IF I had 25k to invest in one yes but I haven't . there are no issues licence wise as I already have my own operators licence it is just the set up costs tbh or I would have done that by now .
Nice to hear off someone with a sensible view though

Just been reading the Widnes board.

Look's like Dalton is about to slit his wrists.............

Yes I got the impression he was a little bit upset by the decision!

I feel for them and wanted them to make a return. Nonetheless, the topic that 'kindly requests no posts from Celtic fans' is the best. What a topic name that is!

I think this is a sad day in that Widnes were not admitted.

They have a good stadium and a strong fan base (OK current team is gash). Financially it would be better for us, Saints and Wigan as we all would have big crowd derbies. We do not with Salford or CC.

I do not expect CC to be around in 3 years time.

These things happen.

But to hope that Rugby League dies? That's a pathetic statement in itself.

Jeez, anyone would think the world has just ended.

I can understand them being frustrated but some of their comments are a bit over the top.

They must have known that the position they found themselves in at the end of last season they would be unlikely to be successful in their application

Interesting statement, may I ask why?

Yes you may.

All previous attempts at establishing RL in South Wales have been failures.

The fan base there is for Union and it will be for ever.

I expect Cetic to go the same way as Cardiff last time and all other incarnations.

Like it or not RL in the UK is primarily centred around the M62.

Edited for contemplation

Sorry if its been mentioned, But will the play-offs still consist of 6 teams?

Fair enough, but...

Before Catalan (who are a massive success) there have been a few French teams who have failed.

Personally, I think it is RU strongholds that need assaulting. The fans down there already prefer rugby to football. We just need to show them how dull their game is in contrast to ours.

Of course the game is centred around the M62, the northern union and all that - but we have seen London/Quins up until recently perform reasonably well. As I have mentioned, Les Cats are a runaway success at the mo and Wales is a massive untapped area also.

I can see your point though, I would have thought Widnes had a stronger bid than them, even without the expansion policy.

One of the main reasons that Catalan have been a success so far is that apparently they were told 18 months before they made their debut in the top flight that they were going to be included in SL so they had time to get quite a few things in place, also another reason they have been successful is because the area where they play is a rugby league area.

Celtic only have about 7 months to put together a SL coaching set up, a SL squad of players which isn`t going to be easy as they will probably end up with either reserve grade aussies, players coming to the end of their careers or journey men that have been around the block a few times with a bt of SL experience.

My own opinion is that they shouldn`t have been granted a licence this time round, i`m all for expansion but they havn`t proven so far that they can attract the crowds, they have a ground that the RFL have said they are trying to get away from, also they are from an area where rugby union is the main game and so far the crowds havn`t appeared or shown much interest in RL down that way.

Widnes with a decent team on the pitch have a far better chance to pull in decent sized crowds and offer more to the competition than Celtic do, personally i would be very suprised if Celtic are a force of any kind in 3 years time or if they are still in business, its going to be very hard for them to develop any home grown talent of any kind in a rugby union area.

If they wanted to keep their subscribers surely they would stick with the so called 'bigger clubs' like Widnes and Leigh as its those fans who are canceling their sky.

Mate, you have a top 6 SL side to support, me and dalt (and several others) are having to face another three years of game with Batley, featherstone and the like. Compare that with saints, Wigan, Leeds bulls week in - week out. Just be grateful wire are a very well run club with loads of fans. Within 3 years Widnes will be playing in front of under 2000.
And with regard to 'rl dying' I have no opinion, but I think the way Widnes have now been shafted (by the rfl & our own directors in the past) I think we as fans reserve the right to have apathy towards the powers that be.

it's a shame the Widnes fans seem to be blaming Celtic.

The RFL are solely to blame for letting inferior teams in ahead of Widnes

True but its only natural really I guess.

They should send Richard Lewis a 3-eyed fish in the post in an attempt to display their anger..

Sorry matey but the RFL cannot take any portion of the blame for mismanagement from Stephen Vaughan at Widnes when you looked to him as a saviour & he looked to you as a plaything. OK you have been hard done by twice in the creation of SL & the expansion to include Catalans, but to pull out the sour grapes when your own board has not (on more than one occassion) run the club on a sound financial footing is casting aspersions somewhat.

Fine be depressed. Be apathetic if you want but also be realistic that in 3 years time when the next group of franchises are announced you should be in a strong position to mount an accepted bid for SL status. This is the time when Widnes need their true fans to turn out - the ones who will take the trips to Featherstone, to Batley & to Workington. Not the ones who throw their satelite systems out while watching videos of "when we were good"...

SALFORD.

I was actually thinking about current SL teams who were a fair bit behind Widnes in their application

I'm thinking teams that include players such as Fat Sculthorpe and Ned-how the hell have I made a career in RL-Catic?

Salfords, be in the new stadium in 2010, tap into the massive fan base that is Manchester, does any one really think these will happen....Salford have pulled a blinder here.

Not much promise when you're on the doorstep of Football's recent Champions League winner is there?

That's 1 of the 2.

The second aren't a great distance from them