Sorry stepped out of line of doom and gloom.
Its awful decision. Typical RFL. They don't know what they are doing. Only care about SDL.

What dissapoints me most at the moment is that york and Dewsbury are being left dangling,not knowing whats going on while the crusaders are being allowed to sit back and quietly work out a plan for next season for admittance to the championship.

It is typical RFL , words with no substance , nothing at all definate

Pretty robust process involving site visits, investigation of business and development plans, and a Director-led RFL project team with lots of experience at all levels of the game. At least a dozen clubs involved in the process. Several SL clubs involved as mentors to the clubs which are selected. Nobody being fast-tracked... Process intended to help the clubs achieve existing potential in a manageable timetable. No guarantee it will work, but a damn sight better than 'rich bloke with chequered history chucks a few quid at a pipe dream'

As many as travel from Workington to Doncaster?

But chucking 'a few' quid at a pipe dream is what they now seem to want Joe, they have turned full circle in three years from slating clubs because of the reliance on one mans 'few quid' to slating them for not having a man with 'a few quid'. Do you really think that SL clubs are going to assist clubs from other parts of the country they are just hoping for hunting grounds for new talent, which those clubs will nurture and then have them whisked away. As for Director led it's just another name for another RFL quango they can waste money on, even SportsEngland have told them to get their act together in the games heartland before any ventures elsewhere and just look who's on that BoD. Every business plan I have ever been involved with has had time targets of managable proportions not a suck it and see type of structure, yes heartland clubs should help themselves but so should any other potential clubs that is business and thats what the RFL want their clubs to be so let it be but fair play to all the clubs.
And as for vague promises of new clubs within two years and TV deals we have heard it all before they need to sort out the Championships NOW not await what may happen in a few weeks or months time, and if thats doom and gloom well I call it just plain common sense. To issue a press release that promises or even states nothing but just rehashes old rumours is amateurish at best and duplicitous at worst.

No split loyalties here, I am a Bristol boy born and bred but have loved following the Leythers for the past 4 years and can see plenty of years ahead following Leigh through the good and the bad!! On the plus side if we ever do play down in brizzle I welcome any Leythers to join me for a pint of thatch before the game and then enjoy watching 3 balls all game!!! Also we do our own Clarkes pies which are superb, pound bakery can only dream about selling these!

If the RFL use the London Skolars model the new clubs might have a chance as long as they get support rather than handouts from the RFL. Skolars run at a profit, only spending what they have got, and slowly but sulrely they are improving every year and climbing the league.

'"

Is that Thatchers Cider matey?

Last thing we want is for them propping up C1 for their first few years. They need to be credible on the field, and not just making up numbers and going nowhere. They will soon disappear and the doom and gloomers will say RL will never take off in area X as usual.
London Skolar's are only doing it the right way because they are not a threat.

If there's 4 new teams along with South Wales and Gateshead, they're not propping up the table though, there's wins to be had.

Skolars are doing it the right way becuase they know what's best is to build slowly.

How do you suggest they do this without taking on more DCs than other clubs? Taking on more overseas players than other clubs? Allowed to spend more money than other clubs or not to be rellegated for three years? Square one me thinks. Like everyone else I don't have a problem with these teams joining but not like previous ones have done.

I'm sure Oldham , Rochdale or Keighley dont want to be propping up C1 either , but guess what , somebody has to finish bottom , every year , I have no problem with any new club recieving any amount of extra help , as long as that extra help precludes them from profiting on the pitch against other clubs

So simply they cannot be promoted as long as they recieve this extra help , problem solved

Yep good old thatchers, everytime i'm down south i grab Jonny a flagon of thatch scrump, like my gramps used to say if you cant chew it, its not properrrrrrr ciderrrrrr!!

Still got a flagon int' fridge!

Bristol Sonics please.

I think it's great that we may see a few teams around the country stepping up to Semi-Pro level. It may take a while for these clubs to become established and to really tap into the local-market, but from small acorns and all that...

I just dread the day the RFL start seeing the $$$'s and do something rash like the did with the Cru.

Somebody has to finish last. What does it matter if it's Hemel, Skolars, Rochdale, Leigh or Wigan that's propping up the leagues?

If these clubs can sustain themselves and slowly build their support base and player pool by a fraction over any number of years, I'd take that anyday over the $hit or bust approach applied to Paris, Gateshead and the Crusaders.

Sheffield did it the right way. They're a threat. Do I resent them? No.

You got that right, matey. When I am down there or my mates go we always bring a few litres back. Wilkins is also a good un this year.

I don't disagree with what you are saying here tbh. As a club that has been around for a while we see the success cycles and the depressing cycles. What goes around and all that.
My point, which can come across quite harsh sometimes (mainly because of the constant negativity of anything by some on here) is more to do with being competitive. Initially a new fan base would be a lot more fickle than your normal fan of a established club - ie new fans to the sport never mind the club. Same with clubs that are more established playing a new club that is a guarantee win and just a question of how many points etc can put off people that want to see a competitive entertaining game. RL is a very cruel sport when teams are mismatched, and isn't really entertaining.
Thats my fear.

But sweeping all before them (with assistance from the RFL) won't help anyone when hits the fan and they're struggling in the league. A few defeats won't put off potential fans as they will at least be aware that they're playing in a competitive league in that case.

When there is something positive to celebrate then perhaps the negativity will go away, the RFL are past masters in handing out sugar coated press releases then following them with the reality which bears no resemblance of what they released, all's I ask for is some truths if that is being negative then so be it, but believing all they put out and not questioning it or not being allowed to question it by some is stupidity at its most extreme, after all we do live in a free(ish) society.

Fine so no promotion as long as they get extra help

Which could be argued by the negative ones that they have nowt to play for and are influencing results of other clubs chasing promotion. Also if there did end up being 4 new clubs (notice the IF bit Fred

) then you would have strange league where nearly half can't go up and could end up in a anti climax of a GF where only one of the finalists can go up, or even none leaving the relegated side to stay up possibly.

I haven't got the answer and never claim to have but its not so easy to come up with something that pleases all and help along expansion clubs.

Being competitive is standing a chance of winning. Getting smashed every week will soon dilute the enthusiasm, and if that is the case there is no point.

We all have issues with the RFL. A press release about possible 4 new clubs does sound quite positive to me. What happens later happens - we then offer our opinion then.