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

And congratulations for the above - I was actually referring to your comments bout Fax putting all their eggs in one basket for this year when clearly we are not.

Everything has been put into your first team. So, yes you have.

Let's get serious for a minute. The RFL won't be turning anyone away because of a weak juinor set up. Attendances, performances and location will be the overriding factors. The probable fact that Toulouse are through already means the rest of the contenders will battle it out for another spot. Halifax will resume their junior set up next year after having won the NRC and GF. However, i've said before many a time - unless we get a serious money backer or an average attendance of 4,000+ while in the Championship then i don't want the club to get a place in SL. I want to watch my team win on a regular basis in front of healthy crowds, not get stuffed by "average" SL teams such as Huddersfield or Warrington, not to mention the massacre's handed out by Saints & Leeds. It's one thing being "ready" to win a franchise - it's another competing in the elite league. On balance i think Widnes will be better placed to do that with the current set up. If someone comes along with some serious money in Halifax then that may change.

That's a very big [size=150IF[/size, Rich. We were very, very lucky having Steve O'Connor step in and buy the club, otherwise we would've ended up with most of the old board back in place. In the current climate I doubt there'll be too many millionaires committing themselves to a sporting money hole.

I wish Halifax luck though.