Inevitably, some will be put off coming over to "the dark side" of the Pennines. I only survive the inhospitable atmosphere over here by wearing a specially adapted Yorkshire woven flat cap. When i go back home to watch Fax i get the same feeling of liberation as the astronauts who return from the MIR space station after six months.

that is exactly what i was going to say

Not at all im just saying you cant have it both ways!

Which i hear is quite popular in certain areas of Widnes

Look, you can by blow up sheep these days, so there's no need to miss Yarkshire quite that much. The fact you[i choose [/ito live here sort of fecks you argument up a bit anyway.

They have sheep in Stockport. I'm OK in that department. I am employed to live here by the British Government in order to assimilate my Yorkshire genes throughout the populace of the "dark side". I'm doing my bit for the country. Once i've finished with the sheep, i'll move onto the human populace via the female form.

Bye 'eck, you will be assimilated.

Resistance is futile i tell thee.

Bloody Hell!!

Run for the hills!

Your cheer leaders have seen better days!

I'd actually prefer them as our cheerleaders.

The capacity for the Wigan game was set at 6,275. Even in it's current state and layout, another 2,000 could have easily been accomodated that day (the Wigan fans said as much as they weren't happy with their 1,500 allocation). The 'footprint' of the ground would easily accomodate 12,000 as a survey has proven.

Don't get too hung up on the current stadia critera, as the RFL and SL will almost certainly move the goalposts for 2012 in light of the current financial climate. Salford, Cas, Wakey and Celtics won't meet the current requirements by 2012 and there's no way the RFL with dump 4 sides out of the comp.

Our stadium redeveloment will be well under way in 3 years and that could possibly be enough if most other criteria is met.



Broadbent, Larkin, Harrison, Nixon, Finch, Campbell, McDermott, Butler and Backhouse have all played regularly this season. To the best of my knowledge there were all born and bred within 2 or 3 miles fo Craven Park.

You don't get dumped for not having a decent stadium. You just don't get 1 licence point. Allegedly.

I'm sure that Cas and Wakey were told that if they didn't get to current stadia standard by 2012 they'd be out.

Salford and Celtics had stadium developments at the heart of their bids.

If you don't get dumped for not having a decent stadium, then surely that will be an adantage to teams like Barrow.

As I said, the current critera will be 'tweaked' many times before 2012 I'm sure and the bottom line is that the RFL will handpick who they want and justify it later (as they did with Celtics).

You are right - on all points.

I think Pepe was talking about players who have come through the ranks. So you can scrub Broadbent off that list, I'm trying to think which club he started out with.

Oldham?

6,000 is a pretty decent crowd for anyone at this level but you were playing one of the best supported clubs there is.

6,000 is a pretty decent crowd for anyone at this level but you were playing one of the best supported clubs there is.

Just thought I'd add my two penorth to the debate

Toulouse , expect their overseas players to get French nationality for next season as they have to reduce the number they have [ yeah right

Widnes , in the ' box seat ' at the moment , the RFL like ' sugar Daddies and might not to want to lose Steve O , Connor but time running out to ' qualify ' to apply

If neither of these two can apply the RFL will have a big problem on their hands [ but they might ' cheat ' with Toulouse

Fax , making a strong bid at the moment both on and off the pitch , expect them to ' Qualify ' this year , down side will be location , lower attendances than Widnes and not running a reserve grade , will the RFL look at the longer term or just what you are doing at the point of application

Barrow , making big strides on the pitch and as stated earlier they like ' single owner money ' , location on their side but attendances and ground might hold them back , still not certain to ' Qualify ' and a chairmans outspoken comments dont always go down well at the RFL [ you should know your place and all that , personaly i think they might want him to stick around for another 3 years to ' prove ' himself

Leigh and Fev , both clubs very similar , location not good , both look like they will not ' qualify ' this year and next season will be harder and even more expensive to do so , Leigh score better on stadium and both have run lower grade for several years

Apart from these we have Gateshead , who would be the RFL's 1 st choice if the truth be known but unless rules are bent next year they wont qualify [ and we all know the RFL wouldn't do anything like that would they



and your coaches record on that is not good , maybe you should have stuck with Ste Mac , he was good at getting to GF's

F################ccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!



What have we done