The only 'clear path' open to those teams is some oil sheik buying them up - how 'fair' or likely is that? I would argue the Championship clubs have more likelihood of getting to the top level in RL than those soccer clubs have.

And as for Notts County, I've seen stronger foundations in, er something sandy!

and something that seems to be happening more and more in Football

Can't see some billionaire snapping up Fev though.

That's the whole point , because of their location no serious business investor is ever going to look at a Championship club other than an expansion club

Eh? What is so good about Notts Countys location?

Nothing , good or bad , if you win the games you go up

They were bought because the buyers thought they were getting Newcastle.

Perhaps if Leigh started playing in cherry and white hoops and calling themselves the Warriors, they would be bought?

Then what? Lose your players, buy new ones and go back down, then bust?

I honestly think this is a Northern thing - in general Northerners seem less open to change and new ideas.

When the oil runs out, they'll come back to Fev for t'coal. Bentley garages will be popping up everywhere in Fev come 2035.

Or stay down and go bust , what an exciting inspiring future you paint

Anyway we have a thread drift here , so to get back on thread , I'll be in the north stand on saturday in a GB shirt if anybody wants a chat

But the possibilities are still there. Who'd have thought that the Premier League would have the likes of Fulham, Portsmouth, Hull, Wigan, even Bolton and Blackburn, playing in it? It's the right of a sports fan in this country to dream of making it to the top, but with the disjointed manner of rugby league in this country, people [ido[/i feel disenchanted, like it or not.

This is taking this wildly off topic anyroad. I wish people would just forget about the 'bigger picture' for once and concentrate on what a tremendous 80 minutes of rugby league we're going to see, hopefully culminating in a famous England victory amidst a corkin' atmosphere.

I think its pretty safe to say that Wigan is now a football town, evident by the game at the DV whelan football stadium not being sold out.

Is it time to move it to somewhere like the HJ stadium until Saints stadium is ready?

Given that the last time I went watching England/GB verses Australia I witnessed 2 Warrington fans assaulting an Aussie fan after the game

NO

Oh ok, given that I once saw a few leigh fans beating up a saints fan, I wont go to Leigh in the future either

I can hear the Leigh church bells from here.

Warrington is more of a wendyball area anyway, being halfway between Liverpool and Manchester will do that unfortunatley.

Its in Wigan one of the most recognised places in RL, and Warrington is supposed to be a better Rugby area?

I f Wigan is a football town how come they cant fill their stadium even when the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool come to town?

Back on topic and well said Leyther Matt, lets hope we at leat give them a game on Saturday, COME ON ENGLAND!

I'm sure you've seen lots of other clubs fans beating up saints fans in years gone bye , and Saints fans doing the same

In recent years have you seen any trouble at a RL match between Austarlia/NZ/GB ?

Yes. I've seen thirteen grown men wearing green and gold totally bitch slapping and bullying thirteen little kids wearing their lovely white kits. It was horrific. I never want to see that again.

You can't exactly call last years squad kids.

Unless you can see into the future about what will happen on Saturday.

Or this was a genuine incident, in which case I am an ar$e.

So am I.
I'll look out for a 60 something with a tache and a flatcap

With a carnation in his lapel? Whatever your in to mate

With the exception of Wigan & Hull, all those sides [iwere[/i 'big' (or at least famous) teams when I was a soccer fan. Burnley were in the first division when Man U were in the second (IIRC).

Association football took the steps to develop in the 1890's/early 1900's...unfortunately RL has to do it today.