Listening to SOC I get the impression he is in favour of this.

I agree, we have u21's and u18's, and u16's to pay for as well as a competitive 1st team.

I heard quite a few months ago now that we had meetings with the RFL which were very positive - The major obstacle for us at that time seemed to be the playing criteria. With that box ticked, there isn't a great deal more we can do, so the drop in cap will probably be very welcome to SO'C.

As a seperate issue, apparantly the RFL were less than impressed with certain clubs who may have recenty dumped their youth structure.

We can only trust SOC's business acumen.. If he is in favour of this then it clearly fits into the the clubs plans to get to Super League.

If in 2 years time we're all celebrating and picking ourselves up off the floor following the RFL doing the right thing for a change, these changes will have been worth it.

And what if they haven't? What if they decide not to do the right thing? What then? We will be further neutered. TWO places for relegation, no places for promotion, a completely equalised league no matter how far ahead we are in terms of finances and crowds, it would not be good for us at all.

That decision is even larger than it was last time. If they deny us this time, with the clearest case for a license and several in super league going back on promises that could be the worst moment in the clubs history.

If they were to deny you lot again , then the time will have come

A simple question at an APC meeting

" Are you coming with us ? "

So the turkeys have voted for Christmas...

I know its all hypothetical but I believe that SO'C may have a bit more fight if it was to happen again. He wouldn't really be left with any other option would he. With a top stadium, youth development that can't really go any further, decent crowds and a competitive team on the pitch - if we were rejected again, we may as well get rid of all youth development and have no full time players - how would that be good for the game?

Surely the RFL must be seen to reward clubs for doing things the right way, otherwise what the point in anyone even trying? Also if it is treated as a closed shop, there would absolutely no threat to the current SL teams to improve on what they are doing. You never know in a couple of years time we might be held by the RFL as a shining example of how to win a licence from outside SL.

Dont know what everyones getting in a flap about. Nothing has really changed. Once again as in previous seasons if a team can prove that it has the means(not just a sugar daddy pumping in money) they will be aloud to spend more than the cap.
Once again it wont affect teams with SL ambitions, Fev, Fax Widne< barrow etc. Its more aimed at teams like Haven, Leigh, Batley where they havnt got the income to support their spending.

That's a bridge we need to cross if we come to it. Though i feel it will be the end for pro rl in Widnes if we don't. I can also see SOC quite rightly walking. I'll probably give up on the game at that point.

Bang on, Chris.

It would be a very frightening prospect for Widnes if we don't get the nod for 2012. We may as well be bumbling along with crowds of 1,000 and have no youth structure, like most of the other clubs. We would have no advantage over clubs with attendances of 400 like Gateshead. It would be very possible that we could be relegated and find our club dying on its ar5e in Championship 1.

We'll be competing with no financial advantage with clubs like Batley, Sheffield, Dewsbury and Oldham, as well as the traditionally strong clubs in this league such as Halifax, Whitehaven, Leigh and Fev. Then there'll be the RFL expansion clubs who'll be full of Aussies and probably won't have to worry about silly things like a salary cap.

This is bad news for us. It really is.

I wouldn't worry too much, Fax salary is only 250k a year, almost half the current salary cap, and 50k under next years. Therefore we can still strengthen next year. Surely your players wont be on that much more than ours?

I think the news is fantastic for Widnes, after lifting the NRC.

Agreed! After 2012 I can only really see 'Expansion' sides breaking into SL if franchise system says the same!

TBH should just put Widnes / Leigh / Halifax and 1 of Cumbria ( Barrow due to money) in to Super League and leave the rest at the even playing field across board that they want!

You won't be saying that if we are heading for relegation next season with no room on the SC to strengthen, or if we don't get the nod in 2012.

This may be good for SOC's pocket, but it could be disastrous for the club if we don't get a licence for 2012.

But aint there the same chance of that for Halifax & Barrow anyway?
Alot of our players already on 2 year deals so if they do get excemption then so will we!

Seems a little optimistick with the likes of Beswick / Gleeson / Penky / Black on board!

Yes. There'll be no real advantage for any club in this league anymore, no matter how strong they are off the field. That's sort of the point: anyone can end up being champions or relegated. It sounds like a recipe for an exciting league, but not very good for clubs that have ambition and the wealth to be better than the others.


That's not really what I'm on about. Forget this/next season. Look at the situation we'll be in should we not get a SL place in 2012.

Your right, hopefully prestige / SL ambition and the better coaches will hold us in good stead however!




Would agree with that as I have mentioned after 2012 future is bleak for the NL's

it's a shame as I feel could be rarely good divisions if we had an NGB that focussed on the SPORT not 1 league (Why I think SL & RL should have sepearte bodies, like the Prem and the FA!).

How far has over-spending got us? Even in SL? Nowhere. I'm positive that Cullen can build a squad better than most in the Championship.

And if that frees cash from SOC's pocket to splash out for a SL squad if we get the nod, then that's fantastic.

If we don't get a licence for 2012 Cullen may not be here to pick up the pieces. We don't know who we could end up with.

There'll be no more guaranteed places for Championship clubs for a SL licence and we would face the very real prospect of being relegated. Far more than we do now.

Again though our income would still put us in better stead than any other NL club so saying we've got a good chance of going down is daft! There's still 11 teams all in same bout! Why are we worried about relegation in the slightest? No other sides are bothered about it!!!

P.S. I ma very optomistic we WILL BE IN SL 2012! They have no reason to say know and know it's off benefit to them! Never mind teh fact I bet SOC has every transcript of EVERY conversion he's ahd with them for a nice libel case next time around!

What really concerns me is, the league next year will basically be a random free for all. We could be runaway winners, we could be bottom sailing towards relegation with no chance to improve. Our crowds and financial situation should guarantee we are safe in this league. Huge budge in the salary cap, no budge in the ludicrous no promotion two relegation in a twelve team league. It's a worrying prospect. Our final is out of the way already, great, but we have another challenge now and it's not a positive one.

Why such negativity? We're bang on for a license.

We pretty much should be, but I don't think a spell in Championship 1 with miniscule crowds when we are presenting our credentials will do us any good. If this league is truly random there is a 16% chance we will be relegated at the end of it. There are other factors to consider for us so it isnt truly 100% random, but you only need to see just how competitive it is this year. Leigh are a team who should be safe and they're struggling.

We should be nailed on for a license, but then we should have been last time and we were overlooked.

Good post.

This is something some people don't seem to be able to grasp.