Just a shame you didn't tell them back then that you stealing money from them. Maybe they would have tried less.

So they were working illegally in the country and were from abroad....sounds like illegal immigrants to me

What's a Widnes "tradition"?

Isn't that (not necessarily the same teams) what is supposed to happen, one team kicked out and one promoted based on the franchise applications and then next round of franchises in 2015?

What? The single way RL can compete with other UK Sports is to replace a team that notionally represents the RL aspirations (such as they may be) of a whole country, with a small championship club of dodgy recent financial history, limited recent achievement and very limited interest even to its own town? [iThat[/i would do the trick? That would make us competitive with other sports in the UK?

I mean, I like Widnes and sadly am old enough to recall when they were a power in the game, but really!? How do you work that out, then?

Maybe another compromise could be with SL going to 15 clubs and licences renewed in 2015. A new TV deal will have to be reached for 2012 onwards and a 15 club league could offer a lot more than 14.
Widnes in and no one out.

Why does it have to be Widnes?

Ok this is not meant to be a dig at all at Widnes, but funny old thing about a year ago when the Welsh up sticks and shoved 2 fingers up to there supporters in South Wales, it seemed blatantly obvious to me that they might as well start calling them the widnes crusaders from then on!

Back to the original post, the story was going to be reported "tomorrow", which presumably meant today. Is there any sign of it other than on this reliable source of rumour?

Nope! When does YEP get released online and in shops?

As soon as a journalist has had chance to read this and write an article based on these daft rumours.

Might be worth pointing out that, according to [url=http://viewtopic.php?f=16&t=476343this[/url the primary source for this rumour appears to be the 606 forums.

However, aren't the RFL due to make a statement on the Crusaders situation 'early' this week?

The talent pool of players is struggling to satisfy the demand of 14 elite level clubs. It certainly can't cope with 15.

ok, i havent read all of this thread so no doubt somebody has alreday pointed this out, but i wanted to be sure before peoples heads explode. this was not reported on the BBC website, it was spouted on a bbc sport message board. and think about it, it simply cannot be true. there really would be a revolution. and lets face it, the RFL simply dont have the balls, they no full well that contract waiving right to contest franchise decisions or not, widnes and barrow and no doubt others would definately take legal action, what would they do then? suspend the memberships of half the championship clubs? and over a case the RFL could not possibly win anyway? i very much doubt it.

No questions it should be Widnes in SL.We have the best fan base in the Championship and will treble once get a licence.We have the money,youth and stadium.Then we can sign players like benji marshall,lockyer etc.

this is the best post for humour i have ever seen on here.well done to who ever started this.only one problem

its not april fools day, come on folks get a grip.

To be fair to the smellies - with regard to their previous sojourn in SL, Widnes had gained their place in the top flight on merit - by winning promotion via the NFP Grand Final (although everyone knew who was by far the best team in that division in 2001!!

). They hadn't been gifted a place at the behest of the expansionist dream!!

Headhunter was being sarcastic. He hates Widnes for some reason I don't care about.

Which two teams played out the Co-op Final before licening took hold.

Oh it was Salford and Crusaders.

there is no need to do anything as controversial as this at the current time - in a few months they can pick and choose the teams they want in the league without breaking any agreements.

But they had already been given a franchise by that point

....and they were playing with 6 illegal immigrants

Spending grossly beyond their means in search of short term success and then going belly-up.

Sorry I didn't realise we were still in 2007.