I can see both sides of this to be honest. The reality is though, if we were to go up, we might be on the telly but we’d get a hiding every week and finish bottom of the league. And if there is relegation next season, we would be down again, probably having over-reached ourselves to be there in the first place and therefore worse off than we are now.
And that is the problem gpo! If there were to be a two or three year break in relegation - that might make some sense, but I can't see it happening!
There are any number of players available, we would only need to staff up off field staff to a sensible level and there will be candidates available for that, there would probably be enough in the Sky money to accomplish all that. But do you trust the SL/RFL to give you a fair shake?
I agree that it is unlikely that any application by Widnes for the 12th spot will be successful and we are outsiders to say the least. I do not agree that we should not apply for that reason. An application could be used to highlight just how far we have progressed as a club following the disastrous management failings of the previous regime; and could be used to bring fans on board to promote the ambitions of the club for 2021 and beyond. A good chance for Simon Finnegan to highlight his ambitions for the club.
There is suggestion that the promoted club will be set up to fail. Why? I'll bet Beaumont does not think that for Leigh and neither will Toulouse, Featherstone and London who are full-time already. It will be more difficult moving from a part-time set-up to a full-time set up, which clubs like Widnes would face, but not fatal with £1m to spend plus any additional income from potential sponsorship, ST sales and match attendances. I am convinced that with a decent management, squad and coach, there is no reason why the promoted club could not compete in the bottom half of SL with relegation possible, but not inevitable.
As has been said, the logical choice would be Toulouse as part of the European expansion, provided they are a financially viable club albeit a small fan base (2500 average crowd in 2019) and not sure about the ground. It seems though that nothing is logical in RL. No doubt TWP will be keeping a close eye on the selection process and criteria
We're not included in the latest list so our admin counted us out. Luckily for them Bradford were out of admin and liquidation in the time chosen. A return to Odsal would suit the RFL of course.
Noticed that John Wells gave a hint that Bradford were the chosen option on last night's tv game.
Atm building up the club whilst maintaining the team has to be our priority. No club, no team! Talk is cheap but the game isn't moving on so fast to leave us behind.
I would not think that the Club would even have thought about applying for the 12th spot. Our financial position would rule that out even with the £1m from the SKY money. It would cost much more than that to get a competative team ready for 2021.
This Bradford obsession is a farce.
Toulouse are clearly the best option.
If they don't want to have another foreign team then Leigh or London because they are already full time and the transition in that regard is easier.
Won,t London have to find a ground to fit the criteria? Leigh and Featherstone already do. Bradford will also have to sort out a ground as the RFL still own the Leasehold to Odsal which they obtained a couple of seasons ago to save Bradford from going under.
Won,t London have to find a ground to fit the criteria? Leigh and Featherstone already do. Bradford will also have to sort out a ground as the RFL still own the Leasehold to Odsal which they obtained a couple of seasons ago to save Bradford from going under.d
I may not trust the RFL/SL but if you take a step back, they 'own' Odsal, put Bradford back and they have a justification for renovating it. The criteria have carved out the opposition and I'll be surprised if its not kept in Yorkshire!
Imo Toulouse satisfies the expansionist logic and would be easy to justify.
If the Bradford option was the plan before TWP were refused then it stinks!
Sorry if my distrust of our management shows through but I feel that the game is being 'Ruled' as we were.
Like sandgroper, I have zero confidence that the RL will make a fair decision.
Adding weight to my personal conspiracy theory is the fact that the independent chairman of the selection panel is a Yorkshire man and supports Leeds Rhinos.
Bradford - no ground and in financial turmoil since 2012 - seem a perfect fit for SL to replace TWP! At least TWP had a ground and a business plan. A disgrace if Bradford get the 12th spot and a definite fix. Any coincidence that the RFL own the lease to the ground, which has stood empty and a white elephant for the past year. Was there any justification ever given for the decision of RFL to buy the lease of the ground in 2012 or any current plans to redevelop the ground. Leigh, Featherstone and York - and even Widnes if they applied - have a better case than Bradford for the 12th spot.
I can’t see how Featherstone can get in with the size of their postage stamp ground and I would imagine they only average crowds of 2-2,500.
2000 average crowd is minimum and their ground holds at least 5000 so yeah, that allows Featherstone to apply.Notice how the stadium standard requirements are’nt as strict as they once were ? Probably due to the west yorkshire clubs playing in dumps and getting nowhere with upgrades or new grounds.
2000 average crowd is minimum and their ground holds at least 5000 so yeah, that allows Featherstone to apply.Notice how the stadium standard requirements are’nt as strict as they once were ? Probably due to the west yorkshire clubs playing in dumps and getting nowhere with upgrades or new grounds.
Ain't that the truth!
About time we insisted that all major games were played on full sized pitches!
Re Stadia, the RFL should have kicked Wakefield out alongside Crusaders in 2011 if they were serious about modern grounds.
They didn't because they didn't want to promote Halifax who have a better ground but smaller fanbase.
The likes of Wakefield and Hull KR who have been near the bottom this year will be made up, makes their chances of relegation much more remote.
So relegation awaits despite the steps to limit the chances of the team chosen for 'promotion'. Effectively, unless the chosen team throws its own money at it, you are chosen to be a makeweight punch bag for a season!
Who could resist a offer like that? We'll have to wait and see, but if offered, I could see Leigh giving it a go.
Lots of whispers that Bradford will be the 12th team included in SL next year. It will create an uproar that surely Rugby League doesn't need right now.
I think the majority would agree that Toulouse would bring the most and be competitive but I believe there are Covid issues around a second French team in the comp.
So promote Featherstone, they earned the right on the field which is ultimately where it 'should' matter.