That just proves my point, Widnes cant even get a 10K crowd never mind a 10K average. The last time Widnes where in Super League there were plenty of crowds around 5K too.

Surely not? Not the RFL?

Is that the benchmark then,a 10 000 avearage crowd?Would make for a small SL.

That isnt the question though, do we have the potential to get that? yes we do with a bit of luck and some hard work.


I see your a Salford fan, that explains the feeling threatened posts.

as things stand I think its Widnes or Toulouse to replace Wakefield to be honest

but obviously there's still a long time to go before the decision is made

I have no problems with that, even though we must be the favourites not to get another franchise. Wakefield and others have had long enough to get out of date and dilapidated grounds up to a decent standard.

Toulouse will be in 2012,i will bet my mortgage on them being in.Then it will be Leigh or WIdnes and Salford and Wakefield going out.

I think your clutching at straws with leigh, unless they win some silverware next season

None of really knows the state of play with new grounds so none of us can make any kind of informed prediction.

Wakefield have an application for full planning permission being submitted within days and are reliably reported as having the funding in place for when they get it granted.
If that proves to be accurate then I can't see them being replaced.

Salford - I don't know
Cas - I don't know

I won't speculate about their demise on hearsay alone.

Bradford arn't ecactly safe and neither am I convinced that the Crusaders will be viable in two years time. But who really knows enough to make any kind of meaningull prediction.

agreed, but RFL to go to 16 teams with toulose.

a SL with widnes, toulose and Paris in and Wakey out would be very good

widnes can get to 10,000 no problems in a few years in SL

why Toulouse? They were regularly battered last season, moderate crowds, didn't make the required finals and don't look like getting in any next season. Or maybe you lot on here are finally admitting that licensing is one MASSIVE con. I'd hate to be a wakey fan on here with you lot discussing the probable demise of a club with such abandon whilst supporting the most damaging decision to ever affect our game

With BBC Sport heading for Salford, I suspect that they'll bust a gut to try to keep Salford in SL. IF Salford and Wakey are building by the time bids have to go in in 2011, then things could be very interesting. Another thought is that Richard Lewis knows that a current member of SL is either going to implode or won't be applying (bear in mind that the RFL will be privy to information that isn't available to the public).

I'd agree with that, plus Manchester's a big area the RFL will be keen to try and exploit. It's still sad how we're discussing who may get the chop because of stadia and location though.

Three French teams - never in a month of Dimanches!!!

Toulouse, maybe. Can't see them ever gambling with a Paris based team again - or at least not for a long long time - and especially at the disdvantage of much more lucrative and deserving cases (and I know, it's not always about "deserving" cases either, you only have to consider some of the teams in the lower divisions, Cumbria etc to accept that)

Complete con, what happened to the" It gives clubs 3 years to build" part of the license.?

Plus. To let Toulouse in the RFL would have to change the rules. Again. That is something fans of any super league club should worry about. If your clubs face doesn't fit they will be out. Be concerned

I agree.



Again I agree. I think that Super League cant afford to become a Yorkshire dominated League because RL will become more parochial than it is now. If any club should make way from Super League it should be a Yorkshire one imo. One more Lancashire team with one less Yorkshire one would make it a lot more balanced.

People will say it is just because I am a Salford fan and I can see and understand all of the arguments against Salford but I would consider myself to be a RL fan first and formost. RL is struggling a lot in Greater Manchester with Oldham and Swinton struggling and groundless, Rochdale struggling. Super League needs a presence in the Salford/Manchester conurbation which is the largest population centre in Lancashire or Yorkshire. It is exactly the type of place that the RFL should be looking to develop as it is largely untapped. A strong presence in Salford/Manchester would do wonders for the game, especially with the BBC relocation. There is a long, proud history of the game here which we are in danger of losing. If we didnt already have a club there people would be saying we should set one up. If Salford faded away and became another Swinton then that is basically the end for professional Rugby League in the Salford/Manchester and the surrounding areas. Added to this with the rise of Sale then Rugby League will just get smaller and smaller.

I would also love to see Toulouse in the league as I think a second French club is a must. Also if Paris has the backers then the RFL would be very foolish to turn them away.

One or two on here are over looking Barrow. They are making great progress and are as deserving as any for a place. Its not all about Widnes and France.

This is all very interesting... especially as some months ago now John Wilkinson was supposed to have said at a public meeting that the RFL had personally issued him a warning. Unless 'actual' building begins on the Salford Stadium by the end of this year then they would not be looked on favourably for the next round of franchises.

Shortly after this 'those' letters were posted to the Infamous Five about ground improvements.

With the news that Salford are back to the stage of ground clearing and that this itself won't be started until spring next year I'd say things aren't looking too rosy for the Reds.

Those that are overlooking Barrow have almost certainly seen the state of their stadium!

It would be more than hypocritical for the RFL to punish one team for their facilities whilst overlooking the dump that is Craven Park.

They are currently in talks to renovate, but they don't have the finances yet and according to their fans it is looking like a mammoth sum needed.

Expect a very strong application from them in 2015 if Des doesn't get bored by then but 2012 is far too early for them.

Des might have his coaching badge by then so he can do it all himself

Indeed.

I'm guessing he already picks the team.

Just because they've won the Championship?

I think the key point was Lewis saying 'Yes' to the question posed whether a current SL team would lose their licence. That's a turn around, he has never said that before. He has always guaranteed a Champ side a licence, but he said that based on EITHER a side getting the boot, or increasing to 15 sides. I think it's a very interesting change of position from the RFL - looks to me like he's a bit annoyed at some broken promises and he's going to make an example of someone, and he's probably regretting not doing it last time round. Either that, or he needs to shoehorn Paris in somehow and doesn't want to go above 15 teams.

I think this upcoming round of licences could end even more accrimoniously that than the last lot.