The club that gets the 12th SL place, and it won’t be Widnes even if we apply,will receive £1m in funding compared to the £1.7m the others get.So as well as having to build a squad and find players able to compete at that level they will have to do so with much less money.The promoted team are unlikely to be competitive and in turn relegation will probably be shelved for 2021.In my opinion.
I agree that it is likely that we would not be given the 12th spot, but should show ambition and go for it if we meet the criteria. I wonder if they will look to fill the vacant 14th place in the Championship, possibly with Newcastle but Rochdale and a few other clubs may have a view on that.
I think it is inevitable that SL will revert to a licensing system at some stage, with no promotion or relegation. I wonder how many current SL clubs would not meet the criteria for the 12th spot if they had to apply.
Given the unfair funding arrangement they are proposing the best thing would be if no clubs applied............................why should they???? If anything the chosen one should get more to make an even playing field.
Do Leigh really want a third one off season in SL ? are Fev really in a position to field a good enough side ?Are London given the infrastructure suitable? Toulouse....will covid be a barrier? can theysort aground in time etc etc etc
Leave SL to it..................all they want is a make weight for logistical purpose ,they are not interested in the 12 th club orthe game as a whole.
Some suggestions from League Express that L1 and Champ could combine with East/West Conferences and Top 4 from each play off.
East conference would be competitive: west would be Us, Leigh and Broncos against the rest.....
Not for me....
Imagine some of the scores!
I hope this is fake news
Very cushy if you are Hunslet or Dewsbury, more expensive if you are having to travel twice to London and three times to Cumbria.
All this would do is introduce too many weak teams to the league and reduce the quality of the rugby played.
From the sound of it this was a meeting of clubs, seeking a plan, probably fed with waiting for the RFL to do its job. Sounds a bit like a village football league tbh.
A revised format is needed but it has to be based on team standards to avoid stupid results etc.
From the sound of it this was a meeting of clubs, seeking a plan, probably fed with waiting for the RFL to do its job. Sounds a bit like a village football league tbh. A revised format is needed but it has to be based on team standards to avoid stupid results etc.
Agree entirely, Not sure that this proposed Conference format has any great merit, other than perhaps give a few clubs in League 1 a pay day from playing the likes of Widnes and other clubs who have decent travelling support.
In my view, a larger Championship league comprising 24 clubs, playing each other home and away, with a requirement for clubs to meet minimum financial standards and facilities within a specific time period. Like now central allocation of funds could be based on league position.
The spending cap should be commensurate with the financial status of the league ie less than SL cap to avoid the likes of Beaumont trying to buy promotion. Winning the league should be the most lucrative and prestigious trophy, providing for promotion to SL (if available). There could still be an end of season play off cup involving the top 8 providing a decent winning prize and possible a second promotion spot to SL. Maybe a 14-16 SL may be needed, but doubt that McManus and co would want to share the Sky funding beyond 12 clubs.
If SL is to become a closed shop with no promotion or relegation based on a say 5 year licence applications, thought needs to be given to the future structure of SL - number of clubs from UK/Europe and the licensing criteria. The RFL would then need to develop a strategy for the future structure and funding of the game below SL and its relationship with SL (if any) in the future.
It would be good if RFL actually gave some thought to the future structure of the game
“ ... It would be good if RFL actually gave some thought to the future structure of the game ..”
They always do, but the problem is that their plans lack any serious consideration of the best interests for the whole game.
Based on the evidence I see, it points to them always seeking an ill-judged quick fix followed by a another rapid change when things go pear shaped.
Looks like the SL clubs have pretty well decided to shut up the shop. The NRL works pretty well with 16 teams but the 12 team SL does result in repetitive games which in the end becomes same old same old. Leeds and Saints are bucking against Elstone now, but are only interested in their clubs tbh. They don't want expansion as it eats their Sky share.
Not sure about the 24 club league outside SL Frank. The clubs need to decide how many games is reasonable and work back from that taking into account of cup games etc. There will be a format that would suit us I'm sure, but first decide that they will run their own league without SL crumbs. There may well be no crumbs anyway after the re-negotiation. Wigan are already trimming costs with Cassidy out etc. more will follow.
The RFL seem to be between a rock and a hard place but going nowhere. Hopefully the non SL club meeting may make Rimmer sit up and take notice. It really comes down to them realising that the Sky Golden Goose is dying and that a new direction is needed. It may mean that the non-SL becomes PT to trim the costs. That would upset Degsy, but if he gets the thumbs down from SL he could decide that he would be better out of it.
The practice of selling Championship games with the clubs getting nowt for it really gets my goat. There may well be some TV deals for, say, the cup matches, but that should be a bonus.
Re-vitalise Championship, focus on our own Cup Comp, League Leader is the big trophy, and so on and see what works to pull the fans back.
I mean the old NFP had inequality: see games v York, Gateshead and Chorley Lynx as examples.
But Hunslet won it, so too Dewsbury.
The only way this works is with a low salary cap, which makes a huge gap between SL and the rest.
We went up and did well in 2001-02 because we played a December-July season and had extra recruitment time. That is the only way for me P/R can remain with a 24 team conference system.