What of it's Ottowa, NY or Dublin?

Cokey take note of a more balanced view point. Del Boys rhetoric isn’t enough. We’ve seen his tantrums to often in the past.

When you're addressing your post to Ste100Centurions, leave my name out of it.

Running with an 11 club Superlague is very problematic. These short term problems can be solved immediately by Leigh stepping up for next season.

At the end of the season the TV deal runs out so Superleague can then decide what shape and content they will have under a new reduced deal.

So the idea Leigh should not be promoted because they don't have a long term player development strategy is an irrelevance.

Yes I get all that,and hope Leigh do get admitted,But just to appease the anti Leigh mob, I am just reiterating that any club should be promoted on merit in my view. I also understand the current dilemma due to the phoney TWP antics which have caused all this mess. Que sera sera.

Any club that was chosen to be "promoted" from the Championship, even on some kind of "franchise type criteria" would be open to all sorts of questions.
Depending who was setting the criteria would give advantage to one club or other.
What criteria would carry most weight ?

Fev were beaten finalists in the last Championship play off final
Leigh have been there before and appear to be assembling a very strong squad.
Toulouse, sit top of the "suspended" Championship comp
Widnes, decent facilities and ground, plus plenty of fans
London, just for the "kudos" of having a club in the Capital
Bradford, sleeping "giant" potential to bring some decent numbers of fans

A case could be made for any of the above and by picking any club, there could be a legal challenge from some of the unlucky ones - for this reason, if Toronto dont come back, SL should run with 11 clubs and use "magic" for one of the rounds of the Challenge Cup.

TBF - I think your post would be more relevant to the one below.

Cheers Cokey, putting me in with Donny is a very low blow - mandatory count 1, 2, 3, ........

However, you know that simply isn't the case.
Any club "promoted" for next season, assuming that they dont have any major problems, would be in the box seat for the following season, unless they were in the relegation spot



With the current situation, it would be a brave person to predict very much about future events and RL is no different.

Tbf, I'm not sure how many clubs will get through the winter without the usual season ticket sales and let's face it, how does anyone sell season tickets, when there is no likelihood of supporters being allowed into games, especially at the start of the season in February ? and even then, had clubs sold S/T's, it may be that not everyone would be allowed in.

It's a right old mess

The problem, in general terms, could be even worse in The Championship and League 1, as S/T's make up a hefty share of their income too and without any TV monies.

If you are advocating that Leigh should step up for next season because it would cause the least problems, and I personally have no problems who steps in least of all Leigh, then your argument is flawed when you say that the Sky deal with super league finishes after next season, that being the case if it's for next season only then providing Toronto give assurances for next season why can't it be them on the basis of your logic.

Quote ="wrencat1873"Cheers Cokey, putting me in with Donny is a very low blow Any club "promoted" for next season, assuming that they don't have any major problems, would be in the box seat for the following season '" Because you say so? Since when did you run the league? Let me know?? Nobody is in the "box seat" 2022 when Superleague faces the end of this long TV deal and goes onto a much reduced deal. All bets are off under a new deal that will see many clubs lose TV funding altogether. For all you know, which isn't much, Leigh may be only given a one year "licence" for next year? If HKR have lost Hudgell how are they going to be "in the box seat"? If we go to 10 and there has been a vote on a 2x10 SL then how would Wakefield fare against York to be in SL1 if they chose that on licensing?? let me know the answers to those questions please if you have a crystal ball and can see who are in the Box seats for SL 2022?. Thanks heavens I aren't "in with" you and your mate For those that could not stop indicating we have a problem......... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/54695638

Quote ="wrencat1873"Cheers Cokey, putting me in with Donny is a very low blow Any club "promoted" for next season, assuming that they don't have any major problems, would be in the box seat for the following season '" Because you say so? Since when did you run the league? Let me know?? Nobody is in the "box seat" 2022 when Superleague faces the end of this long TV deal and goes onto a much reduced deal. All bets are off under a new deal that will see many clubs lose TV funding altogether. For all you know, which isn't much, Leigh may be only given a one year "licence" for next year? If HKR have lost Hudgell how are they going to be "in the box seat"? If we go to 10 and there has been a vote on a 2x10 SL then how would Wakefield fare against York to be in SL1 if they chose that on licensing?? let me know the answers to those questions please if you have a crystal ball and can see who are in the Box seats for SL 2022?. Thanks heavens I aren't "in with" you and your mate For those that could not stop indicating we have a problem......... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/54695638

Quote ="Donnyman"Because you say so? Since when did you run the league? Let me know?? Nobody is in the "box seat" 2022 when Superleague faces the end of this long TV deal and goes onto a much reduced deal. All bets are off under a new deal that will see many clubs lose TV funding altogether. For all you know, which isn't much, Leigh may be only given a one year "licence" for next year? If HKR have lost Hudgell how are they going to be "in the box seat"? If we go to 10 and there has been a vote on a 2x10 SL then how would Wakefield fare against York to be in SL1 if they chose that on licensing?? let me know the answers to those questions please if you have a crystal ball and can see who are in the Box seats for SL 2022?. Thanks heavens I aren't "in with" you and your mate For those that could not stop indicating we have a problem......... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/54695638'" What on earth are you on about.? MY OPINION is that any club (not just Leigh), that was promoted for next season would have a huge advantage towards being selected for the following season, even if there was a return to "franchising". I do hope that it's ok to express an opinion, rather than your own "facts", which blow with the the wind. Are you still certain of the 12 club all English league If the game moves to "franchising" things could be really interesting, especially as NOBODY is certain which clubs will survive the winter. Btw, you do realise that this thread is "Re: 14 team league" and not another one of your own making.?? I really do love your "for all you know" comment. Comedy gold from the resident "town hall clock".

Quote ="Donnyman"Because you say so? Since when did you run the league? Let me know?? Nobody is in the "box seat" 2022 when Superleague faces the end of this long TV deal and goes onto a much reduced deal. All bets are off under a new deal that will see many clubs lose TV funding altogether. For all you know, which isn't much, Leigh may be only given a one year "licence" for next year? If HKR have lost Hudgell how are they going to be "in the box seat"? If we go to 10 and there has been a vote on a 2x10 SL then how would Wakefield fare against York to be in SL1 if they chose that on licensing?? let me know the answers to those questions please if you have a crystal ball and can see who are in the Box seats for SL 2022?. Thanks heavens I aren't "in with" you and your mate For those that could not stop indicating we have a problem......... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/54695638'" What on earth are you on about.? MY OPINION is that any club (not just Leigh), that was promoted for next season would have a huge advantage towards being selected for the following season, even if there was a return to "franchising". I do hope that it's ok to express an opinion, rather than your own "facts", which blow with the the wind. Are you still certain of the 12 club all English league If the game moves to "franchising" things could be really interesting, especially as NOBODY is certain which clubs will survive the winter. Btw, you do realise that this thread is "Re: 14 team league" and not another one of your own making.?? I really do love your "for all you know" comment. Comedy gold from the resident "town hall clock".

Aye but don't forget, at least the town hall clock gets it right twice a day

Only if the bloody thing stops ticking

Well why put that opinion up for discussion then? Why make it a public opinion thus prompting comments on that opinion?

What exactly is the "Huge" advantage? you talk of? You didn't even explain what it was?

As for this "advantage" being an advantage even if the clubs moved to Franchising how does that work?

Franchises or Licenses are often awarded on points for criteria like finances, facilities & junior development, so since when has [i "Currently in Superleague"[/i been a points scorer??. It's a fair question to ask of you or your little mate if he agrees with you . In any licensing or franchising system why should "already in Superleague" score any points?

Just answer the question guys, no need to start having a go at the questioner. It's a discussion site, not a coconut shy

We used to have a 14-team league but it was scrapped in favour of a 12-team one. I'm not sure what has changed since then to justify going back to 14. In 2-3 years time everyone will probably want to go back to 12 again. RL fans seem to suffer from chronic 'grass is greener' syndrome.

https://inews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/ ... rfl-741881

https://inews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/ ... rfl-741881

What is due to change is the SKY funding as kindly noted above by Mr. Dog, Lenegan warned of this and now we are going through the negotiations it's apparent that the likelyhood isn't 14 but far more likely 10.......That was openly proposed and voted down a year or more back.

I wonder how the so called expansionists are going to be able to fit Les Catalans, Ottawa, Toronto and Toulouse into a 10 club Superleague?

Anyone??

Although not in favour prepare for the word merger to appear again to accommodate expansion and maintain funding levels

Lenagan got a sinecure for one of his football friends,Elstone.

Lenagan assured all who would listen that Super League would be far superior than the RFL on the ' Commercial '
side.

Yep.It seems to be going really well.

Around the time Lenagan was holding court,the attendances for Wigan were declining and he took his club to Australia for a fixture which lost money.

Elstone has been not only well remunerated ,but staff have been removed from the RFL to join his coterie.

Lenagan has been quoted,Ithought you would know,that Elstone has one task,and that is to get a better broadcast deal than the previous one.The clock appears to be ticking...

I believe it was referred to as a power grab...

The only reason for increasing to 14 clubs, aside from allowing a "balanced" fixture program, would be to accommodate some additional overseas clubs.
If funding is indeed to be slashed, in line with the article quoted, it could well be that SL looks to cut its numbers.
However, more importantly, the lower leagues would suffer to a greater extent.

Time for Mr Elstone to earn his wages

That is going to be one very tough assignment.

Quote ="MorePlaymakersNeeded"That is going to be one very tough assignment.'" https://www.totalrl.com/ian-lenagan-qa- ... s-toronto/ Been working on it for ages.Lots of hard work behind the scenes! Seems to have put a little attention in the direction of Toronto - while M62 clubs cannot make kick off times. Won't be any action taken,though. The club involved isn't Salford;or an expansion club.

Quote ="MorePlaymakersNeeded"That is going to be one very tough assignment.'" https://www.totalrl.com/ian-lenagan-qa- ... s-toronto/ Been working on it for ages.Lots of hard work behind the scenes! Seems to have put a little attention in the direction of Toronto - while M62 clubs cannot make kick off times. Won't be any action taken,though. The club involved isn't Salford;or an expansion club.

In terms of [i"some overseas clubs"[/i who are you thinking of? And when they are accommodated how does the reduced TV deal work with an increased number of clubs?

Not having a dig at you, just generally pointing out expansion isn't the expansion of travel distances between a greater number of clubs, expansion is a bigger professional player pool and a bigger level of TV and commercial income.

Haven't read the Lenegan article in full yet, I wonder if he expands on his "World League" which he spoke about when he was in Australia with Wigan & Hull, accommodating Perth as the NRL won't have them?

That's the one. Still waiting for the "Birth of Perth" in the Superleague.

This discussion is supposed to be about the merits of expanding the comp to 14 clubs.

Did you not read my post ?

Here is the important bit, just for you: "If funding is indeed to be slashed, in line with the article quoted, it could well be that SL looks to cut its numbers".

As for overseas clubs, I would suggest that Toulouse would be a far better addition to SL than any of the N. American clubs.
Primarily, in terms of their geographical location and ease / cost of getting there for clubs and fans alike.
A French club derby, would certainly be quite spicy and a match for our "famous" derby games.
As a RL fan, I'd gladly pay to go over and watch Catalan v Toulouse in a SL match up.

Having already attended games in both Perpignan and Toulouse, it would be a cracking event (at either stadium, although Toulouse would need to use their RU neighbours ground for this on as their capacity is too small for the "bigger" games