If we are to move on and have any confidence in the future of our club it is important to understand what the criteria for Licence applications for 2015 - 2017 actually is, so I wrote to Richard Lewis to ask "from the horses mouth". Unfortunately Richard is on leave at the moment, so it was answered by Blake Solly (Compliance Manager, Legal and Compliance), his response is below:

The minimum and A Grade criteria for the next round of Licensing are still to be finalised. This process involves a significant amount of consultation with Championship and Super League clubs, and an assessment of which of the criteria in the 2012-14 round need amendment. This process is unlikely to be finalised until the start of 2012. However some basic criteria have been confirmed, along with a commitment in the RFL Operational Rules that at least one club from the Championship, subject to meeting minimum criteria, will be awarded a Super League licence for 2015-2017. Winning the Northern Rail Cup or playing in the Championship Final in 2011 will satisfy the minimum on-field criteria for a prospective Championship club applicant, and subject to fulfilling the remaining minimum criteria entitle them to apply for a 2015-17 licence.

There are a couple of things that stand out.

1. There is a commitment to promote at least one Championship team (subject to criteria being met)
2. They havent really set the criteria, and need to have discussions about what current criteria will need to be amended (to get Crusaders in?).

On paper the door is not fully closed, I personally think we should be the best of the Championship for the next three years and make it almost impossible to refuse us a licence the next time around.

Here here.

We need a scholarship and under 18's, running a 23's isn't enough.

I suppose that depends on a couple of things.


1. If it was a minimum criteria
2. If we could afford it
3. If any other Championship clubs (who are likely to meet all other criteria) are going to be running them.

If it is a neccessity I think we should probably do a Widnes, put all effort in being eligible to apply then loose focus on the first team and focus on the youth.

Some time ago I sat and listened to Rimmer at a meeting and someone asked him what would happen to the Super League Club that did not get a franchise.
I do beleive it was a Cass fan that asked , he replied that there would be a parachute payment and an increased cap to help them over the first 12 months as they may have player contracts etc .
So what happens now ? As Crusaders look likely to be placed in our league and they withdrew from the bid , will they still get this help again enableing them to be better than any of our exsisting already in the Championship therefor enableing them very quickly to tick a box?
Also we do not now run a scholership team because the RFL told us we couldn`t the RFL prefer our talented lads to go to Bradford or Leeds.

The scholorship thing needs looking at, However we are Hypocrites to complain about Crusaders getting a higher cap. Other clubs could have kicked off about our bid as we had a 25 % dispensation when we won the GF,£400k. Barrow have been docked points for spending the same as we did.

So i dont have a problem with them if they have contracts to honour, However i do see that the contracts they had with players will be void and as crusaders players are exempt from quotas for the next SL club i cant see crusaders retaining any of these and therfore should not need to honour those contracts.

Also how does helping those crusaders foreign players help our international game when in essence they are increasing the amount of foreigners the clubs are allowed, Just another contradiction to what they are trying to do.

I really wouldn't worry too much about the Crusaders , if they do end up in the Championships , it must surely be as a new club , with completely new ownership

The current owners Moss and Roberts are highly unlikley to be involved as all they were after was making money out of the racecourse stadium , they no longer own it , and I doubt we will see them anywhere near a RL club again

So new club , new ownership , in Championship 1 , for a few years

That, and even if they came in to the Championship it has already been confirmed that they don't have any existing contracts to commit to and therefore there can't be any justification for them operating with a higher salary cap etc.

the rfl don't need any justification for giving the welsh teams any help they just do it

I can't for the life of me comprehend why winning the NR Cup should have more status than winning a league with a balanced fixture list? A club could win the League Title with ease yet suffer an injury crisis and not qualify for the GF, which, under present rules, could bar them from applying for Super League!

I know there is no justification in it , that was not my question . I asked what would happen if the RFL did this ? The point is noone has ever challenged the RFL so if they want to do it they will, they can do whatever they want can`t they ? After all they are the RFL and even a small thing like wearing a T. shirt or turning your back to a game for one minute could make them think . I wish we were playing Leigh tomorrow night we`d have a few of them turning round.

I would agree , you cannot ' level ' out achievements , but this is what the RFL do , they put out ' hoops ' for us all to jump through , then ATEOTD , they ignore them , and just please themselves

They treat us like a bully would treat their pet mongrel till something good comes on the telly and then they ignore us

No need to rush things , there is a lot of work to be done , take our time and do it right

Couldnt care about the next licensing round, to be honest i would feel uneasy knowing we are part of something that just isnt sporting.

There lies the issue.

The RFL has caused fans to not have a care.

Well I for one will continue to support my club and I do look to the future.

Who really believes that the RFL will take a blind bit of notice to fans turning their backs for a minute, or any other pressures brought to near by the newly formed group?

I applaud those for trying but I can't help feel anything done will just fall on deaf ears.

Maybe, but there's plenty of room for things to fall on. Lewis's deaf ears are HUUUUUGE !!!!!

Sorry guys, I just think it's pointless even daring to dream of SL in 2015. Fax should get on and do what they have always done which is strive to be the best in the league that they are in and continue to entertain us in the way they have done for (in my experience) the last 34 years.
I say to our Directors, "don't waste your money on the bid for the next three years. The RFL have a problem with Fax and it ain't gonna happen whilst ever the current incumbants remain at Red Hall."
Let's get on and win everything we can for 3 years and send in the application on the back of a fag packet.
If we want to spend money on the Superleague bid, better to employ a private detective to follow the 3 Muscateers round for a couple of months and put the incriminating photos in with the fag packet for additional support.
The RFL is bent and needs straightening out. Whether the majority of clubs agreed to franchising or not, its time for a rethink and a new vote as the goalposts have changed to an unrecognisable version of what we were asked to consider originally. If its to run for 3 more years then clubs need to insist that rules are imposed that stop the RFL changing the goalposts at every whim. These people should no longer be permitted to ruin this game we love by running this outrageous dictatorship.

I will continue to support my club, like i have done for the last 24 years, it really does not matter if we meet the criteria, as thr RFL does not want another heartland club in SL. they will promote cursaders or another expanison team,

That, Nigel, is what I fear as well.

Unfortunately I can't see anything changing in the future, so we should concentrate on being the best team in our league, improve in all other areas and make it even harder for the fools at the top to say no.

I can't see any other credible alternative.

The club should publish what the club needs to improve on and see if the fans and supportor's trust can help even more.

You might be right , they will probably not take any notice at all , but for sure they won't if nothing is done , the guarantee of failure is not to try

My lad plays for a local Rugby (Union) club. He's 13 and they don't seem to have much trouble running teams at pretty much every age group with not much more than a £30 annual subs, plus shorts, socks and boots (the club provide the shirts).

Fev and Sheffield run multiple age group teams, and I see very little reason (other than volunteer coaches) that we can't do the same.

Local clubs manage to build club-houses (which generate revenue) alongside a pitch with perhaps a small stand. Why on earth can't a semi-pro club with c.2,000+ paying speccies do the same??

Agreed that the U23's may need more cash, and that parents do the ferrying of the team for away games for most local clubs (but why not the same for Fax?), but surely local lads would flock to wear the blue 'n' white and represent the Fax???

The RFL told us only certain clubs could have junior teams FAX was not one of them.

Well said mate I agree the club really need to look at how other clubs have done it as whilst I always defend them saying we cannot afford it we have to ask can we afford not to for the next Franchise bid???
There is land around Calderdale that could be used for a couple of pitches for a Junior set up and could even become a base for the club for training even with the new arrangement with the College, we could also have all U23 games there and generate some income.
Fans and businesses would get behind any fundraising and help needed to get this up and running.
Go for it!