Castleford, Wakefield and Salford have been warned their Super League places are in jeopardy if their plans for new stadia do not advance.

The three clubs are among five who have been written to by the Rugby Football League reminding them of their responsibilities under the licensing agreement.

Current Super League leaders St Helens and newcomers Celtic Crusaders have also been told their present homes do not match requirements but both those clubs are almost certain to be playing elsewhere by 2012.

Licences for the 2009-12 period were awarded a year ago tomorrow, when all five clubs were left in no doubt the standard of their facilities must improve.

Saints are well advanced with plans to relocate from Knowsley Road while the Crusaders have made clear they are likely to leave their present Brewery Field base in Bridgend, possibly for Newport, by next season. In the long term, the Welsh club have plans for a new purpose-built stadium.

The other three clubs are also at various stages of planning for new grounds but the RFL have reminded them of the urgency of their projects.

Applications for 2012-15 licences must be submitted in 2011 and the 14 current Super League clubs are likely to be joined by a number of ambitious Championship sides.

Widnes already have a very strong case having earned the right to apply by winning the Northern Rail Cup earlier this month.

In the Hobart Stadium the Vikings boast a ground of sufficient quality and with the RFL having pledged to conditionally award a licence to a Championship club, it would be a surprise if they do not succeed.

Toulouse, Leigh and Halifax are among the others that could also come into the reckoning if they meet the requirement of winning the Northern Rail Cup or reaching the Championship Grand Final.

RFL director of development Gary Tasker added: "Some clubs are at a more advanced stage of the planning process than others so we felt that, a year on from awarding the licences, it was appropriate to remind all the clubs concerned of their commitment to upgrade their current facility or move to a new stadium and the potential implications any failure to do so may have on their next licence application."

Castleford, Wakefield and Salford are yet to comment on the RFL's letter.

[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/07/21/RUGBYL_Licences.html[/url

Pfffffft,stadia isn't everything .As long as market research tells us that the public will flock to games from the un-tapped huge conurbations then it matters not the state of the ground.Widnes were in administration in 2007 you know.

It doesn't matter. They had to have the required facilities last year and Salford / Celtic got in, so whats changed?

Newports ground is a bigger shytole than Bridgend!



Tolouse and Widnes guarenteed for mine. One justifyably, One not!

Bit harsh , I think Widnes have a good case myself

It's OK for some:

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Both have a decent case. Better than some of the teams in there.

quality stuff,love it folks and thats from a reds fan,hopefully we will try the same stunt again but cant see us pull it off twice!!all the best

It's funny because it's true. And your avatar. It's like the mad magazine kid taunting us.

To be fair, it's not just Salford.

i fear you will be the ones taunting us in a couple of years!ahh well we'll enjoy our remainding couple of years before reality of back off to batley in 2012

Thing is, i love grounds like Castleford. I know it's not moving forward but it's just a personal preference. It'll be a shame when all these "quaint" stadiums are gone. I guess i'm a bit flatcappy in this regard.

Don't knock it. Friendlier atmosphere than Warringslum.

The RFL must be extremely embarrassed if they have resorted to this - the stink over us being rejected, coupled with a complete lack of action by certain SL clubs stinks of somebody looking seriously stupid (Take your pick youre spoilt for choice.)

Maybe they are aware that to reject us again would possibly incur a civil case?

Castleford is one of the better slums. I noticed a thread about Thrum Hall on your board the other day. I preferred that to the Shay. It was one of the most atmospheric grounds I've ever been to. But progress is progress, and modern stadia do tend to attract more fans and a safer environment. That is after all a good thing isn't it?

The Willows, and where it is situated is a different story. Belle Vue isn't exactly a pleasant experience either. They present a terrible image of the game too. A club like Saints playing at KR just seems unforgivable. They all need to be replaced imo.

I've mixed feelings about this. I'd like to think that if we perform well that we will be given a Super League license but the reality is that this is probably not the case. Therefore we are in competition with other clubs and as petty as it sounds our best route to Super League is if Salford, Wakefield or Castleford do not deliver on a stadium. Personally I would not like to see any club fail and be demoted but if it came down to them or Widnes then I'm sorry but it's Widnes! news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 519326.stm Listening to this a year on, he really does emphasise the importance of the stadium especially with regards to Salford and Wakefield. I think fans are trying to console themselves thinking that they are only a couple of points on the criteria but I think the reality is different. The reason my feelings are mixed is by us having become eligible so soon we have almost given these clubs time to go to their councils or whoever and say that either they give them a stadium or they will lose their place. Basically give them time and the motivation to rush a stadium through.

I've mixed feelings about this. I'd like to think that if we perform well that we will be given a Super League license but the reality is that this is probably not the case. Therefore we are in competition with other clubs and as petty as it sounds our best route to Super League is if Salford, Wakefield or Castleford do not deliver on a stadium. Personally I would not like to see any club fail and be demoted but if it came down to them or Widnes then I'm sorry but it's Widnes! news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 519326.stm Listening to this a year on, he really does emphasise the importance of the stadium especially with regards to Salford and Wakefield. I think fans are trying to console themselves thinking that they are only a couple of points on the criteria but I think the reality is different. The reason my feelings are mixed is by us having become eligible so soon we have almost given these clubs time to go to their councils or whoever and say that either they give them a stadium or they will lose their place. Basically give them time and the motivation to rush a stadium through.

I think Widnes is very likely to get a license next time. The RFL need to demote some SL club to keep its power in its relationship with clubs (what's their threat worth otherwise?). I don't see Toulouse going up alone, understandibly this would not look good to the CC English fans. So I see Widnes and Toulouse, and two of the clubs warned going down. In some sense, I think the RFL is preparing the ground for such a decision with this warning. Warn three clubs, remove two... and bring two new clubs. Nobody will say that the RFL did not respect its words.

Th VT is in meltdown over this.One or two expansionists are suddenly donning flat caps.

We'll see how many of them like the idea of Celtic being in once they realise it might be instead of them.

And doesn't it give you an ever so slight feeling of smugness after all the e that's been written on there over the years? We all could see what was coming, even if the s who were blinded by Dicky's vision couldn't. 1 year on and the Vikings are looking stronger than ever, while some clubs are still floundering.

We're best of staying out of it and concentrating on our own efforts

You will still be blamed though

Great isn't it?

Hypocritical buffons like tb must be wetting themselves.

It's all very interesting..

As has been mentioned there appears to be movement on the Saints ground but they are a B grade club anyway so they should be safe..
Celtic moving to Newport will keep them safe..

The other three though are pretty much still in the mire..
Out of them three I actually think Salford could be in the better position as they have negotiating room with Peel Holdings over the Port Salford development. Peel need the land and Salford need a stadium so a deal could be done there. I know Salford Council own the land but I believe they are keen for a stadium too.

In the case of Wakey and Cas.. I thought that Wakey council were paying for these but in actual fact the clubs need to find the money themselves. Seen as terrific news by their respective fans but the council have loaned them some land as collateral to seek investment.. i.e. they currently don't have the money to pay for their grounds. I don't think this is such terrific news in the current climate.

Add to all this the snippet from John Wilkinson's resident meeting outburst the other week about needing to lay bricks by December or else and I think it's all very telling.
The RFL actually could be pretty embarrassed by all this and how it makes the selection process look. Maybe the might show some balls next time around.

Lest we forget Celtic's recent problems. Moving to Newport might be a desperate one, so they're not safe by any means. Salford I think got through because they promised the sort of stadium that the RFL couldn't possible refuse. Of course this was the same sort of lie which they trotted out with when they hinted they were signing Minnichello but the only thing they have over us is a mythological "catchment area" as if we're not both in an ultra populated area swamped by football teams. But its Wakefield who take the cake.

I agree about Celtic and I can't see them gaining any ground attendances wise by moving to Newport which is just as RU orientated as Bridgend. If anything they will lose a few fans not prepared to travel.

I do think they will be propped up by the RFL.. this would leave the most egg on the faces of Lewis and Woody if they went caput.

I have a feeling that Salford may come out of this somehow especially considering the Peel announcement.. not with the ICONIC stadium that we were all promised for the GOOD OF THE GAME.. but with a LSV / HJ type stadium. I think they have been stalling until the Port Salford announcement.

speaking of which I am bloody annoyed at this.. I have to cross the Manchester Ship Canal to get home.. it's going to be like a bloody motorway now with all those freight ships.... Bloody Salford. Anyone any idea how this is better / different to the one being built at Widnes??

Strange how rules change isn't it

When we suggesting moving to the Reebok they refused us