No they weren't, they were told they would advance and be judged against SL clubs, they aren't as good as any SL club so they didn't get in.

It's not the fault of the RFL the Halifax fans & chairman are too stupid to realise this...or that The Shay meets less stadium criteria than both Belle Vue and Wheldon Road, mainly because of capacity.

Why were they permitted to put in for a licence, when there was absolutely 0% chance they could compete with any SL club?
Granted the chairman at least at Halifax looked genuinely surprised, but he went very quiet very quick.
The RFL made threats and Halifax are in on it.
Mark my words!!!
If Either of us are not making progress, there be trouble!!!
If you go any deeper into denial, I shall have to assume fully has hacked your account!!

Because they met the criteria to apply for the licence. They could put in to apply for one but ultimately it is their choice to waste time and resource doing that. The RFL aren't going to deny them the opportunity.

Featherstone declined to submit one last time too because they didn't feel ready. It is the responsibility of each club.

The Shay has a capacity of 11,000 all under cover with approx 5000 seats. The ground more than meets the criteria and would beat Belle Vue and Wheldon Road in ever aspect of licence application. However, the Fax chairmen thought this alone would get the club the licence, and made himself look and idiot by going on tv and shouting about it.

it's not all about Stadium capacity. What an annoying word 'Criteria'.......

The RFL should have made it clear from the outset, that it was very, very unlikely that 2 championship clubs would be promoted but, the opposite was true.
Whether this was to try and put added pressure on Wakey and Cas, who knows, but once again the franchise system caused unnecessary bad feeling.
They should merge with the Bulls !

TBF to Halifax they will have had a very similar level of business plan and financial performance as Widnes IMO (based on such limited income from the championship (incidentally this could never compete with a SL clubs turnover, but thats another issue)) and they were nailed on.
Widnes may have had better income from say, commercial (thats a guess) but Halifax probably out performed Widnes in other areas, certainly on the pitch.
The reason Widnes came up and Halifax were light years away? A wealthy backer and a promise from the RFL to soften a previous blow, as simple as peas.
A promise and a good business plan could well be enough in a year or two too, if promises haven't been kept.

Barlow played at prop (icon_cool.gif and scored the first try for 'Fax yesterday wolloping Barrow 54-22.

I think Cas will have a big turn over of players for next year Basil will get rid off the dead wood and he will bring some quality players in, and i also think Chase will still be at Cas next year because of the influx of these new players.

Heard a rumour Millward is looking to bring in Vinnie Anderson, apparently rates him as a good ball playing second rower as well as a fantastic role model for younger players, just a rumour though, did he bring him to Saints? Could be that NZ 2nd Rower that used to play under Millward?