I agree, though you should take into consideration that there is on-field criteria in order to apply for a license. Think of it as a three-year season, with two chances per year to win the right to be promoted. Farcical you may perceive it, but it's the system drawn up at Red Hall that Championship fans have had to learn to understand and accept.

On the flip-side, you can see the benefits of the three-year licensing. It'll ensure that whoever goes up next year will be better equipped than any other promoted teams have been to SL, Widnes, Huddersfield, Hull KR, Castleford, the newly elected Championship team next year will have a much better chance of developing a successful playing squad and all-round product than any of their predecessors.

Well done to Widnes, being excluded last time has done them a favour as it's made sure they got their house in order. It would have been a pointless exercise to have them come up, struggle, get into financial trouble and fall out again. Look at how many times it took Hull KR to have false dawns before they made it, and they've made a good fist of it, I hope Widnes can do the same.

your entitled to your opinion chubbs. slightly over the top though i feel. however i think your a delta indigo charlie kilo so lets call it quits.

What finishing second and losing a GF in extra time? Granted we had player exemptions (and before Starbug put's his two penneth in players with Visa issues) but come off it for someone who's followed Widnes for so long surely you can't believe that statement?

did you actually think before you posted this? sudddenly its a shame we have this system? you wouldnt be saying that if your club had got its act together and had a stronger bid. 'worst team in history of sport to gain promotion' say what????? and yes, i can think of dozens of football teams that have been promoted after making it into the last playoff places. so it does happen believe it or not. and how exactly is making the playoffs every year for as long as i can remember and back to back cup finals making us a bad team? your post has absolutely no basis in fact, or even a shadowy reflection of reality.

I overlooked the grand final. fair point. My only issue with it all was how quickly you was allowed to be a super league club whilst we were continually shafted whenever super league wanted something new. This does not mean I am anti Crusaders or anti expansion so please do not think I am. Expansion is great but all the news in the press is about your problems last year, being allowed to reinvent yourselves hundreds of miles away and all of Londons woes and pleas for help. But you are there so good luck and I do hope you make a good fist of being successful. I believe that missing out last time has helped us long term as we are now 100% ready not only to be a super league club but to be a super league club who can progress and challenge some bigger teams on a regular basis. I really do think we we can bring a lot to the division if we are lucky enough to get the golden ticket this time. And, in closing, a post where i am not a troll!! Progress made?!!!!

Well, aint you the king of the trolls.

For a start, if we get a place in SL we wont have been 'promoted'. We will have been given a place by a licence system. The word 'promotion' has absolutely no relevance to top flight British RL at the present time, or have you been living in a cave with the rest of the trolls?

it is still promotion. regardless of the method and process.

widnes are being supremely arrogant by basically saying we dont need to compete anymore!

this attitude has undermined the entire division.

this is not a troll just an opinion,

To be fair though I would imagine all Championship teams have subconsciously lost a little motivation since the traditional method of promotion was scrapped.



I've no doubt though that the Chemics will be ready and prepared when they rightfully get their spot back.

They never have before, why would they start now?

Not to mention a large %age of fans and sponsors but hey, RL is bright, healthy, and full of fluffly little bunny rabbits because Tricky Dicky and half a dozen blind sheep on here says so.

You sure?

It is truly sad if clubs like Haven do go to the wall because the chance to chase promotion was effectively taken away (if it is a direct cause of their problems).

Yes

But getting back on subject a bit, doesn't this whole thread just show what a pile of e this whole franchise thing is?
I don't see any evidence that it has improved SL, but there's plenty of evidence that it's damaging the Championship.

Just who the hell do you think you are to claim that we're being supremely arrogant and don't need to compete anymore?? It's small minded attitudes like yours that undermine the sport not us you fool!!

Look around you muppet, so many more people outside of Widnes are claiming we're a shoe in for SL in 2012 and you're calling us arrogant?? How dare you!!

We've had to operate to much lowered salary cap and have used over 40 players this season due to one of the worst injury crises I can remember. Added to which our coach has been on compassionate leave for much of the season due to personal tragedy. Yet we've still made the play offs and the NRC final!!! To say that we're sticking two fingers up at the Championship and lauding it up until 2012 is not only incredibly ignorant of you but utterly disrespectful. You know nothing of our club and you clearly know nothing of the system we're now operating under or the sport as a whole otherwise you wouldn't be spouting such idiotic crap on here.

To put this into perspective it was sarcasm and is understandable within the context of the thread.

Naughty man.

Anyway Rich we're taking you with us, so get your riot shield out and stand in line.

Rich we're rightly lapping it up but you and I know it's all done in good spirits, particularly when it's everyone else that's getting a hard on over us. It's sad bitter attitudes like the one above and Mr Smith in the YEP that need to wind their necks in and quit their crying.

I couldn't resist.

There's nowt going on playing wise until next week for us so mischief is my current game of choice

...if you're predisposed to think that way this thread could show that yes.

I don't see any evidence that it has been detremental to SL either. Apart from the Cas/Wakey derby relegation decider, pretty much every relegated team has known their fate with 4 weeks to go to the end of the season. This year, their are 2 teams who can still finish last.....

...what, in that clubs can't be automatically promoted so therefore they will just die........not a very good business model to operate on if you ask me.
Unlike my club, the majority of heartland clubs have a deep and rich history and heritage. Regardless of what league they are in, they should still be trying to attract the community back to games, re-immersing themselves into the fabric of the community......not bitching about SL, not getting a licence and moaning that they can't get a better stadium or better players without BskyB's money.
Licencing will take a few years to "bed down"...but all in all, it's good for the game IMO.......just like the cap.

Sorry but I disagree , we have a play off game two days away and many many people who would previously be going if there was a chance of promotion don't even know we are playing , I doubt we ll get more than 1,7/800 to attend the game , we are slowly getting down to the hard core of support only , with less and less ' big game ' fans

I have attended most of the nl/championship GF s and they are the same , last year , even though it was the 1 st big final for both clubs , it was more a case of " well at least we ve ticked the box " rather than desperation to actually win it

Yes you are right , the championship clubs need to dig into their communities to survive , but just like quins , they don't have the know how or the resouces to do it

Next year will kill of some more of the less committed at all clubs even the ones that are unlikely ever to be in a position to go up , the atmosphere at all the grounds is in decline

It might be good for SL , but it defiantly isn t good for the clubs below

[url=http://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article.php?id=2531Thats Widnes sorted, just need to sort out who goes down now.[/url

=#0000FFAll 2011 season ticket holders will be eligible to renew their season ticket for the 2012 Super League season at the standard ticket price.

This offer represents outstanding value for money, as there are a guaranteed three more home league fixtures in a Super League season, a competition where season ticket and admission prices would typically involve a price increase.

You have to admire their candour

You would think if they have been given the nod the RFL would say keep it to yourselves





Good luck to them though, they certainly deserve it.