[urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/may/19/andy-burnham-super-league[/url

Interesting timing. Putting party affiliations and personal views on MPs generally to one side, Burnham is a very high-profile politician and this sort of intervention has the potential to bring the debate out into the open and off the message boards, where discussion usually descends into self-interest. I had no idea his son was involved with one of the amateur clubs, but then again, why shouldn't he be?

Well I hope the people that be actually will sit up and take notice .

Well said Mr Burnham

When the new chairman arrives lets get thousands of signitures backing this campaign.

Is there an election in the offing?!

Seriously, I agree with every word he says - never thought I would say that!

Andy Burnham is very passionate about his sport and watches his son as much as possible at LMR, we all know things have to change and with him on board we may now start to stand a chance.

IF SL is a closed shop, then how did 3 clubs get in since 2009?
Its not the most perfect system in the world, and the judging of who gets in can be open to criticism - but what isn't depending on which side of the fence you are. But pre 2009 was hardly the best way to decide things either due to clubs teetering on the brink financially relating to relegation or going for bust.

Not many people on here would argue against a club being allowed time to bed in when going into SL. Not many on here would argue against clubs having to prove themselves off the field, and also what the club has to offer the SL competition before letting them in.

The only thing that niggles most people on this forum is the fact the bounce of a ball can't decide a clubs fate every season.

I can only use our club as example, but in the bread and butter games the crowds just did not support the old system. If Burnham could try to remember those games, instead of one off games against Leeds in CC he would realise the interest needed to be there.

So you`re judging the merits of P n R on our season in SL solely.

HKR haven't done too bad since promotion have they?

Nope, are you? Seems like you are.

I made some valid points that Burnham kind of forgets in his article. If anyone thinks bringing P&R back will be what fills the stadiums and raises interest on the weekly fixtures, then they are deluded.
Raising the profile of the sport is the massive challenge to the new person taking over - events like the SL GF and CC Final helps but its not enough.

No and liciencing hasn't done any good at all. The end of the fuzz all season is the reason it will bring crowds back. The playoffs in the lower divisions. The fights to avoid relegation along with the challenge cup and the GF. I have to say that the idea of not being relegated from SL in your first year is not a bad one. Clubs have to have a goal.

The interest is raised at the end of the season maybe for a couple of games. Maybe the team that drops is already known well in advance, and its the one game. The whole argument is mainly based on the excitement of the GF having more significance, and the possibility of Wakey v Cas again. But the bread and butter games, the ones that are played week in week out, paying the wages and bills are the most important because they effect the clubs finances rather than if we or hope so's of a GF. Raising interest, and creating the gameday experience of a battle on the field and electric atmosphere off it that fans will want more of and talk about so others want a piece of it as well. Licensing hasn't sorted this as yet, and as I say people are deluded if an announcement that P&R is back this season will sort it either. The crowds will barely change.

Yes but the next season the interest will still be there, and the season after and the season after. Increasing year on year. The game is stagnant with the present format. I agree that the game needs to be better promoted at every level but it would be a waste of time and money unless the format changes because the fans don't want what we have. Sorry a majority of the fans don't want what we have at the moment and their interest needs to be rekindled. I think the RFL would do well to spend some of the money they are planning to waste on expansion and do a poll just to find out how many fans have left this sport because of the way it is being run. RU are planning major changes to their game. Changes that will make the code more open and faster. If this game does'nt change now I will give the lot of us 5 to 10 years and we will be finished.

If the money was evened out a bit more instead of SL taking the lions share would ensure we were better positioned to advance,no wonder the bridge is too far for us to step over.I can remember the MP from near Huddersfield speaking out against the RFL a couple of years back and I would like to see an investgation into the goverance of the game . I have seen many people walk away from the game because they do not agree with the RFL view on Franchising so it`s time to let them know how we all feel.
What I don`t get is how do the RFL get grants from people like Sport England when they are not inclusive as they invite clubs into Super League on geographical terms. They are kept in regardless of how they are run or how much support they get whilst heartland clubs who helped to start the game do not get the same help.

Who was the chairman of SE ?

What did Hudds average crowd wise in their year below SL?
What did Salford average in their first year below SL?

Leighs gates in SL were not the worst, and considering the fiasco with the ground, the coach, the recruitment, the conversion from PT to FT in a few weeks, two down that year and being rightly written off by all and sundry that wasn't a bad effort.

Widnes were the last PT team to get promoted - GF was in July/first few days in August? - giving them 2/3 more months to prepare and they stayed up for 4 seasons until 2 dropped down to accomodate Catalans

If we went back to straight P&R we need our GF in July - followed by the NRC in August/September. My preference to engage all capable and ambitious clubs at present is two tens. It increases intensity at the top to create a real 'Super' Super League and allows a platform for clubs to grow in a FT culture at a level more even than straight into the current SL. P&R within the system with entry/growth criteria every 2 years.

What folk miss is that the closed shop only really effects Leigh, Fev and Fax at present. Sheffield don't have the fan base yet, and Barrow/Oldham/Doncaster are off the mark at present.

Can't really argue with that!!





All it needs then is to get the greedy current Sooper Dooper League clubs to divvy up the SKY money between 20 clubs, rather thann the ten they seem to want to give it to! (I'd love to see how the voting would go amongst SL clubs if they did opt to go down to ten! There must be 7/8 of them who could be in the running for the unlucky four!)

It can be financed from existing resource. Cats shouldn't get any, they should be looking for a French TV deal, that leaves about £700k per club in 2nd tier from the 4 down plus cats and the RFL £90k's. That should run a £1m cap in tier2 and make the transition to/from tier 1 achievable. 27 games then play offs, Game 1- 1v2, winner to final. Game 2 - 3 v 4, loser out winner away to loser of game 1 for place in final.Winner promoted to top tier.