Between them the RFL, BARLA and the last version of Keighley RLFC have managed to nearly push me away from the game I was brought up with.

BARLA only have a limited part but until they get their act together and stop being little power mongers the amateur game is going nowhere IMO.

The RFL created soooooperdooooper league which is so skewed now that only 4 or 5 teams have a realistic chance of winning it and the rest make up the numbers. The championship has nothing to offer except the "promise" of an opportunity to be an also ran in SL.

Add to the fact that the international game is dead because we don't have the structures and gonads to do the right thing to develop the game and stop signing over the hill pension seeking crocks from down under.

And finally, yet another version of my home town club bites the dust!

Over the years I have contributed a fair wedge of dosh to the club, hired the facilities and attended various events. Of course that has now stopped.

I can see no positive future for my home town club except mediocrity and that is not why I watch the game

Well there was nothing to play for anyway cos SL was never on the cards, and now there is nothing to play for if there is a team in the next month or so.

I'm glad my wife DIDN'T buy me a season ticket for christmas.

My RL now is going to be limited to the odd amateur game amd the rest on the box.

They have succeeded in making me literally walk away from the best game by far on the planet.

And what is even sadder, I'm not unique in that.

Unfortunatley that is what the future holds for the vast majority of us , be that Widnes who will most likely be in SL in 2012 , Hunslet who will most likely still be hovering around the middle/lower Championship 1 or Leigh who hopefully will win the odd bit of second class silverware in the next few tears

But I will settle for that , quite simply because RL people are one the whole ' good ' people , be they the fans,players,coaches.admin,staff or owners/directors , and to be in their company is a good thing

keep the faith

Whatever happens Leaguefan - you're still going to watch Rugby League. Think yourself lucky - you're not a moronball fan



Chin up lad - keep the faith, somehow ...........

HAHAHAHAHA =#FF0040Edit by guess who, no need to stupid name calling. Dont do it again.
How on earth is it anyone elses fault because Keighley are a tiny club who are never going to be big enough to challenge the elite.
Remove franchising: you've no chance.
Remove the Salary Cap: you've even less chance than zero
There's nothing Keighley could do to ever have a 'fair' crack at the whip, same for Leigh and so on.
The rugby league world has moved on and you lot can remain down there for all anyone cares, bitter lot.
You should go to enjoy the game, if you ever want to see SL...Go and watch Bradford in your gamedays off

LOL

How is it the RFLs fault? The buck stops with Keighley, no one else.

I think you got lost. This is the Keighley section.

You wont get many dedicated Keighley fans wanting to watch Bradford either.



''Bitter lot.''

The gap is stretching more and more between the elite Super League clubs and those below that division. The Super League only evolves around money now and there are only a few clubs who will have the chance to win it each season, that is unless a big time investor approaches one of the lower half teams of The Super League. There will be loads disillusioned with following rugby league outside the top tier and that hope of one day competing with the Leeds, Wigan, St Helens and Bradfords

is more distant than ever for Keighley and many other teams.

It's a crap system used only to suit the big teams.

Ahhh, the vulture trolls hover.

I don't think the original poster is blaming anyone merely stating why he is disaffected with RL.

Keighley fans are generally a very tolerant, easy to get on with bunch - over the years we have had to be. Perhaps you should not Judge others by your own low standards.

If we have problems they are probably of our own making - but we are not on our own are we?

I would not expect genuine RL fans to come on here and gloat in yet another of our dark hours. Perhaps you should engage that tiny brain of yours before you open your overly large mouth.

I have not put a smiley because I am definitely not laughing.

Laughing out loud are you?

I cannot ever remember being happy about another clubs problems.

Read what I have posted above , it applies to you too

forgive my ignorance but at the beginning of super league, didn't Keighley turn down the chance of promotion the year they actually won it? I seem to remember them turning down the chance in preference to a cash payout from the rugby league. I also recall Hunslet doing something similar the year they won it, and the following season they lost most of their fan base because of it. Am I right with this? If not then I apologise, but this was the impression I was given at the time.

Quite the opposite.

We won the right for promotion but despite our every effort, including legal action, the advent of superleague (and certain personalities in it) denied us.

All our systems were geared for promotion and its denial bankrupt us overnight

Best wishes to all associated with Keighley hope everything works out for you, the last thing the RL community needs is to start losing heartland clubs.

I don't think we'll be 'lost', but it's a shame that all this has happened the year we won promotion and things were looking rosy, albeit with a tough season ahead.
I'm sure we'll bounce back!

Best of luck for the future folks

Not quite.
I feel sorry for the Keighley club however imo Idon't think preparations will be that much of an issue, a new board will come and clean up and you'll start afresh but with a three game points deduction. Simple enough.
Leaguefans inane ramblings and utter garbage pollute the VT, he's bloody annoying.



ABSOLUTE CODSWALLOP!
It's not our job to hold up waiting for little yorkshire towns, if you cant keep up, don't run the race.
You almost did it once before, if you want to compete you're going to have to reinvent league again.
realistically you've no chance but you only fail the day you give up.
Same for all the small town clubs, you're not much smaller than Widnes, what a couple of thousand as a town? They'll be in SL come 2012

I’m genuinely sorry to hear this news and wish the Keighley club, and it’s fans, all the best for the future. Hopefully you’ll bounce back.

Sadly, this seems to happening with a frightening regularity these days. I to am becoming very fearful for the game Below SL. The licence system may be nice and cozy for those in SL, but it is killing interest everywhere else.

Completely agree.

Was there much change in attendances for Keighley this year or even Ch1 as a whole?
its well documented the C1 need more fixtures, i'd have let both welsh teams in and let them scrap for players. Would give two more home fixtures.

Our (Cougars) attendances rose by about 20% or so as the season progressed. Nice to see so many SL fans being supportive of the lower divisions...
One day, it may be your club.

If your so sorry for the club but miffed with Leaguefan why post on here and not the VT.

Is it by any chance because you felt the need to appear superior? Better be careful - what goes around comes around.

If the game is to stay healthy it will need lots of "little Yorkshire Towns" and Lancashire towns and other towns throughout the country. I want league to prosper everywhere, not just "my club"

Your arrogance is rivalled only by the size of your mouth.

this from a supporter of a team that won nothin for donkeys years until someone pumped millions into the club and then they finally win something.how the games changed eh.very sad.

And how would, letting two Welch teams in help attendances?

The fans don't come by the bus load you know.

2 extra fixtures chief.
Unless you let everyone in for free?



Millions no.
However we've never been out of the top flight and it's not all about winning things. It's about enjoying the rugby, staying solvent within your means and being good in the community


EXACTLY so how on earth is SL killing the chps.



Not likely

Like I said, Widnes isnt really any bigger as a town yet look how they're run now and their attendances. It's not impossible, you're a bigger town than Cas.

You forgot to mention: [iknowing how to cheat the salary cap[/i

hmm we've certainly the best accountant I reckon..
nahh when a club tries to move from lower table to upper SL you have to pay more than market value. Once those 'average yet highly paid' players move on you replace them with better but not so highly paid players and everyone thinks you're cheating the cap.
Case in point: Paul Johnson for Ryan Atkins.

I meant at all levels too, I know people who enjoy the Chps, you see different places and older traditional grounds, if the clubs are in the schools and feel part of the community then League can be successful at all levels.
All the bitteness aimed at the RFL is just plain stupid, Leigh are the worst for it. A clubs destiny is in it's own hands.
You never know either. One of the kids you get involved at 8 years old could be the next O'Connor, Moran or Whelan.
You don't need to be in SL to enjoy your rugby but whats happened here isn't brilliant for anybody and i'd want questions raised. Like I said earlier hopefully it won't cause TOO much disruption and you'll be ripping it up next year