Let's agree to disagree then, in an ideal world we would all be top of SL, unfortunately we are not living in an ideal world.I'd rest my case, if I had one.

.As Derek Bates used to say, Be nice to each other.

All this bias against non-favoured or 'unfashionable' / 'non-desirable' clubs absolutely must STOP. Time to level the playing field.

No chance of that happening, the power starts with SKY, SL Chairmen and then the RFL. The triangle of 54ites. Capitalism in Sport goes the same way. Sky want viewing figures, SL chairmen want a cheque, and the RFL want Some hospitality box tickets.

Yes let’s level the playing field. Poll all owners/chairman to see how much they are willing to put into their club and cap it at the lowest. Find out how much sponsorship each club has arranged and those with more than the lowest to reject some to make it even. Find out which club has the lowest attendance and ensure all clubs only allow that number of supporters attend all games. Any club that still owns its own ground to give it away and pay rent like the others, rent to be agreed to match the highest figure for all. Audit all clubs at the end of the season to decide how much they have earned from sales of merchandise/programmes/food/drink etc. and distribute it evenly through the league.
Or accept it as it is and as I tell my kids and grandkids when they tell me “that’s not fair” “Life’s not fair, just get on with it”
The parachute payment that is causing this discussion was agreed by all the clubs that contributed and was nothing to do with the RFL or SL so could be looked on as sponsorship. It was not taken from any monies given out to championship clubs so they loose nothing.
I have just tried to highlight this payment is not the only thing that makes our sport “unfair”.
Sorry if this post offends anybody. That is not my intention. Also sorry for posting this on your forum but no similar thread on mine.
I am very willing to take all criticism if the above comments do not comply with your thinking. My skin is thick and you will not upset me.

Oh dear. You miss the point. Entirely. We can’t run a sport having some clubs more “valuable” than others and bend the rules to accommodate them is the point. That’s exactly why this payment was introduced - to save Catalans if they went down.

And let’s not imagine the super league clubs are being altruistic here. They only want Catalans in super league cos they receive no payments from the sky tv deal. More to go round for them.

Maybe, following your logic, the super league clubs should receive sky tv payments similar to those received by catalans and the ones Toronto will get when they get placed in super league. Then let the other 99% of the sport just swivel unless they are needed for SL reserve players to gain game time

Not sure who your team is as I am not familiar with "Lowton"



But...

One particular example that sticks in my throat and no doubt many other Fax fans was the farce that was re-applying for franchises. I have tried to erase it from my memory but I do recall the contempt and downright FIXED approach that was taken in order to skew Fax from ever having a real and honest chance of returning to the top flight where we belong.

If I recall - Wakefield were 'down' and Celtic Crusaders then withdrew? That should have meant that Fax by default replaced Wakefield? Think Widnes were successful that year?

STANK then - and still stinks.

That's a very bold statement which you've rightly qualified with a question mark.

The RFL is as good as irrelevant nowadays.

Griif, I think what Encouraged was eluding to is that Fax had passed the criteria that season by obtaining a grade C licence and were expected to take Wakey's place. Then all the shenanigans (and wasted money) with Celtic Crusaders came left field and scuppered our legitimate chance of getting in at the time.
Goalposts kept moving for Fax on application the most notable being the state of our ground and that of Wakey's and Cas. Having moved we still didn't qualify and interestingly both Wakey and Cas are still in SL with the same stadia.
Things like that are why we as Fax fans feel a little hard done by at times.

Totally agree.
I think Sky and the Leeds, Wigan and Saints Chairmen are the inner circle regarding the corridors of power now.

What I can't understand is why Celtic Crusaders' demise - thereby leaving an extra place - can be considered to have reduced Fax's chances. Au contraire - their chances were increased and they still didn't make the cut.

It seems clear that Fax weren't as nailed-on certainties as implied.

I believe there are others but I would not disagree with the general thrust of your assertion.

That is absolutely spot on.

Greg - I see from RLW&LX that Gareth Carvell is threatening to take the RFL to court about this clause allowing clubs to tear up contracts on relegation.

Can you let him know that this is just a case of the regs not having been updated ?

Excuse my ignorance but what's it got to do with him ?

Read the thread. Or, indeed, the post I quoted. Greg doubted whether there was such a provision.

Sorry you misunderstood,totally get what you're saying.I was wondering what it had to do with Carvell who's long retired.

Ah right. That makes more sense ......

He's a Players' Union official.

Cheers.Can't see what grounds he has..unusually for RL the rules were clear in advance.

They may be clear. That doesn't mean they reflect the laws of the land.

Anyone know what happened at this meeting, or if indeed it did happen

Not yet.

RFL dragging their heels for some reason.

It's because they have so much good news to tell the Champ clubs they are having to bring in extra staff to cope with it.

There’s no one left at the RFL to meet with!

Probably a delay in the buffet arriving