I agree that two divisions should be the way to go. There are a lot of quality facilities outside super league now and a number of clubs in super league who've sat on their backsides too long. However, they will never make the drastic changes they would need, especially under the present system so two divisions is the best option. They should still, have minimum standards for the top division however and a realistic salary cap in the second division. Trying to buy promotion is what has damaged too many in the best, most recently Widnes.

two divisions of 10, based on 3 year franchises. one up one down between those divisions. 5 team play-off to GF in each division to determine champions/promoted side.
return of county cups as u23-style comp, and to include teams outside top 10
Keep Northern rail for clubs outside top 10.
move entire game to summer
create pyramid below the top 2 divisions that allows P&R from NW Counties Division Six right up to National conference (but with facilities & management criteria at various stages).
Do away with the whole concept of the 'amateur' game (it doesn't exist in football or rugby union or cricket, or in the Ozzie leagues).
add in a festival nines programme of three or four events, as union has done with sevens, as our 'Twenty20' version of the game.

I have advocated 2 divisions of 10 for many years, I just thought it would be too logical for SL.
Better games for the elite more FT clubs and an increased player pool with a logical pathway to the elite

it's not so long ago Warrington were one of those 'weaker' teams, despite spending a $hit load of money. The Tottenham Hotspur of Rugby League

Hope we make the top 20.

I think Smith is just telling the RFL that expansion is not working, they want to get rid of the French, Celts and London `cos they don`t bring their own fans. Well we don`t want them back either down with us so they can stop where they jolly well are.

but you've named the only three clubs that cannot be evicted from SLE.

The top division should have sixteen teams and no playoffs. Thirty games.

I would go for two divisions of ten. Think our sport definately needs P&R to survive. Franchising needs to go asap IMO. Two divisions of ten would create a more competitive top level and something for those outside that to strive for. I have a feeling this would make too much sense for those tools at Red Hall though!

To be honest i've been a bit torn on this subject. But the truth of the matter is that SL clubs need to play enough games to break even. P&R is in place, it's just done with a lot of control, for their lack of judgement you can't say that the RFL havn't got the best for the game in mind.

So the Top Div would be IMHO

Saints
Leeds
Wire
PIes
Hudds
Cats
Bradford
LOndon
Crucsaders
Hull

2nd Div

HullKR
Wakey
Cas
Fev
Halifax
Barrow
Salford
Widnes
Leigh
Batley

Championship

Whitehaven
Worky
Swinton
Scorpions
Oldham
Rochdale
York
Hunslet
Sheffield
Doncaster
LONDN SKOLARS
etc


TV monies to be split say half to div one then out of the remaining split 2 thirds to Div 2 and rest split between the rest of clubs.

they would put hull and hull kr together if they want to attract a crowd, take london out!!

If you look on the London forum Ste, a Quins fan had a go at Leigh for their crowds! Saying we get 3 figure crowds?

But they are sufferners Jonny a 3 figure crowd is a good one for them.

Why would clubs in SL willingly give up a chunk of their TV money to give to other clubs. It will never happen unless RFL convinced Sky to give a lot more money by selling such an idea. Similar to how they sold the playoff concept to Sky in early days of SL.
Personally I prefer a long term aim of making SL bigger rather than reducing it in short term as this is step backwards.

I think a bit of consolidation would be good for RL. It seems we change everything every year or two.

i think this is a good idea, we do not have enough elite players to support 14 teams in super league.

the sky money would need re structure to enable teams from top of championship to compete with the likes of wakey and cas.
i would think leigh would be placed in that division and would be good to see more competive games throughout.

hope they consider his suggestion

The Sky money is very little in comparison to other sports we are competing with. To dilute that money further would have a negative effect on the quality of the top division surely. The only way Smith's theory would be a benefit to what he is saying is by sharing the money with just them 10 clubs instead of 14, and probably being able to lift the salary cap - and getting to all having the same cap.
Great for the intensity of SL, but does make the gulf even wider unless RFL did sell SL2 to Sky to support 20 clubs so they all was FT etc. Its like those conversations we sometimes have tho about winning the lottery and what we would do with it.......

By dilute do you mean the club wouldn't be able to fly over the hill aussies over?

Sounds a step forward to me then

Absolutely right. Also remember the RFL don't have absolute authority over things... the clubs are independent businesses, and the SL is an independent business owned by the clubs.

Crap idea and smith should keep gob shut.

Whilst that is true it is the professional clubs who have votes.Each non franchise club has 1 vote and each franchised club 3 votes.

Turkeys daft as they are do not vote for Christmas even if they could hold a pen.The status quo will continue and soon in our professional game we will be left with those 14. Soon after that those clubs will look close to home for talent and the overseas players will not be offered contracts because declining crowds for far too many surviving clubs will lead to cost cutting.

Nothing to do with having a crystal ball I am just using the evidence to date or maybe I am misinterpreting the data. 3 Divisions and promotion and relegation for me and that Magic weekend dustbinned.

Oh and because I am not anti expansion any team wanting to apply must adhere to the same rules as the present clubs.

You'll notice it's always people in a high position suggesting such cuts. It isn't John Kear calling for a cut in teams. It's the manager of the second placed team. Well Smith, are you going to be making the sacrifice? No of course not.

For the good of the game invariably means for the good of my team or myself in this sport these days.

May not be a bad thing if SL and SL1 would consist of 11teams.

There is a gap even in SL, and the 2nd Batch would be made up of the more prosperous Championship clubs.

Bring back the Lancashire cup too for which the top tier cannot enter ?

As already mentioned though, it is just a thing wanted from a coach of a top 3 SL team. I didn't hear Darrell Van der Velde saying this when Wire were pants in a poop ground !

Good idea if promotion and relegation every year.But not on a franchise way.