[part quote="Bullseye"
As Norman says there's no perfect solution. You have to have some movement up and down.

Norms right because among other things there is a conflict of interest.

Part of the solution for Championship clubs would include some movement up and down.

Part of the solution for SL clubs would include no movement up or down.

Yep, turkeys voting for Christmas.

I think the if the RFL gave more money to Championship clubs from central funding the lower league clubs would be able to afford better players, training and maybe more clubs going full time. Raising the standard of the league and closing the gap between the upper and lower competitions. The more full time clubs we have in the Championship the better standard of rugby, more interest from new and old fans, larger crowds and more revenue generated by the clubs themselves. But the RFL don't really give a sh*te about the lower leagues which is a shame.

The RFL are indifferent to Championship Clubs as we know its Super Greed & Sky that determine how things are run.
Especially certain Club Chairmen who don't want their cosy little cartels and status quo disturbed

There are only so many "better players" around, although more funding for Championship teams could potentially mean more reserve squads being formed, which should increase the overall size of the player pool. Having more full time teams in the Championship would certainly increase skill levels, but if every team was full time, then some pretty decent players (the ones who want to keep their other job) would need to go and play in Championship 1, thus decreasing the number of available players again.

It's not a straightforward equation.

This weeks press states any changes will be decided in 2018 and come into force in 2019.

If a new form of licensing is introduced it will be interesting to see what the criteria will be and how the RFL maneuver things.

If it is tick boxes A,B,C and D and using things as they stand now and all the existing 12 SL clubs do, and in addition HKR, Toulouse, Toronto, London do, then what, 16 teams in SL and if not why not if they tick the box.

I suspect it will be rigged and the RFL will make the boxes fit their chosen clubs as opposed to making the clubs tick the boxes in an open fair fashion and then the door will be shut again.

Where are the extra 100 or so $uperleague standard players going to come from ?

Exactly, but we can't let logic get in the way of progress the RFL way.

If it means expansion back into the capital, another team in France and one in Canada filled with more second rate Antipodeans, current fringe players and a few junior lads to make up the numbers, objective achieved, problem solved and everyone gets to keep their cushy little status all in the name of progress.

<sigh>

My thoughts on the governance of the game by the RFL and certain SL Chairmen are well documented previously. This just looks like another attempt to take us back to the days of franchise and mergers. Indeed reading an article today looks like New York are now being considered for the league structure.Where will it all end?
Just marginalising the smaller clubs and devaluing the inclusive for all values of the game that have held this great game together for over a century in my opinion.
Top league could be Catalan, Tolouse, London, Toronto, New York, Wigan, Saints, Leeds, Bradford and the rest will have to survive on the crumbs etc. Closed shop/mergers?
Break away leagues looming if all this comes off?
Only time will tell.

L T D how did Bradford make the 'elite' league?

As for break away leagues, the Championship can hardly support its self.Sky would not provide any funding as the deserters are considered worthless to them, this is already the case, how many Championship teams are featured on Sky regularly?
Unless another T V company shovells in a lot of money, or the BBC cuts S/L and concentrates on Championships. Does B T Sport have enough following to sustain a viable following.
The 'Fat Controller' certainly does not care about anyone ouside of the precious 12 , (did you see him at Wembley yesterday?) any it would just put more coffers into the lucky few wh made the cut.
These are just a couple of thoughts, but every one is entitled to their opinion this mine!

TFIA I went on the premis that the RFL have bent over backwards for Bfd previously and also have a vested interest as they own the lease to Odsal etc.
Yep everybody is entitled to their opinion-all I hear are massive alarm bells ringing for the game as a whole if all this comes to fruition I'm afraid.

New criteria for Super League entry -

1. Must be based outside of the North of England
2. See Number 1
3. See Number 2

Sorted

Plus....play in a tip, repeatedly go into administration and have delusions of grandeur.

The Commercial Inn, Sowerby Bridge. Elland Brewery Sowerby Blonde 4.0% Mmm!

Excluding the Bulls and the relegated Clubs the Championship teams have an average attendance of under 1000 over the last three seasons. Most of these clubs do not run reserves or scholarships and arguably have limited contact with the local game.

Why on earth would SL, which is a business, have any interest in the views of small clubs who want contributions from the centre but don't contribute anything but history?

A business built on a SPORT a sport with history and heritage, a declining sport with history and heritage! I Might add.

One of the many problems is that business has taken over our great sport, which in My opinion is why the sport of rugby league is declining, before long the likes of Bradford bull's and the other relegated clubs attendance will also fall, we need competition for places in the top tier, to keep the integrity of sport to keep rugby league growing so all leagues in the competition can offer contributions, so all clubs can independently thrive, without the club's where is the sport without the sport where is the business?

The RFL deicided to change the structure to the 8s because the same games year in year out were becoming stale, and they have brought a new lease of life to rugby league, going back would be a backwards step, clubs with ambition should always have a chance to be ambitus.

The problem is we need a middle ground, the RFL are struggling to find one, so maybe the problem is the RFL?

Er, yep it is

No there is no way we want to go back to the system that lends itself to clubs being chosen by non sporting criteria which basically is if your face fits you are in and if it doesn't you are out.
Yes the Shield is not a good competition and needs changing, my suggestion is go back to a Finals day at a neutral venue for both the Championship and Championship 1 maybe include the National League Play Off Final?
As for more money for the Middle Eights at least this partly bridges the gap between the Championship and Super League and gives clubs a chance to build for promotion, the biggest issue in RL is the lack of money for all clubs below SL as the SL clubs are selfish and don't care a jot about anybody else, look at Bradford next season they will get £75K off the RFL how the hell do you survive on that?
It is time the RFL got more money from the TV deal and more Championship and even main Championship 1 games on TV, it is disgusting that Championship clubs get nothing for being on Sky in the Middle Eights for example as it all goes to SL clubs.

Er cos clubs represent RL in their towns and keep the pulse still beating with the odd player making it at the top level, it also helps local amateur clubs as whilst they can exist without a 'professional' club it certainly helps if there is one as like at Fax they get exposure from this and most players do want to play for their local team if they are not the next Kevin Sinfield.
People talk about expanding the game yet snear at small traditional clubs who bat on in very difficult circumstances, the problem is lack of exposure for clubs outside SL there is none!

Looks like Fax4Life and Nigel Wood agree:

"The Championship and League 1 provide the essential link between the elite Super League and the community. They also give a greater geographic spread to the sport and help to achieve the objectives of igniting and widening local gene pools in terms of playing, spectator and viewing numbers" - Nigel Wood

Brilliant Idea, not being delivered and will not be in Rugby League. No Minority sport can fund significantly below the top tier. Nor should they. The more money passed down the more talent is lost to other sports and countries.

Rugby Union level 2 Championship is almost self-funding, Cricket has moved to a two division county game and in T20 has clear gaps between good and other teams (as well as new city contest). Even Football's lower leagues are struggling.

Clubs must generate funds for themselves and develop financial plan that works for them. Do you seriously think that if we were in SL our Board would want to give much money to lower leagues. Its a business to see it anyway else is living in the past.

Blimey me sharing the same views as the Fat Controller??
At least mine are genuine not a PR stunt.
You typify what is wrong with our sport and that cocky selfish attitude towards clubs below SL as of course SOME of the money should go to lower league clubs, my point is that a bit more than the paltry amount now would help as how can clubs below SL who get no publicity anywhere develop a plan to be self sufficient when RL is now just all about SL even the TV show on the BBC is called the SL Show and the only way teams below SL get on is through the middle 8s.

Big spread in this weeks rugby press in an interview with Nigel Wood on a few things concerning the game including any proposed changes.
Plenty of print without much being revealed.
It did say that a number of clubs were not generating enough of their own income and for every £1 of theirs the RFL were giving £10 from central funding.
It questioned whether this type of 10 to 1 ratio in funding could be sustainable when some clubs had attendances of only a couple of hundred and time could be running out for some.

In reality what he is doing is starting to make public the same "logic" that is used in the Premier League and in Premiership Rugby .....those that generate the revenue should keep most of it...

This has been the underlying theme since the introduction of licensing and will be the driver of any reorganisation in 2019. The RFL have recognised this but as with soccer/union, the Super League clubs, are in the driving seat and the RFL are clearly afraid of a breakaway. Which is now less fanciful that it was ten years or so ago as cash is harder to generate. We may even be more likely to see it than other sports as unlike soccer/union/cricket little income is generated for these clubs by international contests/internationals/test matches etc.

In essence it will complete the process of turning an established club like Fax, and many others, into support clubs (directly or indirectly) for a smaller elite. It only opens the doors for a club if they find a generous benefactor or a new club (like Toronto) that is supported by heavy investment.

Very sad for the sport as a whole.

That is a depressing and hopefully not a prophetic post Howard.

Inevitable.