We knew the rules (whether I agree with them is another matter) before the season kicked off we finished in a relegation spot.

You or anyone else has still not give me a reply as to why we should be automatically re-instated unless as I've said 2009 isn't over. Don't get me wrong I as much as anyone else would be happy.

because and only if this is the case they are deducted 9 points for last season, in which case we didnt finish in a relegation place

Then I agree but like Fred I thought the season finished after the GF and therefore any penalty for offences after that must take place in the current season which in this case is 2010.

like I said the presedence was set after Widnes went bust the points were deducted the season after, and the 'timeline' re gateshead is similiar.

Whilst I agree with P&R and abiding by the rules if a non relegated club cannot viably operate in the Championship next season what can the RFL do ?

Seems pretty obvious to me and an 11 club Championship 1 and a 10 club Championship with 2 relegated after next season is laughable isn,t it ?

Provided Gateshead and Oldham start next season Leigh in the Championship is the only sensible alternative.

RFL and Gateshead in meeting all day today apparently. I would imagine that RFL will mostly do what Gateshead want. RFL will need to deduct some points.

I doubt Thunder will want to start in Champ next season 19/10 points down with a whole season to go with a poor team and a probable relegation at the end of it. Not great for marketing.

I'm sure they would prefer starting the year in Champ 1 with no points deduction and a poor side which could compete better.

If that is the case then the points would have to be deducted from the current/just gone season so Leigh would not finish in a relegation spot and should stay up.

But ultimately the RFL and Gateshead will find a solution which suits them both best. Leigh may benefit. I hope so but will not be holding my breath.

But Widnes stopped another team getting to GF not long back. They just got 9 point deduction. If they get 9 point deduction then its consistent tbf.

But you would think Gateshead would prefer to start in C1 instead anyway and get some momentum back, and build that way if they have no dosh.

Why is Leigh the only sensible alternative? If it's just to make up the numbers why not draw out of hat?

Glow

I think we are getting bogged down in semantics here. Whether its automatic or not, many of us believe that the best solution all around is for Leigh to stay in or be asked to take a place in the Championship. We are of course very biased!

Even if you argue that we were relegated fair and square and deserved to go down, how you can compare us to Oldham (who are on the verge of going bankrupt themselves) is very odd indeed. I honestly cannot see anyone coming close to us.

Having said that I think the RFL will plump for 2 divisions of 10 and shaft us again..

We was higher placed than teams below us - I think that helps. We also played a high calibre of opposition. Would also heal some wounds if we was stay up with RFL, and I doubt even opposition fans would be that against it considering our points tally etc.

I do have to say tho I am impressed with Mr Rowley this time round. The club seem to be accepting relegation with a lot of dignity in the public domain.

Well if for no other reason we finished last season winning 9 and losing 11.

I was at both Grand Finals or all 3 if you count the one I,m not currently bothered about.

We would have annialated both Oldham and Keighley even with our worst possible line out from last season.

I wouldn't go as far as that but hope that you do stop up and qualify for a franchise,
just because you have a good ground and a coach that used to be in super league doesn't give you the right to be an obvious alternative, there is more to being in the super league than that and you should know that, but I do hope that you are re-instated back in the championship league and can compete with the rest that also would like to claim a place

So other than emotion/passion/loyalty, no valid reason?

You are possibly right here Frank, but we got relegated and now we have to prove we are good enough to progress out of this divison and strengthen over the years to become a challenger for a SL position.

But on paper we are spending a lot more than the other clubs, so should be red hot favourites ? Is there a point to that really by bending rules of C1 to accomodate us. May as well get rid of arguably a pointless 2010 season for Leigh and Gateshead and swap us

We got relegated and deservedly so. What everyone else does to stay up is up to them (or the RFL) We have to move on and learn from last season.

Got it in one!

You are making really hard work of this Glow!
OK here are some reasons:

1) We have one of the top 3 grounds outside SL and better than some in SL
2) We have a SL coach
3) We have a fanbase that is really second only to Widnes outside SL, and better than 2 or 3 in SL (we are easily in the top 5 of Champ for starters)
4) We have a good youth set-up with players coming through, far better than most outside SL and a few SL clubs
5) On the pitch we are, I submit, better than any of the Champ 1 sides based on the number of points we got last season, plus the players we have signed.

None of the above should come as news to anyone which is why I have not bothered listing them all before. But you just will not let this drop!

If you an come up with some better yardsticks then please feel free.

Do u know when someone has a go at my team I can get quite defensive,

You are a true gent.

As a Thunder fan I obviously have a biased view on this also. We are hearing nothing from Thunder (not that we are surprised at that) and glean most of our info from the other boards.

There has been much said about Thunder cheating etc and who should have been relegated and who shouldn't but that is by the by now. It is obvious that we relied too heavily on one person for funding and have paid the ultimate price.

If Thunder are to drop to the Championship 1 then I think the obvious way to do that is to deduct the 9 points this year which would leave us second bottom, then it would not matter where Toulouse finished and your good selves would be saved and could spend your millions freely (

)

As for Thunder,,,, I have a very pessimistic view. I have watched them since 1999 and lived through the dark days and the slightly lighter days! A drop to Champ 1 and playing with local players and amateurs will, as far as I am concerned, result in heavy defeats and dwindling crowds and the slow death of my team (I realise that many around the RL world won't shed a tear over that). My view is that it may be better to die with some dignity now and concentrate on the amateur game in the NE and, if possible, build from there.

But we shall see

No we wouldNT be happy for any team to go bust and fold, all we want is to be all playing to the same set of rules, and the RFL CANT SEEM TO GET THEIR HEADS AROUND THAT.

So a points system? a bit like SL and its franchise?

Most Leythers will appreciate where you are coming from.

Lets hope you can regroup and move forward without the touchy and ridiculous Gateshead 5.Good luck.

Only a halfwit will rejoice in that.

I dont know of anyone with a personal gripe with any expansion club. The issue is with the RFL and how they're going about it, and all the while we've got France making our 'elite' look like a pub team for 40 minutes. God knows how much damage the Aussies will do to our game again over the coming weeks.

Good luck, whatever the outcome.