If Councillor BOX gets his way its nailed on

They haven't won anything have they? Barrow and Widnes last year and Batley and probably Fev this year

If any club other than Salford is at risk, I feel it could be Wakey. Cas seem to have the advantage over them with regards to performance and bringing through youth, whilst they're about even with regards to the stadium front.

widnes for wakey

quins drop out then toulose get their spot

Widnes for Salford. Keeps the balance over there that side of the Pennines.
Toulouse and Halifax for Wakey and Cas. I think we should reward a club that has (despite financial difficulties) shown it is committed to bringing in decent facilities. They now need the chance to push on from that. Toulouse for expansion reasons (if there is a loophole).

The three mentioned clubs have poor grounds that has seen little progression towards a new one compared to when they were given a license in 2008. They are the three worst supported clubs from the heartlands. And, until Bradford's impressive self-implosion of losing 10 games on the bounce, they were the 3 worst performing heartlands teams on the field as well.

Well, speaking as a home-and-away Widnes fan of more than 25 years, I have to be careful how I contribute here I guess. But the way I see it is this:

1. after the previous license awards, Widnes did not even enter into discussion about why we had failed. We entered into discussion over some weeks with the RFL over what a Super League team for 2012 looks like. Two quite different things. Mr OConnor's decision to do things this way is a very progressive approach, and very clever, in as much as a failure to secure SL status next time will provoke the response 'well we did what you recommended'.

2. In the process of remodelling the club to look exactly like the RFL's idea of a 2012 SL team, we have also picked up on the 2 major things that the RFL said held us back last time. Money issues, and the 'Club Trained' player stipulations. This club is currently more stable, financially, than it has EVER been in over a hundred years. Also, our u16 and u18 academy sides are the envy of most Super League clubs, never mind Championship teams, most of whom who dont even run teams in all age groups. e.g. Widnes u18 followed up last weeks defeat of St Helens by defeating Leeds Rhinos in the last couple of days. The team have won nearly all their other games too, and are riding high in the u18 standings. The u16's are equally as good, going week after week beating top Super League clubs left, right and centre. The award of World Class status to our Academy and off-field player and community welfare activity is testament to that. In short, club trained player recommendations are being matched and exceeded. No other potential SL license applicant from outside the existing clubs can get even near that level.

I think the current mid table status of the first team is testament to a year of putting our efforts and money into making sure we lay the foundations for a SL bid, and a VERY credible one at that. We have still made the NRC final, and look well capable of making the playoffs using a raft of our own kids and deploying over 30 players onto the field in the process due to injuries / departures etc.

Regardless of who appears in the Grand Final this year, based on the above and the things we already know about our fan base, stadium, profile in the game, history of on-field achievements etc I can honestly say that it would take something utterly astonishing to make the RFL look anywhere else for a Championship club to promote. If they dont promote a Championship club, when there is a bid of the quality of ours on the table, then they will NEVER promote one, unless its another foreign expansion project. And if that happens, and Widnes are not accepted, then this massive club of ours will dwindle away into the twilight...

Obviously forgetting Catalans and Quins?

Just reaching the grand final also counts



(obvioulsy won't be crazy if we qualify on that basis, not that we have a cat in hells chance mind

)

Of course, forgot the M62 Corridor included London and the South of France.

Alright, smart Alec.



I made a simple mistake.

Cas were 7th last year and at the moment 8th this year. Compare that to Bradford, Salford, Catalan, Crusaders, Quins. If Hull drop a place and are overtaken by Leeds, then on average we will be the same as them!

I know we've got to advance our sport in regards to area and stadiums, but it still baffles me how that can override the actual performance on the pitch and youth development. You kick Cas out and you kill the local clubs. If you look at youth cups and tournaments, Castleford High School is up there consistently.

I keep seeing this argument about the effect that not being in SL can have on the local amateur scene and interest in the game, as if somehow not having a SL club on your doorstep means all your amateur clubs will suddenly wither and die.

It's an amazing argument to put forward really, considering the amateur game doesn't seem to be dying in places like Leigh and Cumbria...

Widnes for Saints.

I'm not talking about them dying out, because there will obviously always be amateur clubs, but teens would rather have an opportunity of playing at a SL club that a club in the Championship. Interest would go down and instead of playing for their local club Cas they'd play for Leeds or Bradford. Are you telling me that if there was a top flight club in Cumbria the interest wouldn't go up from what it is now? And that amateur clubs in Leigh don't have players choosing to go to Wigan or Warrington instead of Leigh?

So what you actually meant is that it would make it harder for a non-SL team to recruit promising young players who would probably go to their nearest SL club instead?

Isn't that the same for somebody irrespective of who you have in SL?

Cas and Wakey to drop out and bring leigh and widnes in to address the yorkshire bias in SL at the moment and crowds will improve.

Leigh are not ready for it in my opinion.

What a breath of fresh air and a major sign we have progressed in the fact we are hardly mentioned in this thread. We are coming on in leaps and bounds on and off the pitch.

And crowds certainly won't improve.

If you win the GF im sure you will put ur franchise bid in, we would get at least 16000 at DW and over 10k at your place which is more that can be said from the away support we get from cas/wakey.

Well, of course you would - it's a derby. That's like saying stick Fev in Super League rather than Salford and we'd get a better crowd.

Deary me tomorrow.

He didn't state he was talking about the M62 Corridor?

Of course they would improve if we got in what a ridiculous comment



Any sort of promotion would increase crowds even if slightly, people alway come out of the woodwork when big teams come to town no matter who you support and Leigh would be no different.

I'm not saying they would be great but they would increase!