Clubs have spent large amounts of money on a licencing system that should be fair and transparent..
This system has been shown to be neither!!!!! This money is effectively wasted....
I am not sure what could be enforced but I would relish the RFL having to answer for their decisions and justify them rather than this totalitarian way of doing business. Maybe it would inspire a vote of no confidence against the pricks running and ruining this sport!!!!!

Too much hassle in preparation for Super League. Why fanny around with the costs of entering the NRC when they can coast for a season and then start their Antipodean recruitment spree.

One plus though - another "derby" added to the league calendar.

Woo hoo

Almost as damming is the way that this news has been broken.. In a RL paper!!!!
No official comment from the RFL yet?????????????????


Sue the Lying RFL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because it’s obvious now that they never needed to enter the competition in the first place in order to qualify.

Gilles Dumas was talking of their goal for this season being to make the play-offs. I guess you don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to work out why "appearing in the grand final" wasn't the team's aim...

Off you go. It's your money, do what you want with it (though sticking it in a bin liner and leaving it on a street corner for someone to find would actually be more useful)

I can understand why some may want to, but the practicalities are hardly conducive to success if the issue is taken to the courts. Better (and cheaper) to try and do something within the structure of the sport.

When was the last occasion any UK sports club won a High Court action against it's governing body? What [ilaw[/i has been broken here?

So you are saying that the RFL have acted correctly here? That there is no reason for Championship clubs to feel aggrieved?

Do you not think that some of these clubs have spent money on improvements under a set of criteria that has now changed without their consent?

Indeed - the clear message is that the structure of the sport is still one of deals done in motorway service stations. Ambitious clubs would do better to spend their money on taking people out for lunch than in drawing up architects plans for new stadia or glossy franchise bids.

I suppose the one good thing to come out of this is that it does fully open the door to a franchise bid from Stade Francais or anyone else with a bit of a cash and the back of an envelope to draw up a plan on.

contract law?

depends on what terms the RFL agreed with the clubs.

A change in agreement? Have the Championship clubs voted to accept this change of agreement? Pound to a penny there has been no consultation with member clubs (yes they do exist below Stupid League) This isn't the issue. They were voted in/ accepted under false pretences, which Toulouse have unwittingly brought to our attention as is the French way to boast.

Lets face it we don't need much of a TV deal to match what the RFL currently give to the Championship clubs

HKR fine example financially ruined by SL 3million in debt and rising, but im sure you will overlook that causethey are already their

the statement about the tv deal proves its money and nothing else, looking at what TV deals have done to football a sport that it now both morally and financially bankrupt they you can keep your SL for me , lets hope your club doesn't have to make way for a club from Scotland or Ireland one day, may be then you will accept that the RFL are slowing killing the game

how may failed expansion clubs do we need before they get the message
gateshead Failed
gateshead hull nerger failed
hudds eagles merger failed
PSG failed
celtics Failed(saved by moving north)
quinns Failed after 20 years and still no crowds(but their no interested in crowds)

need i go on

UK contract law is notoriously arcane, and legal proceedings generally go on for years. It's not even certain that the agreement would be considered a contract as such.

I'm not saying that there isn't a case for feeling aggrieved, just pointing out the practical difficulties in using the courts as a vehicle to gain recourse.

We should bombard the next boots n all programme to see what the sky paymasters think too. Stevo must be secretly squirming inside and phil clarke is always good for a quote!

I've requested the following petition...
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to prevent the
RFL from changing Super League licence criteria for Toulouse
Olympique XIII

Investigate and prevent if necessary the governing body of
Rugby League from altering application criteria for clubs that
they favour. The licence application process is supposed to be
a fair and transparent process but so far it appears to be
neither.

I will post the link if and when it is created..

Whoosh!Obviously the crux of this debate has bypassed you.

HAVEN4EVER

come on this board enough times & you will realise there are a number of people on here who's whole lives are based on the 3 wise monkeys.

read the papers mate thay are playing some games at widnes until the ground is ready.

You don't need to sign it if it is accepted. They can do no wrong in your eyes.. we accept that.

how about a vote of no confidence in the lying duo lewis and wood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you got enough names on this petition that would force a vote of no confidence.. you can't simply petition for a vote of no confidence I'm afraid. It needs to highlight a reason for the vote in the first instance.

See my reply to saints35 bulls0.

It's actually very difficult to sue for breach of contract even in relatively straightforward cases. Legal actions go on for years. In this instance you'd first have to prove that the RFL had a [ilegal[/i obligation to consult with member clubs regarding changes to the franchise criteria. That could be difficult as I'd bet that the agreements have been framed in terms that allow the RFL to do pretty much whatever they like.

I think Gordon Brown may have a few other matters monopolising his attention right now. You know - Afghanistan, the global recession, a General Election... that kind of thing.