[urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/may/19/andy-burnham-super-league[/url

Interesting timing. Putting party affiliations and personal views on MPs generally to one side, Burnham is a very high-profile politician and this sort of intervention has the potential to bring the debate out into the open and off the message boards, where discussion usually descends into self-interest. I had no idea his son was involved with one of the amateur clubs, but then again, why shouldn't he be?

If the money was evened out a bit more instead of SL taking the lions share would ensure we were better positioned to advance,no wonder the bridge is too far for us to step over.I can remember the MP from near Huddersfield speaking out against the RFL a couple of years back and I would like to see an investgation into the goverance of the game . I have seen many people walk away from the game because they do not agree with the RFL view on Franchising so it`s time to let them know how we all feel.
What I don`t get is how do the RFL get grants from people like Sport England when they are not inclusive as they invite clubs into Super League on geographical terms. They are kept in regardless of how they are run or how much support they get whilst heartland clubs who helped to start the game do not get the same help.

Who was the chairman of SE ?

What did Hudds average crowd wise in their year below SL?
What did Salford average in their first year below SL?

Leighs gates in SL were not the worst, and considering the fiasco with the ground, the coach, the recruitment, the conversion from PT to FT in a few weeks, two down that year and being rightly written off by all and sundry that wasn't a bad effort.

Widnes were the last PT team to get promoted - GF was in July/first few days in August? - giving them 2/3 more months to prepare and they stayed up for 4 seasons until 2 dropped down to accomodate Catalans

If we went back to straight P&R we need our GF in July - followed by the NRC in August/September. My preference to engage all capable and ambitious clubs at present is two tens. It increases intensity at the top to create a real 'Super' Super League and allows a platform for clubs to grow in a FT culture at a level more even than straight into the current SL. P&R within the system with entry/growth criteria every 2 years.

What folk miss is that the closed shop only really effects Leigh, Fev and Fax at present. Sheffield don't have the fan base yet, and Barrow/Oldham/Doncaster are off the mark at present.

Can't really argue with that!!





All it needs then is to get the greedy current Sooper Dooper League clubs to divvy up the SKY money between 20 clubs, rather thann the ten they seem to want to give it to! (I'd love to see how the voting would go amongst SL clubs if they did opt to go down to ten! There must be 7/8 of them who could be in the running for the unlucky four!)

It can be financed from existing resource. Cats shouldn't get any, they should be looking for a French TV deal, that leaves about £700k per club in 2nd tier from the 4 down plus cats and the RFL £90k's. That should run a £1m cap in tier2 and make the transition to/from tier 1 achievable. 27 games then play offs, Game 1- 1v2, winner to final. Game 2 - 3 v 4, loser out winner away to loser of game 1 for place in final.Winner promoted to top tier.