I am gutted, was told we were in.

Blimey, didn't see that one coming.



Allan Rowley - stand up and take a bow for telling it like it is...

Lewis - Franchising is working
Lewis - Crusaders have withdrawn their application

Laughable

Does'nt look good for Crusaders with the statement the board have put out. Theres a link on VT.

I've been following this forum for over a year now, and I finally have to put "pen" to "paper"! Some of the posts make me smile, some angry, and some I'm incredulous at. Usually the incredulous ones all emanate from decisions (or not!) from the so called leaders of this great game. How can they carry on running this game into the ground? Talk about bringing the game into disrepute. I was at Blackpool last week, and hoped that that day was a box ticked. Now I'm not so sure. These "old farts", to use an old adage, should all hang their heads in shame. Perhaps the threat of a breakaway is the only answer now, the New Northern Union?

To be fair, today they have righted a wrong from 3 years ago.

I can still still remember Dickie Lewis' brash statements on Look North West, 3 years ago.



Still, commiserations to the genuine Cru fans. You did not deserve all the shi'ite that you've been through over the past few years, but if the RFL hadn't rushed your club, maybe you'd be in a much healthier position now.

Will they ever learn?

To build an house you need good foundations unlike the RFL who seem to think they can 'build' on sand, resignations should come if not sackings.

Fred, sand is a good foundation it's clay thats not so good. Thats why they put it in bags to stop bullets. Sorry.

TV Boy. You do keep pulling out this old chestnut. The ability of sand to stop a bullet bears little (or no) comparison with the ability to resist a static load (ie be a foundation).

Dry sand can indeed form a good foundation. But get it wet and the effects can be quite dramatic.

So leave Fred alone.

Well I am gob smacked ,did not expect that ,as for Fax well they were always going to pick a SL club before one of ours

Well I am gob smacked ,did not expect that ,as for Fax well they were always going to pick a SL club before one of ours
Having bother with the forum ,anyone else ? keeps going off thats why post on twice

I dont know how he managed to keep a straight face through it all to be honest.

To be honest I thought he looked uncomfortable to say the least, especially with his continual nervous looks to his side.

He looked like he was waiting for Allan Rowley to appear and say 'GOTTCHA'

Glad Alan said what he did at the time ,even more so now

Makes last weekends efforts by both teams in Blackpool pretty worthless and sends out a sign that no more Championship clubs will be accepted into the elite by right.
Doesn't matter that Fax have ticked all relevant boxes, been awarded with an RFL certificate to confirm all standards met, complimented on our bid being very near to the Vikings bid back in March. Come the final decision, we are not wanted and it's highly unlikely that anyone else will be either.
RFL, What a Rite F*****g Laff.

So. After 3 seasons of this daft experiment we have lost 50% of our professional expansionist clubs. The French Championship clubs future in the British league looks to be over and gates are down for most clubs because of the recession.(presumably).

After today it does seem pretty clear that unless a Non Relegation club goes bust we are stuck with the system the vast majority of fans do not want forever and that we now have a fully fledged cartel.(illegal for commerce in this country incidentally because it discourages competition).

Had I been a Fax fan I would not be a very happy bunny today.

Quote ="TV BOY"Fred, sand is a good foundation it's clay thats not so good. Thats why they put it in bags to stop bullets. Sorry.'" bible.cc/matthew/7-26.htm Go in peace bible.cc/matthew/7-26.htm

Quote ="TV BOY"Fred, sand is a good foundation it's clay thats not so good. Thats why they put it in bags to stop bullets. Sorry.'" bible.cc/matthew/7-26.htm Go in peace bible.cc/matthew/7-26.htm

I knew that Church school education would be good for one thing in the future Frank

Well my lovely house is built on sand with no real foundations and its still there since 1920 and the is no movement. So ner.

you'll think so when the Stockport/Manchester fault line moves you'll own a bungalow then

Can someone explain to me just how all this is somehow better than clubs fighting it out on the field of play (the very reason people are attracted to the sport in the first place) for a Promotion and Relegation ? ?

Whoever lost there Franchise would always really really struggle to survive knowing its a minimum 3 year sentance to the Championship.

What is the future for Crusaders now, how the hell do there fans feel after 1 move across the country and then 1 demotion , a shabby and shocking way to treat any set of fans, but these are generally new fans to the game !

Lewis has to answer questions about his leadership in the franchising process and for me his position shouldn't be assured without some explanation.

IMO P&R should be introduced from next season with minimum standards and this franchise 'farce' has to be stopped before it causes any more damage to the professional & semi professional clubs in Britain and France.

Where's Scooter when you need him, he knows how to provide the alternate viewpoint.

I've no doubt the Shorpe scooterist will be back with his spurious arguements to keep the franchise system going.
I did say some weeks ago, both on the forum and in a (published) letter to the Rugby Leaguer that, in effect, non promotion or relegation will be the death of RL below the wierdly named "SuperLeague". Leigh are not the only club struggling to attract a backer. Also we are the laughing stock of every other sportsfan in the country over this wierd franchising system - even County Cricket saw the benefits of two divisions with promotion and relegation. The proof of its value, as I said before, was the fantastic crowds at the end of the last soccer season where the battle for survival took place in three or four games on the last weekend or so, with large crowds. When will Red Hall ever learn? Believe me mates - never! Also why have Toulouse pulled out? Obviously because the team was unlikely to tick any boxes for the next round of franchises, but suddenly, now they are in Elite 1 in France, have started putting together their application for 2015 already, (RL Express this week) so who do you think will get the idiots vote then? It won't be Leigh. Fax or Fev, you can bet your bottom dollar.