The first is obviously a new stadium at Newmarket which is looking increasingly likely.

I maintain that the next club to build a stadium will be Wakefield and with that built the most likely club to challenge the likes of Wigan, Leeds, Warrington etc over the next ten years is also Wakefield.

What's in question is how far from the back will we have to come?

But it isn't built and wont be built by feb 2012 , so it shouldn't be in the application at all , same applies to Cas and anybody else that arent actually playing IN their new place right now

This was the way it worked last time

Yeah, but the RFL change the rules/requirements accordingley dont they?! I know it was different for Leigh last time, but if the team is going to be in the new stadium by the start of the next season, or at the very least bulding work has begun then it should be used, if not then i think it should be included but obviously will not "tick a box" especially given ours and Cas's history with regards ground promises!

On another note, whats the betting they dont make the same early statement with regards to 1 definately going down before the next round of franchises??! Whoever made the decision to announce that wants there head looking at!!!
They claim its the best 14 applications yet commit to sending someone down before even opening the submitted applications?? There not even trying to hide the fact there bent!!

That's fine but then they can't hit us with a big stick by saying we don't want you to move to a SL standard stadium.
Now, none of us officially know what was in our franchise application but we are led to believe Oakwell was included as an option, but the RFL don't want us to.

IF we have an agreement in place to play at Oakwell in our application then we are in a better position than Cas (Ground wise), and possibly Saints and Salford (not sure exactly when their grounds will be completed).

Saints have been allowed to play out of a different town/stadium while theirs is being built, Hudds whilst their pitch being relayed, so why do the RFL want to stop us doing it????

Why indeed

More importantly, why have we conformed to the RFL request?

The application submitted by Crusaders may have changed dramatically by Tuesday if the sale of the ground goes through - and there has not been any comment by the university,Crusaders or Moss and Roberts as to whether or not Crusaders will have use of the stadium.
[url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-north-wales-news/wrexham-news/2011/07/22/racecourse-ground-will-be-sold-to-glyndwr-university-55578-29099305/Sale Of The Racecourse Ground[/url

Does that mean that RFL will get the monies owed now?? or have i got it completely wrong?

I cant see a reason why the Crusaders will not still be playing there next year as paying tennents.

Depends if they can afford the rent?

There in the same boat as us there then arent they? But i was thinking maybe the local University, may be a bit friendlier than the BOI.

Just merge them with Widnes, take 2 games back to Wales in the 1st season and then forget they ever existed! Not like its never been done before!!

I deffo remember reading somewhere that crusaders did not pay any rent for playing at the racecourse.
So they will be in trouble if the new owners start charging them.

This is a point I made some time ago, I just can't get my head around it. One club will go that may well have a better application than Widnes.

No animosity against Widnes, just this stupid system.

They'll make a deal. Any money is better than nowt. Who else would they rent it out to?

So if Wakey do come down , you don't want the RFL to guarantee a promotion place next time , or ever ?

Honest reply

My honest answer would be that I hope whoever goes down or if no one goes down, the RFL see sense and hold their hands up regarding the failure of Franchising.

I want to see a return to P&R with some of the RFLs profits being set aside to limit the damage to any relegated club.

There should also be a mandatory audit of any club that puts itself in a strong enough position to challenge for promotion in order to advise them on their financial health in terms of being fit for a move up a division.

There should be a bible written explaining the minimum acceptable structure that clubs must adhere to, stadium, hospitality, commercial, youth, community etc, but clubs should be encouraged to surpass that minimum level, put those things in place and win the league and you replace the bottom team from the division above,

The goalposts should be set and then the criteria should become sacrosanct for a minimum term meaning clubs know exactly what to aim for in order to gain promotion.

"If we don't stay in, we will be ready to come back in one week, one month or a year".

A quote attributed to Elston in todays press. Seems a strange thing to say, perhaps he is expecting a SL club to implode.

Surely if this is known by the powers that be, the club that's due to implode should be dropped for tge sake of the RFL image

Crusaders?

' Death rider '

, you'll have Smokey on your case if you're not careful

Which suggests the rumour of a 12 month review might be correct.

Does anybody know where I can get a ' straw clutching ' emoticon

Who?

You don't know who ' Smokey ' is ? , you don't get out much on here do you ?

He probably doesn't want to know who smokey is! I certainly wish I didn't!

No I would suggest he doesn't

Me neither.