Very true, how can Lewis decide someone is going down before any applications have been put in. It hardly sounds like that the powers to be will viewing the applications neutrally. If I was the chairman of several under threat SL clubs I would be seeking legal advice in anticipation of the worst case scenario.

I really wish we would scrap the franchise and bring back P/L. At the end of the day it's a competition, things should be decided on the field of play, not behind closed doors by a few business men.

The RFL have been clear from the start that it was likely that a team would be demoted - unless the SL was being expanded - subject to suitable clubs from the champonship applying. all SL clubs know this and accept it. No legal action is likely.

In Harrogate this week the SL clubs will have the chance to discuss the Licence procedure etc. If wakey have a probem with it I am sure they will raise it.

A club , which will be decided by the franchise applications

Just in the same way that what was the point in Widnes applying last time when after assurances to the contrary that their previous financial problems would not be held against them , they were the reason given for them not getting a SL place

Touloooooose?

Why ? they finished next to bottom with a team full of 4th rate aussies...mind you they would fit in well in super league on that point alone

If Salford were to stay in SL I would only be happy if they were to move from Salford to here; www.sportcity-manchester.com/pages/arena.asp with a view to increasing the capacity of the arena. Its in Sportscity, so the facilities there are phenomenal! Its next to the Eastlands football ground, so it would tap into those who know that iconic venue. My own view, though controversial, is that Salford should change its name to Manchester with the move. Being a resident of Manchester I know that the residents of Manchester will not go to Salford for a sporting event and little or no people know about the City Reds because it is in Salford. If RL is to successfully tap into the Manchester connurbation it needs to embrace the Manchester identity, which includes a move to a Manchester-centric venue and it needs to have a venue that has world class facilities.

If Salford were to stay in SL I would only be happy if they were to move from Salford to here; www.sportcity-manchester.com/pages/arena.asp with a view to increasing the capacity of the arena. Its in Sportscity, so the facilities there are phenomenal! Its next to the Eastlands football ground, so it would tap into those who know that iconic venue. My own view, though controversial, is that Salford should change its name to Manchester with the move. Being a resident of Manchester I know that the residents of Manchester will not go to Salford for a sporting event and little or no people know about the City Reds because it is in Salford. If RL is to successfully tap into the Manchester connurbation it needs to embrace the Manchester identity, which includes a move to a Manchester-centric venue and it needs to have a venue that has world class facilities.

This is, of course, an untruth.

What they were told was that going bust 6 months before would not prevent them submitting an application. No one told them that their application would get special treatment and the clear licence criteria (including the one about a proven financial record) would be ignored in their case and their case alone.

Makes me laugh all these 'glass half empty' merchants who doubt Widnes's ability to get a 10k average in time.

When were last a real force in the top flight, we hit an average touching 8.5k in two successive seasons. Since then the town and it's suburbs population has grown by some 10,000 and also the town's average house price has rocketed making it likely there is rather more disposable income knocking around.

10k? Give us a chance and we'll show ya...

Toulouse and Widnes in. Wakey and Crusaders out.

The success of Widnes and the calibre of players you could put in that team over many years should have drawn crowds of well over 10k for many years ,Not just two imo.

:2gau1b5x

Link

In that regard, St Helens should be averaging 20,000.

But they aren't. In fact, they're barely average 10,000 themselves.

Does it matter?

Get a grip, what do Harlequins offer that Crusaders don't?

Quote ="Chorlton RL"If Salford were to stay in SL I would only be happy if they were to move from Salford to here; www.sportcity-manchester.com/pages/arena.asp with a view to increasing the capacity of the arena. Its in Sportscity, so the facilities there are phenomenal! Its next to the Eastlands football ground, so it would tap into those who know that iconic venue. My own view, though controversial, is that Salford should change its name to Manchester with the move. Being a resident of Manchester I know that the residents of Manchester will not go to Salford for a sporting event and little or no people know about the City Reds because it is in Salford. If RL is to successfully tap into the Manchester connurbation it needs to embrace the Manchester identity, which includes a move to a Manchester-centric venue and it needs to have a venue that has world class facilities.'" like the manchester ice hockey team who went bust, or the basketball team nobody watches. Why even the football team in"manchester" doesn't sell out so it can't be the manchester name that will bring people in.

Quote ="Chorlton RL"If Salford were to stay in SL I would only be happy if they were to move from Salford to here; www.sportcity-manchester.com/pages/arena.asp with a view to increasing the capacity of the arena. Its in Sportscity, so the facilities there are phenomenal! Its next to the Eastlands football ground, so it would tap into those who know that iconic venue. My own view, though controversial, is that Salford should change its name to Manchester with the move. Being a resident of Manchester I know that the residents of Manchester will not go to Salford for a sporting event and little or no people know about the City Reds because it is in Salford. If RL is to successfully tap into the Manchester connurbation it needs to embrace the Manchester identity, which includes a move to a Manchester-centric venue and it needs to have a venue that has world class facilities.'" like the manchester ice hockey team who went bust, or the basketball team nobody watches. Why even the football team in"manchester" doesn't sell out so it can't be the manchester name that will bring people in.

Nothing , in fact less than what the Crusaders offer , at least they will help us get another country to a better level

There are some rather thought-lacking replies in this thread, mainly by those wanting to see the end of licensing clutching at whatever excuse they can to support their view.

Anyone who is saying that the RFL have already decided who will go down and who will go up is a paranoid idiot. All that has been said is that a club WILL go down. Why? Most likely because the RFL have decided that it is not financially viable (or in the interests of the attractiveness and competitiveness of the competition) to expand the competition in 2012. So in order for "at least one club" to come up from the Championship (as was stated), then a club WILL go down.

How anyone can read into that that the RFL have decided the clubs already is beyond me.

I am neither for or against P&R or licensing. We have tried one, and are in the middle of another so might as well give it a shot and see how it goes before judging it. And any club that struggles during that period cannot instantly be the result of licensing like most P&R supporters like to claim, as clubs were struggling before.

Some people just need to get a grip.

Could it be that the RFL know the financial viability of a particular SL club is much worse than any of us think?

If you finish bottom for the next 2 year which i think you will you deserve to in the other divison.

A any specific reasoning for this wisdom that you've shared with us?

Indeed, I said it for ages , If we at Hull had a team like Saints and played there style of rugby , We'd pull in a crowd of 20k +. Why Saints dont get these crowds is baffling.

At least this announcement will end all the people on the other recent threads stating " it doesn't mean a club dropping out , they might expand the comp "

No doubt there will be a few twitching bums out there and a few phone calls in the morning to various interested parties [ councils and developers

Being a resident of England I know the residents of England think your musings on this subject are hilarious.

Surely saying that one club will be relegated from SL and one Championship club will be given a SL licence, they are pre-judging licence applications 2 years early?

No , What they are saying is that the current SL clubs applications will be judged against each other and the clubs applying from outside will be judged against each other , but not all together

Harlequins - what is the point ????????
Hardly ever get crowds above 3,000.