Significantly outweighs the Metrel deal in actual terms or because the Metrel deal was worth diddly squat as it was signed by someone without the authority to do so and Metrel were doing ebverything they could to get out of it???

Nice spin from you though, are you Richard Wright???

He's like Wrighty's love child - so far beyond any reality it beggars belief!

Just skimming through this thread, it has just hit home what a sorry state our great sport is in when the axe hangs above some great RL clubs. The axe is brandished by a faceless bunch of unelected administrators who continue to bail out 'experimental' clubs, but don't think twice about condeming more traditional clubs to a slow death.

I am not against 'expansion', but am against flogging dead horses at the expense of other, more worthy causes.

If the RFL go by their silly criteria to the letter, then Crusaders would be first for the drop, followed by Quins. Both will still be in SL in 2012 and that, for me, sums up how scandalous the sport has become.

I find it slightly sad and disturbing that RL clubs have to bow and scrape to these faceless people. Scratting around to prove the worthiness of their clubs and jumping into decisions to try and secure their SL future. Press releases about Stadia, season ticket sales ..... many of which have huge negative financial implications to the clubs concerned.

The next 12 months is going to be really interesting - but also a real crossroads for at least 1 club currently in the top flight. At least 3 years in the Championship for the deposed club may well spell the end. Back to part-time. No more Sky millions. Far less TV coverage. Crowds will fall. Sponsorship's will reduce. And if the unlucky clubs' proposed new stadium does actually get built, a white elephant that cannot be sustained.

Off the field, the sport and its' decisions is a laughing stock. Unfortunatly the joke is on all of us.

:yawn:

Also Ferguson, Hyde, Davey, Morton, and Wildie all played SL last year.

With time to go Crusaders or Quins could well financially go under there by making the decison an easy, if nit enjoyable, one for the RFL.

If by some miracle they both keep their heads above water then it wil be Wakey or Salford.

Absolutely no chance.It will be between Wakefield and Cas.Salford have a huge catchment area to tap into,so much so that an average 4500 RL mad Manchester people have flocked to the Willows in the first two years of licencsing.

There are no RL teams in Manchester, and it's played in relatively few schools (and only then thanks to the efforts of Salford), so it's not true to say Manchester is part of the 'heartlands'.

Yep, huge catchment area, unfortunately, all soccer fans.

This new stadium malarkey is a total red herring, football is king.

People forget that fans are fickle, I know they shouldn't be but they are, salford havn't won or even finished in the top half of the top league since the 70s and you wonder why the manchester public arn't interested? Take sale sharks for example, They used to get 3000 max at their old ground, When they moved to their current stadium in stockport "manchester" and with more money started to climb up the table the fans flocked in.
Lets see what happens with salford at our new stadium with more money and new raw fans? There's no reason we can't do what hull and wire have done?

3/4 of the stadium has been rebuilt since 1993. Only the West Stand remains, which is still in better condition that the seating at the most RL stadia.

I would hardly say "flocked" don't they avg around 6,500?

Maybe now their down near the bottom of the table, But when they were finishing 4th to 1st they sold out every game. I think around 10500 a game and when you think their max was 2000/3000 before i would say they did flock in!

Quote ="Fully"Not being selective at all - the full list of areas are: Section A: Cas have just announced a massive sponsorship with Probiz which significantly outweighs the Metrel we agreed earlier, which was one of the highest in SL, if I remember correctly. In addition to this, we've agreed a deal with Fujitsu, Wish Communications (Vodafone), Aqumen Recruitment and a number of local partnerships. The club is constantly trying to maximise the financial side of things and the RFL will be looking for clubs who can maximise their incomes and increase their competitivity and playing strength through this. In terms of marketing and media, we always publicise events and send out regular press releases and our community involvement is top notch. In terms of your Community involvement, the RFL had this say to say at the last round of licences: www.therfl.co.uk/licensing/super_league Facilities is the area we both fall down at the moment so is a pointless discussion as we're all square on that. Finance, I don't know the ins and outs of but we made a small profit last year and are reasonably well run, which is something that I note the RFL picked up on and with the improvement in sponsorships above and things, I can see that being the same again. Unsure on D as I'm not sure on what aspects it covers. E) We have been the more consistent side and playing strength is reasonable and I think we've got the better squad on paper this season and we'll see how things pan out over first months of new season. We also have a better record of bringing through youth in the licensing period. The only few that have made strides in your first team are Ferguson and Morton although I recognise that there are a couple of others who have played the odd game. Compare to that our squad who we have Richie Owen, Adam Milner, Jon Walker, Joe Arundel, Jordan Thompson, Oli Holmes, John Davies all played games in SL. We've just promoted Sam Orange, Daryl Clark and Billy Harris into the first team squad and we're fulfilling the aims of the licensing system. We've also significantly reduced down our quota players and overseas players and we are one of the best sides in SL for that. We also have a better average attendance but I'm not sure which category this falls into above. Not sure on ST sales. I think I've just summarised several reasons that justify why Cas are better than Wakefield.'" This is what they thought of Castlefords Application last time round. Whilst well maintained, the ground is limited and old fashioned. However, the club recognise this and has relatively advanced plans for a new stadium. Financial projections are based on the new ground, although there is evidence of a Plan B. The club is well managed financially with limited external borrowings and/or shareholder funds. The club has produced a holistic commercial plan, has a record of commercial achievement and achieves strong support even when relegated. The club’s reasonable playing infrastructure has been hurt by the yo-yo-ing between Super League and National League. The club has maintained youth pathways but has not always been able to secure the best local talent. If i was looking at the applications i would say nothing has happened in the time you have had until the last minute. Basically you Blagged it last time and would not be getting away with it again at the expense of Championship teams that have done what has been asked !!! ( Widnes, Fax )

Quote ="Fully"Not being selective at all - the full list of areas are: Section A: Cas have just announced a massive sponsorship with Probiz which significantly outweighs the Metrel we agreed earlier, which was one of the highest in SL, if I remember correctly. In addition to this, we've agreed a deal with Fujitsu, Wish Communications (Vodafone), Aqumen Recruitment and a number of local partnerships. The club is constantly trying to maximise the financial side of things and the RFL will be looking for clubs who can maximise their incomes and increase their competitivity and playing strength through this. In terms of marketing and media, we always publicise events and send out regular press releases and our community involvement is top notch. In terms of your Community involvement, the RFL had this say to say at the last round of licences: www.therfl.co.uk/licensing/super_league Facilities is the area we both fall down at the moment so is a pointless discussion as we're all square on that. Finance, I don't know the ins and outs of but we made a small profit last year and are reasonably well run, which is something that I note the RFL picked up on and with the improvement in sponsorships above and things, I can see that being the same again. Unsure on D as I'm not sure on what aspects it covers. E) We have been the more consistent side and playing strength is reasonable and I think we've got the better squad on paper this season and we'll see how things pan out over first months of new season. We also have a better record of bringing through youth in the licensing period. The only few that have made strides in your first team are Ferguson and Morton although I recognise that there are a couple of others who have played the odd game. Compare to that our squad who we have Richie Owen, Adam Milner, Jon Walker, Joe Arundel, Jordan Thompson, Oli Holmes, John Davies all played games in SL. We've just promoted Sam Orange, Daryl Clark and Billy Harris into the first team squad and we're fulfilling the aims of the licensing system. We've also significantly reduced down our quota players and overseas players and we are one of the best sides in SL for that. We also have a better average attendance but I'm not sure which category this falls into above. Not sure on ST sales. I think I've just summarised several reasons that justify why Cas are better than Wakefield.'" This is what they thought of Castlefords Application last time round. Whilst well maintained, the ground is limited and old fashioned. However, the club recognise this and has relatively advanced plans for a new stadium. Financial projections are based on the new ground, although there is evidence of a Plan B. The club is well managed financially with limited external borrowings and/or shareholder funds. The club has produced a holistic commercial plan, has a record of commercial achievement and achieves strong support even when relegated. The club’s reasonable playing infrastructure has been hurt by the yo-yo-ing between Super League and National League. The club has maintained youth pathways but has not always been able to secure the best local talent. If i was looking at the applications i would say nothing has happened in the time you have had until the last minute. Basically you Blagged it last time and would not be getting away with it again at the expense of Championship teams that have done what has been asked !!! ( Widnes, Fax )

i was at barnsley earlier this year and it would compare very highly against any super league ground,although not has new or has big has say the k.c galpharm or the dw its facilitys would be equal. 3 sides of the stadium have practically been re-built and offers everything modern stadia should whilst still having a traditional look.the night i was there were 22k in the ground and the atmosphere was electric.

Wakefield out Widnes in nailed on really. The 2015 License will be more interesting.

Forget Wakefield. Kick Castleford out. It's for the good of the game and they will understand.

Flock - as in Sheep ?

there's alot more work going into developing awareness of RL in Trafford / Stockport & Manchester . but there is a good few years before we would see genuine support/ or players arising from this investment.

Success ( [ias in winning more than we lose ,[/i) or reaching a cup final( [i one that dosen't involve relegation first [/i) and playing attractive rugby would be more of a pull , and I believe winning back lapsed support would come before developing new.

Must have imagined 2006 then...

whatever the criteria for SL application regarding TO,anyone who's been there will know it is totally unsuitable as a SL venue - plans are now being looked at to develop the stadium (for 2014 application IMO) but there are other stadia available which could handle SL in the area a) Stade Toulousain where the France v NZ international successfully took place in 2009 or b) the stadium at Blagnac,near the airport used occasionally in the past for TO games where larger crowds were anticipated ie TO v Widnes in 2009

I knew someone would say that. When i say finish in the top half i don't mean being a one year top six fringe team then rubbish next, i mean like the 70s team that challenged every year for tropies and fnished in the top 4 regular.
Until we get to that position or even a regular play off place we won't see the manchester population interested in RL.

Hmmmmmm.



Only one man could hate Cas this much. Let me think. 2 National League 1 grand finals and against Cas and 2 humiliating defeats.....

You are Steve McCormack and I claim my £5.

I'd suggest you grow up. I had you down as better than that.

Probiz are not just sponsoring the shirt but a load of other aspects as well. I have no idea what has changed between Metrel and Probiz so I can only comment on the two separate deals.

Don't overreact. I don't hate Castleford. I'm just thinking about the good of the game in the future. Surely you can understand getting rid of Castleford is the best for the long term growth of the game.

Don't be bitter about it.