The reason they have come out with this now is because the protest is tomorrow night and the RFL cannot get all Fax fans in a room and tell us not to do it.I have the greatest sympathy with our board but it still does not alter what the SPIRIT OF 1895 is all about.

I really do despise the RFL and everything they stand for we are the spirit of 1895 and they can try as much as the can but they will never break our spirit. Viva la resistance

As usual Starbug you talk a lot of sense and I feel for Our Board who are probably caught between a rock and a hard place but as I said some of us cannot say we will not wear a Tshirt about the RFL regardless of what the Board have said to our Club.The RFL are not makeing any statements to say they are going to be fairer to all Championship Clubs and be more transparent so my views are the same.

Oh

2 weeks after the event we finally get a statement but we're still none the wiser!
i know the club are having to bend over to the rfl but why on earth cant they come out and tell us why our licence bid was not successful and what areas need to be worked on.
we're not asking for much and it wont change anything but it might at least help us to move forward.

What a joke!

Could you expand upon your post Freddie ?

Eh??

Sure Mr Bug.

A pretty nebulous statement that can be seen from many angles.

Could be seen as a bit of a kick in the teeth to the fax fans from their very own BOD

Could be seen as the Halifax club bending over and taking a big one from the RFL - "play the game if you want to be in"

Could be interpreted as the BOD saying, best just to shut up and fade away cos our licence application really was crap - if so, be honest, meet with us, let us know how we can improve.

It either makes my great club look like a bitter organisation or meak organisation cowtowing to the RFL or it makes the RFL look like all controlling power mad freaks!

Hope that helps Mr Bug - by the way, love the things you say, especially over on the VT with Smokey, we couldn't want someone better to support us. Our two great clubs need to combine and push the championships cause!

Love in over

Freddie

Having just read that statement just goes to illustrate why the protest is needed. The club has been gagged and the governing body are not listening to their 'customers' - us the paying supporters. The 'customers' only voice now is to vote with their feet and turn away from the sport. This is becoming clear with dwindling crowds and more talk and chatter around the game than the game. As long as the RFL govern the lower leagues in this manner, crowds will fall further and we will end up with crowds like championship 1 with the game slowly dying.

Now I've looked what ' nebulous ' means I see what you mean , pretty much my opinion as well , the clubs have to do what they do , wether we think it is right , correct , honest or fair is irrelevant , all we can do is continue to support them in the future , they will do good things and similarly make mistakes as well , they are human , just like us

Should what they do affect how we feel or what we do ?

No

All the best , keep making me laugh , your one liners are excellent , always straight to the point

Love in over now

Cheers Starry!

Power to the people!

For what its worth, starbug, I think its a statement designed to avert attention from both the club and the RFL, for whatever reason, as the club seem reluctant to release a joint statement. A statement designed to take the sting out of a potentially embarassing situation for everyone.

I think its backfired

It's obviously a difficult situation for the club and Linda's comment of stuck between a rock and a hard place probably sums it up.

We all love the club and everyone involved with the running of it are all fans. Obviously nobody wants to damage long term relations with the governing body and that is very important.

I admire the fans for making a stance, I really do. I have been tempted to put a few things on to vent my disappoint but held back because I think it's for the best from my point of view & position in the club.

One of the reasons I have posted is that I want you fans to know that the club really appreciates your support and the fantastic things you've done in raising funds this year.

In the words of Bryan Ferry - Let's stick together.

And nobody will know if i'm wearing my 'Spirit of 1895' top underneath my Matalan shirt tomorrow if I get on sky!

Spot on -
I understand why the Board have done this, they have been ordered to do so by the RFL and are powerless as the RFL will 'get us back' if they carry on with their protestations.
But I am not being gagged as we the fans of the clubs below SL are the only people the RFL cannot control as this is England and a free country. We must do the protest otherwise the RFL have won and Fat Controller will be laughing his head off.
Lets do it, sorry Tony but this is not you the club its us the fans doing it so don't worry.
If we just cave in then that to me will prove just how much power the RFL have, they are a mafia.

If I can just squeeze myself in between Starbug and Freddies wig little love in that`s going on

and just say the statement (apart from one sentance) was what I expected to be honest but it`s not just about issues at Fax , other Clubs are also looking at starting their own little groups so I`m supposed to run around like Sgt Pyke from Dads Army because he thinks the Germans are coming.No way.
I could not believe it last night when I watched Toy Story 3 with my grandaughter it was a direct anolagy to the RFL and the Champ Clubs An evil big Teddy with his henchman Baby all the toys wanting to get into the nice room of Sunnyside Nursery but instead are put in the room where everyone treats them badly. But as it`s a Fairy Story the toys all fought back and won the day. But this is not a Fairy Story but I`m not prepared to let the RFL tell me I cannot wear a T shirt.
Oh and Pete I admire you greatly how you keep quiet when the RFL provide you with such funny material which you could use if you chose shows resiliance of the highest order.

Big let down by the BOD and feel very disappointed by the Statement. First of all a complete failure to understand the anger of the fans and the failure of why the Spirit of 1895 Group has been formed. Secondly I feel the BOD have shot themselves in the foot by having a go at things and then a complete turn around. Cant say I am impressed with that at all. Thirdly there is nothing about which areas we have failed on and how we are going to improve on them. What exactly have we failed and how can the fans as well as the BOD improve things?

Frankly I feel let down by the club to a certain degree despite the hard work they do. Theres nothing in that statement that I can take as a positive and just comes across as a Propaganda exercise from The RFL. Just another nail in the coffin for me in following Pro RL. I dont get to see Fax that often but I feel why waste money on watching a game where the away team bring no fans and no matter what Fax do we will be staying in the Championship. This rate I will just be watching the NRL and amateur Rugby League as the future outside of SL is doomed and I refuse to watch any SL or Support the RFL events whilst things are the way they are.

Its OK trying to be diplomatic but also theres a time to stand up. I would hope Fax be at the forefront of getting the clubs to force changes at the RFL. Others are not happy like Gary Hetherington. Stand up for the game not just accept the Bullcrap from the 3 Monkeys. I hope Fax and other member clubs force Wood, Rimmer and Lewis to be made answerable on the poor running of Rugby League. They voted these pillocks in and they need to get answers as to why the game is on its knees below SL and why the RFL have made such a mess of Crusaders and let down players and Officials etc.

I dont get it. Am i been thick or something because if the process is fair and transparent like the BOD says then how can this protest possibly harm the clubs chances? Just like it is not based on the onfield performances it also isnt based on whether your fans like the sports governing body or not.

So all this fighting talk from the club has come to nothing and now they accept that even though they believed otherwise at the time, that our application was the worst of the lot? What changed their mind? Why did our bid fail, i guess everyone wants transparency but the club arnt about to grant that priveledge to its own fans. The fans want to know the actual areas that let the clubs bid down.

I think the protests should carry on regardless, its not like we have a relistic chance of getting in SL in 3 years time if the current board are in charge.

I wish you`d move back here , we could do with a few more like you .Your standing up for what`s right must have come from where you played your rugby.
How did the song go "Greetland are coming up the hill boys ,Greetland are coming up the hill. Finish it for It`s been a long time I `ve forgoten the words.
Oh by the way Gary Etherington called them impotent , well let`s see how impotent they are with Gary.
Do you think they will make him write a retraction to say he did not mean it and from now on he will be a good boy?
Or do you think they will dare not to have a go at him `cos they can`t get away with pushing him around?
Or do you think they have had a go but he will just totally ignore them ?
Answers on a postcard please.

Looks to me like your directors have had the nudge and a wink regards the next licences just like we all suspect Widnes had. keep quiet lads heads down and your in next time. For what its worth in my opinion your bid was not as good as Wakeys, they went into Admin but after the Crusaders had too, the RFL got rid of that rule so it doesnt matter, your ground is better than theres but there youth structure blinds yours. So in all fairness i dont think you deserved a place above Wakey. However the whole system is a charade so the RFL can pick the 14 teams they want, they are killing the game under super league and fans must stand up. I personally think the best way to get at the RFL and get them to listen is to get an organised cancelation of SKY sports from all championship fans that pay for it after the grand final (at warrington that is) Sky will demand action im sure

Prior to Crusaders capitulating I think the BOD (as everyone did) expected Wakey to go dowm. Toilet of a ground and in administration. That's what was expected to unfold that Tuesday morning. Once the bombshell had been dropped about Crusaders and the realization that toilet administration club Wakey had got in - then the INSTANT reaction was "WTF"!!!! How can Wakey now get that remaining spot after their recent abuse of their license? That was Michael's first and stated reaction.

What HAS happened since then is the stark fact that, compared side by side, our bid was considered weaker than toilet administration club Wakefield. This is largely due to the fact that the RFL have again trusted the promises of the toilet administration club - on the back of the reality that they now have a wealthy backer. Strangely enough - they are the safest bet in the RFL's eyes. As well as the backer - they probably have a full compliment of back office staff and the recent experience of managing a club in Super League (albeit very badly in some areas). We still rely on hard working volunteers in many of the things we do and for the RFL that's probably a "no-no".

To get in SL we'd have to show them the money, we'd have to start to produce a more professional back-office and, ultimately for the club itself - get those gates above 3,000.

It's a tall order.

www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article.php?id=5602

www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article.php?id=5602

Another way as well is to have a show of unity at Warrington where it is`nt just Fax fans but fans of all Championship clubs turning our backs for one minute is cheap and effective .
I think clubs should stop taking the Dual reg players from Super League too we are being used to keep their players fit and they can pull them whenever they wish.
I also take on board Littlerich remarks re` the back office but the point is the Championship clubs are geting a much less slice of the cake than the Super League clubs we will never be able to compare .
I have also been reading the Fev site and there is enormous support for this campaign down there I remember when Super League started they tried to force Fev and Cass to combine and they fought them and kept their own identity .I f fans unite and speak out we may see a change the way I see it ordinary people never get anything given automaticaly you have to speak out and fight for something you believe in or you just might as well pack in.
I know dozens who have done just that they go and do something else on a Sunday now instead of watching our team because they feel they cannot do anything to change what is hapening within our game.
Despite grand announcements to the contrary at the begining of the season I think our attendances are down and why is that. Every time we get the chance of a decent Sunday gate like Leigh and Widnes the RFL allow Sky to move it from a Sunday and we get nothing for it.

The more the year goes on the more and more unlikly it is that i will be getting a ST for next year.

The first major thing i want to know before buying a ST is what are the fixtures going to look like next year, If its the same BS as this year all becuase sheffield have nowhere to play from then i am taking at least a year out from going to watch. If its how it should be and everyone plays everyone in the first half of the season then i am board.

Also it depends on what the league makup will look like next season, With Widnes and Toulose gone and the rumours of expanding our league, Crusaders to come in, No-one relegated and a few more clubs from CC1 promoted then it will be a poor watered down league with no real spectacles to look forward to other than Leigh, Fev, Batley, Barrow and Crusaders. Then there would be York, Hunslet, Dewsbury, Swinton ?. Keighley ?. or Whitehaven, Limited fan base and income streams with weakened teams.

It feels very much to me like the next 3 years in this league is not going to strengthen the competition but make it more of a divide within the leagues with playoff places being the same every year, FAX, Fev, Leigh, Batley, Barrow, Sheffield........Subject to points deductions and Salary cap breaches