Of the five

Batley : have said thanks but no thanks

Barrow : Dont waste your ink

Widnes : League average attendance 2717 just scrape in

Halifax : League average attendance 2473 just scrape out

Featherstone : League average attendance 1929 well down

So it would seem to be a two horse race with the Chemics a big nose in front as Fax dont meet one of the main criteria.

Our average attendance was 3021 over the season not 2717. Halifax scraped over by some interesting methods on the last day with 2508 or thereabouts.

Correct the Widnes average gate was 3021

As for the content of the application?

Fax no yoof
Widnes have more kiddies than a kindergarten, crap on the field of play but all collected up by nappies.
Fax no money, but oodles of success on t'pitch and are consistent top 3 finishers
Widnes have the Banque d'Connor.
Widnes also close to expansion area (North Wales)


Fax no professional back office - This year, akin to Billy Smart Ltd
Widnes have built themselves a purpose built Sky Box for £20 gees
Paul Cullen has SL experience (i'm really clutching straws now).

Go Vikings.

Has to be Widnes , any club that can turn a million pound loss in one season to a million pound profit the following season on virtually identical attendances will be contesting the WCC inside 3 years

Can't see how any of those clubs offer anything more than the existing bunch. A complete farce, the game is a joke.

The only club who can possibly replace any side would be Widnes. And even then, I thought the game was supposed to be based on on-field ability?

Yes because all the clubs are thriving in SL at the moment aren't they, quins almost went this year.

I think we'll add to SL given the chance.

I stand corrected, 3020.5 it is bloody calculators never trust em, just means you are a long long nose infront of Fax and will still get the gig.

Way way down the list of good reasons to be an RL club these days esp Sooooooperdoooooper league.

Pretty seats are far far more important.

Followed by a YOOF development system that isn't helped by all the "grandma had a british passport" signings.

But you pay yer money.................

Playing by the RFL's hymn book, I think Widnes are the best equipped side to make an impact in 2012 and beyond.

I agree

It's just that on the field they will be pants, but that is now irrelevant!

Probably, at least for the first season. However we have an abundance of young talent and I think a fair share of them could break into a SL first team picture. If so, we'd have a cap freed up for some more established talent.

The other difference is that the Championship team elected to SL next year will have uber time to prepare. Importantly, they'll have a fair crack of the whip when it comes to recruitment. IIRC the last team to have this was Widnes in 2001, before the NFP GF was moved to October.

Good Luck Widnes.
Look forward to some good battles and healthy attendances in the near future, which is what it's all about.

This coming from a quins fan.

Which cave have you been living in?

Just wait til one team gets the nod in March and there is then 3 months til the relegated team is announced. Banter a plenty.

For what it's worth, it is a shame that the on field performance is almost secondary, however Widnes knew this was the case 18 months ago and have therefore prepared accordingly. I don't really think anyone else has.

Lets face it Widnes are nailed on if only to even the Yorks V Lancs numbers.
Some of the struggling teams are nailed on certs for the franchise which is the farcical part.

fax are no chance.

Got to be Widnes. Especially with the backing they have, they have a lot to offer SL in my opinion. Hopefully they will end up as strong as Warrington, with a big fan base and good side. They are traditionally as big a club as Wire so I think that should be their aim.

Well done for missing the point.

But yes, I suppose Rugby League really needs a team in Widnes to boost its national credibility and expand the game. No, really.

Couldnt agree more Jonny, they are nailed on and rightly so.

Sadly I believe they are nailed on but I do not see why they should be given a chance at the expense of Wakefield/Castleford etc. I'm not anti-Widnes, just anti-this-whole-process, it doesn't make any sense.

I'm not the one missing the point. You are missing the supposed point about franchising. It is not solely or even largely about spreading the game. It's supposedly about having the strongest top flight. Consigning teams to the second tier forever to protect clubs like Cas and Wakey is absolutely nonsensical. This idea that the only way up is through dead mans shoes, or being some sort of expansion team means stagnation throughout the leagues.

So it isn't me who missed the point.