Quote: J20 "You need to look at it with a more open mind as well though, In total honesty I agree with the principles of franchising but I just don’t agree with the way the RFL are going about it and like other things, how quickly they implemented it without thinking it through.
You say it’s no better for the international game BUT would Widnes have invested as much in the academy if was P&R? Would Fev and Halifax now be talking seriously about doing so? No they wouldn’t. This stuff doesn’t change overnight! Would Widnes be running on a sound business plan now? Unlikely.
You guy’s were on here saying if you didn’t win this 100k it would be financial suicide (like we saw going for broke in 2007) yet now your saying your ‘plan’ is the best way to do things?
You go on about accepting mediocrity (one I don’t agree are squad start of the year was very strong on paper at least) but two, one of your posters said they’d feel cheated as a Widnes fan… BUT… Who cheated us more?
The board who spent more then the CLUB could afford to have a winning side on the park reaching Grand Finals yet then when it didn’t pay off on what is really an 80m lottery my club ended up in administration and (though highly unlikely) in a position where I may not have had a club anymore.
Or…
The board who got a grip of the finances, plugged a few leaks and started looking for some strong partnerships with other business. Still spent up to full cap but didn’t try and work around it pumping thousands in the first team for again something that may not guarantee SL at the end of the season? A board that has secured the long term future of my rugby club and is investing massively into the hot bed of local youth in the region? A club that wins awards as does it’s Chairman for business acumen rather than one that is pasted over back pages for financial troubles, contract breaches etc etc?
I still remain undecided on the franchise system and think they do need to make on the pitch have more significance… BUT you can’t deny the basic fundamentals are needed to stop another Fax (2003?) and Widnes 2007 from happening again, surely?'"
I sort of part agree with you.
I too agree with the principles of franchising and what it was supposed to do, by allowing clubs to build and bring through british players without the need to bring in more overseas players to ensure they beat the relegation trap. However I am not sure that this has happened as all superleague clubs, when making their announcements for next season are announcing Australian after Australian after NewZealander.
It does sadden me that promotion and relegation is still not here and I am one who thinks that we are not really ready, administratively, for superleague and I agree with some posters who say that, whilst Superleague is not really an option for the next four years (at least) what we can do is use that time to grow as a club, put in a full structured set up and be the best in our division.
I think we all can guess which Championship club will be in Superleague next year and I say "well done" to them. Yes you can say that they will be rewarded for a mediocre playing season, but they knew the rules and have done what is required of them.
The danger we, and other clubs face, is that once the licences for 2012 are announced will the "ticked box" be re-set. In which case we will not be able to accept a mediocre season to build the rest of the setup, as we will need to re-tick one of the boxes in the next three years.
