtunity presented itself then Rovers are saying, look here we are with finacial clout to back us which out of all the so called boxes to tick seems to be at the forefront of the rest of them at the moment.
It worked for Widnes why not Fev.

As a Fax fan I am more concerned that it was Feisal Nahaboo who stated this.
Correct me if i'm wrong but it was Fax who first introduced Feisal to Rugby League and he did sponser us for a short while.

He is now backing Rovers so having seen close up, first hand both clubs my question is what did he see at Fax, if anything that he did not like so he chose to go to Fev.

Might be nothing, simply that they were the top side in the comp, but it leaves me a bit uneasy that all was not quite right at the Shay