A press release is stirring things up a little for us.... it says Wakefield and Castleford, who are both hoping to press ahead with new stadium plans, are thought to be most at risk of losing their place among the game's elite following the statement that Five Championship clubs were given the go-ahead on friday to apply for a place in Super League in 2012.

Halifax, Featherstone, Batley, Barrow and Widnes have all fulfilled the on-field minimum criteria by either reaching the Grand Final or winning the Northern Rail Cup in the last two years.

Batley have said they are not interested and the others must prove they meet minimum standards off the field if they are to secure a three-year Super League licence.

The clubs, who have until December 3 to submit their applications for assessment, must have a stadium with a capacity of 10,000, a recent turnover of at least £1million and an average attendance of 2,500-plus.

It does seem that the RFL are hell bent on dragging this through the media once again and trying to make us and Wakey look like selling platers!

To be fair I think every man & his dog knows it`s Cas and /or Wakey, there are to many Yorkshire clubs and the RL want it leveling up.
How Bradford are keeping below the radar is beyond me though.

I still don't see how any of those teams, bar Widnes and maybe Halifax, could have a chance in SL.

at this moment in time we beat wakey hands down but that means very little now. for once in our clubs history we need to hammer the coffin lid down and press on with all the good things that are coming from the club and secure our future has a top flight rugby league club.

Anyone who actually believes in a fair and balanced franchise procedure is deluded at best, bordering on insane.
The clubs for 2012 are already decided.
I agree with other posters that Bradford are operating in stealth mode and seem to be doing so on the back of their phenomenal contribution to SL early years, it cant be on the past couple of years.
The RL must be hoping a further 3 years to rekindle that passion
It comes down to
Cas - stadium in the pipeline-decent sponsors on board-2 good seasons
Wakey - stadium in the pipeline-A city
Salford - stadium in the pipeline-Manchester based (loosely)
Pushing all things positive is a must but in the warped world that is Red Hall I wouldn't be suprised at anything also
with Cas and Wakey falling foul also in the Yorks v Lancs numbers game.

It is between Cas and Wakey. And each set of fans believe they have the better chance. But honestly looking at the current situation, who has the better prospects - Cas or Wakey?

[uCas[/u
Outline planning permission in place
Stadium planning permission by Xmas
Funds in place for stadium
No debt
Major long term international businesses sponsoring the club

[uWakey[/u
Second run in with taxman in less than 12 months and still with the noose round their neck.
Trouble paying players
No Outline planning permission with opposition from Leeds City Council
No Stadium planning permission

There was a reason why Wakey couldn't consider a joint venture in the stadium project, GH is a better prospect and they would have no money to invest unlike Cas.

So even if my heart says Cas, my head also says Cas. Can Wakey fans honsstly say that their heads think that they have the better chance than Cas??

Funds in place for stadium

Er, yes. Here we go again. We even have funds in place to pay our players too!

Er, dont think so.

Please explain your theory

But aren't your funds dependant on the whole development getting the green light?
Don't know...I have erased the squabblings of Grounds from my memory and don't reallly want to re-read 6 months of vitriol.

I feel we fought against mergers once and got our way, this just feels like payback and whats worse is that we voted the system in.
I feel that no matter what a club does on or off the RFL will eek out the teams it wants for its top league and if you dont like it then you can lump it.
How else from a Cas perspective can you have 2 good years in the comp, new sponsors coming aboard, a vibrant youth set up, a new ground finally looking to be in touching distance, a team that is filling with British talent and still be viewed by many to be a favourite for the chop?
The problem is that once you have had the franchise and look at the other teams that are vying for your place, you cannot see what extra they are bringing to the league that isn't there already, it seems financial stability-attendance-league finishes are things overlooked for geographical or past name tick boxes.

Give me a breakdown of your funding baring in mind the price of land has dropped dramatically and the 2 million off the council is just a loan i.e to be payed back

Could you please furnish us with a copy of your balance sheet and profit and loss account.....
Bit silly really


The Cas BOD have those facts.
The loan is to be paid back, but it is still there, I don't think it has to be paid back instantly.

Don't drag this topic into the mire of Funding and Stadia alone though...

We are discussing Superleague places at risk.

Land deal was in place 2 or 3 years ago. Price agreed then.
Next.

Of the 3 looking at the chop i would say we have the best case

We have better crowds than wakey and salford
Better youth development than both
Better on field success in this franchise period than salford and equal (average league placing) to wakey
Less debt than wakey and salford
Less overseas players than wakey and salford

I've left grounds aside because all clubs beleive they are getting one now which should cancel each other out if true (though in our favour we will own ours and wakey will rent theres, not sure about salford).

2 million from council
6 million from ground sale
The rest from waystone, naming rights and grants.

hth

Don't even bother with him mate. He only posts on here about the stadium, trolling.

Other posters have commented but how are Bulls flying under the radar?

Not a clue. Bulls are going un-noticed because of past performances.

Personally i don't think any of the 1st division teams are good enough to replace either Cas or Wakey.

Sadly as it currently stands I think Widnes have more to offer than Wakie.

On what do you base those thoughts on?, a better stadium and er what else exactly.

I don't want to get into a slanging match, this is just my honest opinion as I see it. But Widnes do have a backer with considerable wealth too, rather than a bloke with an IVA to his name. I know this may change if and when Wakie find a new owner. But as it stands, at this point in time they are a better prospect. Yes, their team is not up to standards but they will have plenty of time to sort that if and when they get the nod.

Better youth academy, probably bigger crowds, able to spend the salary cap etc.

I think the one thing we can all agree is that the time for talk has been and gone.
The measuring contests are a thing of the past, now it's time for action.

Over to Sir Rodney and Jack Fulton, show us your cards!