Having read those summaries, they seem fair. Indeed, I am not sure why a consultancy firm had to be paid - even without access to the clubs' business plans any follower of the game could have pretty much written those comments based on what they see when they visit the grounds and from the attitudes of club managements.

spec·u·la·tiveadjective /ˈspekyəˌlātiv/  /-lətiv/ 


1.Engaged in, expressing, or based on conjecture rather than knowledge
- discussion of the question is largely speculative


2.(of an investment) Involving a high risk of loss

Hardly bloody vague matey, they ripped the application to shreads.

Hopefully it will lay the claims to rest from certain Wakefield posters that they had a better application than Cas.

I'd love to know who these international players Warrington have produced are.

It hasn't.

Of course it's vague.

There's no detail as to why marketing, media & commercial plans were insufficient, or why the business plan was inadequate. They're pretty much general negative statements that could be applied to any club they wanted to keep out.

Grade C = the club fell below the standards expected of a Super League club
plenty of those about unfortunately

You do understand the concept of a summary, don't you?

Bear in mind your own club was part of the decision to keep the RFLs full feedback "commercial in confidence" and therefore keep it out of the public arena.

These are the public summaries.

The full reports to each club were highly detailed and specific.

I am aware of a summary yes. You are aware that I wasn't calling for the full detail aren't you? I was merely responding to EHW about [i'shutting up the 'Fax fans.'[/i The summary tells us very little.

You are also aware that my own club was not [i'part of the decision to keep the RFLs full feedback "commercial in confidence" and therefore keep it out of the public arena'[/i, are you not?

I'm sure they were.

Did KPMG study Celtic Crusaders bid the last time round? Did they study Wakefields? Both went bust during the license period. Their bids may have been presented nicely but they were obviously flawed because they we both financially knackered.

The Halifax club should hopefully be in possession of a more detailed feedback from the RFL so that they can put in a "proper" bid next time or decide that it's unable to put in such a bid and withdraw from the process.

Halifax = Shafted

Not really. You have to be able to demonstrate that you can offer more than a current club. I don't think that happened. As you will agree, we need a backer and a substantial increase in attendances.

Surprised that the RFL didn't advise Halifax to
withdraw their bid if it was as bad as it is suggested. Why keep them in the process if they had it since Christmas?

The Castleford summary reads along the same lines as Bradford and Hull KR so are Cas a C+ and Bradford and Hull KR a B-?

No real shocks. They all seem reasonable. Would have liked to see the Crusaders one though.

Quins: [iThe club faces a number of challenges, including location and brand but is developing detailed plans to meet these challenges and grow attendances, profile and revenues[/i

So they haven't got plans in palce, they are still developing them? Well that inspires confidence! Where they judged on the plans that will be developed one day but not quite ready yet?

No, because as the RFL point out, that would be "speculative" and unacceptable

Just looking at the 'C' grade licences (as they're the ones in danger next time out, or earlier IF you believe what's been reportedly said):
Cas and Wakey need to get into their new grounds.
Quins effectively got in because we're in London, and there are worries about being dependent on David Hughes' largesse.
Salford must deliver on their projections for increased just about everything with the new ground - RFL seem to be a bit bothered about their application.
Widnes are a case of seeing what happens now they're in SL, but should be OK.
Halifax have already been torn to pieces earlier in this thread so I'll say no more [size=50other than when did your chairman think the RFL were born?[/size

What I don’t understand is why Halifax didn’t contract somebody to write a decent submission for them. They have the appropriate facilities, playing strength and community programmes, surely these are the elements that take time to develop and yet the business plan and commercial element which would require some decent forecasting and budget work is a professional skill that can be bought into the organisation. If KPMG are doing the assessment, why didn’t Halifax bring Deloitte or PWC in to write the submission – surely a minimum of 3 years of Super league revenue would be worth the investment

Not sure but Leighton Samuels and Ted Richardson knew they [iwere[/i born yesterday in 2009.

A lesson to be learnt there for sure. Forget the helicopter - get the basics right.

Halifax had plenty of warning their bid needed work when they got knocked back in favour of Widnes. At that point they should have indeed got a 3rd party in to review their presentation.

In terms of process, letting Halifax in was too soon for Fax IMO

Why is Huddersfield's objective to "become the best Super League club in Yorkshire"? Surely everyone's objective should be to become the best SL club in SL.

Because by being in Yorkshire they're better than all non Yorkshire clubs already.