[urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/23477/super-league-licensing-summaries-published[/url

[iHalifax RLFC submitted an application with insufficient detail in their marketing, media or commercial plans. The club business plan was inadequate, figures presented by the club as the budget and performance forecasts for the 2012-14 Licence period were speculative and the club did not provide sufficient information for KPMG to complete their assessment procedures. Whilst the club has an excellent community program, a good facility and has recently strengthened its Board and player performance system, the club fell below the standards expected of a Super League club. [/i

should shut up a few of the Halifax whingers at least.

Yes. A vague paragraph released nearly 2 months after the decision was made, should put their worries to bed.

Budgets and performance predictions were speculative?
That is statement of the obvious, not a reason to criticise them, surely.

Someone fails to understand the difference between estimation and speculation.

Quite a stern warning for salford i thought.

I think it may have been a polite way of saying "pie in the sky" and "not stacking up."

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