No one is making a laughing stock of our game apart from idiots saying it's happening.

Watch the news about this, it's all "Crusaders are out of SL" end of story.

As for Fax not getting in, yeah I am gutted for them, but is it really fair to dump them in it last minute so they can only feed on scraps, we should know what that results in, they need more notice to prepare properly.

Besides, next season when Wakey STILL don't have a ground they cam get in then.

I certainly dont think the powers that be at fax would bother about being "dumped" in- but tbh I don't think they'll bother applying again- all that time effort and money to get screwed over because wakey have a millionaire backer- and don't kid yourself it's for any other reason. Jobs for the boys.

I'm not sure that's totally right. Like C13 says, Fax would have been short on preparation time and hamstrung slightly. However, whenever they get let in they will be at a slight disadvantage and this is partly why they get a 3 year crack at it.

For me, given the decision will not be changed, it is now about whether the RFL stick true to the rest of what they have said. If those that are promising stadiums and have been promising since the year dot still come up with hot air only then it will be interesting to see what action the RFL take. If anything.

I suspect the action will be exactly the same as it has been a lot of hot air. Warning letters and ultimatums with... A big fat nothing at the end.

for me if wakey,cas and bradford dont do something concrete in the next 3 years , i would demote all 3 of them, all have promised ground improvements but as of yet nothing to show for it, having said that i for one am happy that wakey have stayed in SL for now and sorry that crusaders have gone, as for fax could part of the problem be that one end of the ground cant be used cos its unsafe, plus the old stand is badly lacking in facilities.

the shay has its faults but it still better than what wakey, cas, salford, bradford and for me kr and leeds have to offer

not saying I dont think shay up to it but maybe thats were the rfl were coming from

The bigger point here is that the RFL have failed miserably at expanding the game, the crowds have not materialised in Wales, and I have to say London is not much better.

Is it time to say goodbye to London too?

Clearly the Catalan people have done a terrific job with the Dragons and this has worked wonderfully well, should a second franchise be made available there and expand where it works.

I can't see anything come from the Magic weekend in Edinburgh bearing fruit in terms of expansion, despite 2 attempts to bring the game to the people, most I saw, was the people from the heartlands visiting and spending money in Edinburgh - another epic fail by the RFL to expand the game!

To be fair- you'd probably be down there with them as well if it weren't for millionaire backers.

Yep maybe we would, and we have, but we haven't lied and cheated our licence/salary cap and we aren't here at the expense of anyone else.

Dewsbury? All them years you were handed the wooden spoon and they finished top of the NFP - and that was in the days before franchising. What about Sheffield Eagles and all that pulaver?

Also - we haven't lied per se, we submitted planning application for the ground long before franchises were due. Back further when we got promoted we said we'd upgrade the ground and we built the hospitality suite/benidorm flats/ celebrity squares whatever you want to call them.

You know what we would have happily gone down but SL wouldn't let us- was the best thing that happened to us look at how we kicked on from there whereas wakey are exactly where we left them second from bottom.

Its probably lucky for you we didnt get sent down cause we were the only team keeping you up for many a year! Oh and just like your lot keep banging on about that expect the same treatment over this debacle.

True...Fartown wanted relegation but weren't allowed it. It actually damaged us staying in SL at that time....BUT when we were relegated we rebuilt & kicked on. Relegation was good for us actually in the long run.

This decision baffles me. Wakefield have posted reasonable crowds, true, but have offered very little in terms of development of the game. Crusaders were posting as good a crowds as Harlequins, were developing the game in Wales, and were starting to develop a fanbase, who was one of the most diehard and fanatical in ESL, and they were 'allowed' to not continue their franchise. Super League makes me annoyed sometimes. Halifax were told to jump-start their ground building, and get their youth development up to scratch. They've developed their ground to a good standard, better than Wakefield, Castleford, Hull KR, even Leeds and Br*dford.
Halifax have kept their head afloat, Wakefield haven't. Halifax have added as much history as Wakefield. Halifax deserve their shot at Super League, they've won trophies, and they've given everything to recieve their place in this franchise period. Wakefield were told to improve their ground, they haven't. Halifax were told to improve their ground, they have.

What you're forgetting tho is that Wakey have a millionaire backer with a business plan!! Fax don't!

Watching Boots n all I have a feeling Crusaders were pushed, especially when Nigel Wood says they were being scrutinised in the last few weeks! Also the Wakey lot are saying they had a better bid than another Yorkshire club well obviously it's Halifax as they didn't make it it can't be anyone else!!

I still feel Halifax were hard done by and no matter what Wakey should've been sent down to prove this current backer means business and they would come back stronger ala Widnes. It would also prove that if you don't keep your ship in order your out so clubs can't rely on sayso anymore!

Why would the RFL risk alienating a wealthy businessman just so that Halifax with a worse application could have a crack? Franchising is unforgiving and not set up with a sense of "oh well, they've been out for a bit, lets give them a go!" - its about sustainable business plans and contributions to the game at large. Halifax haven't got any kind of junior set-up apart from U23's!

It's tough but justice has been done, hopefully though once the current SL teams advance "the product" enough to get even more sky money, then other teams such as Halifax could be admitted as the league expands.

Can't help but feel that this comment could come back around to bite you in the future.

Alienating? What about Widnes in 2008??? You should've gone down into the Championship for the next few years after all the promises you given over the last decade, then the champoinship would become a competitive league as there are goals to be had as with this decision it just shows SL is a closed shop, those already in will never be demoted no matter how much mess they get in!!! I still can't see in this financial climate you ever getting a decent ground in 3 years, plus what bargaining tool do you have now? You can't say your league position is at stake here now can you as again this decision has been proved!! Halifax ticked all the boxes required from them you didn't the only difference is a business plan which at the moment is just a plan! You were warned on many occasions get your stadium sorted which you haven't, just look at Salford and Saints did they really need to build theirs?? But they did because they felt the threat from the rfl was true.

Yes we will see in time just how you'll do and push on and I for one would be happy for you to progress and help create a competitive league but atm it's all hot air just like in the past all talk no action!

Up until very recently fax had a great scholarship scheme, the problem is 15 year old boys are a bit fickle! 5 lads from the school I teach in(in calderdale) have just got scholarships - one plays for England schoolboys. 1 to wire, 2 to hudds, 1 to Leeds, 1 to Bradford, if Halifax were in SL I would imagine that offered a scholarship at Halifax they would have taken it. If by sustainable business plans you mean fantasy promises well anybody can make stuff up but I suppose wakey have had more practise at it

Au contraire old bean. It would seem that franchising [iis[/i forgiving.


If you consider how many comments on the Wakey forum have been bemoaning the morality of the RFL over the past couple of months I find that statement to be just a tad ironic! Personally I'm not sure justice has been done, but given the lack of transparency in the whole process that's hardly surprising.

FWIW: It could well be that under Glover Wakefield are a better prospect than Halifax, but I can't see how it would have possibly been demonstrated. Such a decision would have to be based on conjecture and promises. I think Wakefield have been very lucky but I hope they do well all the same. We need a strong league. I hope Glover delivers.

Why would they need a bargaining tool?
Its well documented that the funds are already in place.

With the council and the objectors of any plans!

Which school do you teach at?

Quote ="wishy"With the council and the objectors of any plans!'" Not really sure where youre coming from with this. The council arent paying for the development. The council have already "approved" the plans,its now down to public inquiry. www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/ ... _1_2365837

Quote ="wishy"With the council and the objectors of any plans!'" Not really sure where youre coming from with this. The council arent paying for the development. The council have already "approved" the plans,its now down to public inquiry. www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/ ... _1_2365837