Does anyone know when the structure change is planned to be announced

Do the middle 8s apply this year and same as normal.

I'd heard that it was next year, so the middle 8's stay for the coming season.

I'm sure that the RFL will do their best for the game







But unfortunately it won't be the game that we know and love

I've been told the SL Clubs meet around 10th Jan next year to vote on a proposed 14 Club SL which will mean the middle 8s will stay but an extra Club promoted in 2019 ,provided the proposal gets passed.

It depends on what happens with Toronto and Toulouse. If either gets promoted then there will be a change to keep them in Sl. If not then the structure will remain the same until either of them gain promotion.

Franchising is on its way back.

That's closed shop time again I fear. If so, once again will make it really hard for those clubs not in the elite to attract sponsorship and crowds to a competition where there is no prize for success and games just become dead rubbers in the Championship.

Are we not heading that way already ?

We have a Division 3 which seems to included one nailed-on certainty for promotion every season. It must be demoralising for your Oldhams, Yorks and Whitehavens to be fighting for the one remaining place.

Soon that'll pass to Division 2. We've got Leigh with a parachute payment, Toulouse and Toronto with huge backings, the rest looking for the one remaining place.

Every Toulouse, Toronto, New York or wherever which makes $uperleague means one more "traditional" club in Division 2.

A very fair point made and just makes me fear for the lower clubs ever being able to get a chance to move on upwards as the window of opportunity is just getting smaller and smaller.

If the 8's remain then the opportunity remains. It's investment that's required not opportunities at present. Or the game will die.

Now the Super League clubs are in charge of Super League licensing will come back. Toronto, Toulouse and whatever other hair brained North American project will be given a spot in return for giving up their central funding and a more British clubs will lose their place. I can also see the extra funding for the middle 8s going back into super league coffers too.

Tough times ahead for the 90% of clubs and players outside of super league. Will be interesting to see if the RFL have an exit strategy for the North American clubs and others if and when they go off to form their own league and make more money. Will there be any clubs left to replace them?

I yearn for the day when Mr Creosotes BMI, Colesterol levels and general health means he has to step away, because he ain’t shifting until then. Any man who would kill off the GB Jersey and turn their nose up at the Tri Nations is a lunatic.

On a serious note, BT Sport and others are really putting pressure on BSkyB to up the ante every year, there could well come a year when SL is dropped in favour of pumping everything they have into The Premier League.

For this reason i would hope that RL Clubs outside of SL, and maybe even BARLA have already got their heads together to see if a joined up Sport can be formed in conjunction with some reasonable sponsorship and TV deals. SL will quite gladly let them all die, and shed no tears.

If the dreams of RL fans and owners extend no further than getting a millionaire and a license, the jobs knackered, and its barely recognisable as sport.

The RFL master plan will run something like this:

When an American league starts the English, sorry European super league will probably then consist of eight clubs who will play each other once a season at some neutral venue (most likely Odsal as it will be owned by super league by then) and televised in front of crowds of a few hundred. Bradford Bankrupts 2025 PLC will have home advantage at every game because they are a sound and and well run club with a big city name. Of course sky will "Bull" it up and have a soundtrack of a fake fans` applause and whooping downloaded from Strictly.

Sky will then at the end of the Euro tournament run a World Club Championship with 8 European clubs, 2 American clubs, one PNG club and hopefully one Aussie club if they bother to turn up. This according to Sky will be the "most exciting rugby ever seen". The winners will then play off against the champions of the Lebanese League for the World Super Cup.

The Fat Controller will then turn to the amateur game because there will be nothing else for them to manage only for the RFL to realise that had died too.

RFL = JOKE.

Really ?

Degsie got Leigh up then ran out of money and they came down again.

Not sure he ran out of money more a case of he was no longer a big fish in a small pond. I think he will learn from his mistakes and Leigh will go back up this time and then survive next time around.

GFB Knows.

We'll see.

Charles 2018 is the year of the Leyther.The best squad in the Championship,restructioning on the cards ,Degsie @ the helm Andy Burnham Mayor of Mantropolis & the RFL President not forgetting parachute payment what could possiby go wrong?
Happy New Year to you all in the Borough of Wigan

Bus stop.

You never know Mick,I take nowt for granted, anyway here's wishing you Happy New Year,and all the best for 2018, I'm sure it will be a good year to follow Fax, and hopefully see each other a few times during the season.I have just back home to Leigh, after spending the New Year in Wigan with my In Laws,having a bit of stick all night about Leigh, I did remind them of last season's score at the LSV..
As you know last year I lost one of my Best friends in Henry, as well as Halifaxjohns passing,both affected me a lot, so I'm hoping for a happier 2018 on both personal and Rugby matters.Take care Mick.

Happy New Year Charlie, and also to my fellow Fax fans.

That must have been one helluva cheap taxi from Wigan to Leigh, 1 or 2 bus stops?

And a Happy New Year to you and your Family Norman

I'm sure 2018 will be a good year for RL and Fax fans.No taxis though, I've been teetotal for 30 plus years now, since I met the current Mrs Caroli,she drinks enough for both of us,and Clowns are never off duty.
Anyway maybe I will see you this coming season,I will be at the Shay a few times, a Happy New Year to Hudd Shay and Di,Bentleyman,Fax in Asia, Pellon Boy,Living the Dream,and Greg Florimos Boots,in fact to All Fax fans.
Finally a poignant moment, thinking of my mate Halifaxjohn,I miss you Mate.

A Happy New Year to you too Ian.Indeed let's hope it's a good year for Rugby League fans everywhere, with the exception of Bradford obviously! Up The Fax!

A Happy New Year to everyone from all at Aston Park.

cheers Ian. Happy new year to you, all the Fax fans and the RL family (excluding the RFL hierarchy)