But, doesn't the winners of the French comp have the right to apply for a SL licence for the next round ?

I wish I could be as positive about the future. I just can't see how things can improve significantly whilst the club is in the championship. I really feel this was our last chance for SL status. We met the criteria for SL three months ago but as of yesterday our bid was full of holes. Just feel the top tier of the game do not want Halifax RLFC because nevertheless how much we hate the likes of Woods and Lewis they do not operate in isolation within the RFL. They are part of a management committee that report back to all SL clubs and if there was a ground swell of support and backing for Halifax RLFC Woods and Lewis would have no choice but to reflect that. The fact that another so called expansion club has failed with another cost implication for the RFL i.e. the game should at least merit an investigation by the games administrators. But I am not holding my breath! Equally depressing is the future because I cannot see any liklihood that our position can improve significantly whilst in the championship. With the best marketing in the world we really can't expect to improve revenue streams given the secondary importance of this league. OK we may get a morale boost in the shape of Karl Harrison for next season and attendances will probably increase slightly but major sponsorship won't really increase because of uncertain economic times and the fact we are in a lower tier of the game with no promotion/relegation. I have heard some talk that the top RFL clubs want a SL restricted to just twelve clubs (some want only ten clubs) thereby getting a larger cut of the SKY revenues. Everything is against us! Also next year if the Crusaders are plying their trade in the Championship will they be subject to the normal salary cap? Phew I feel better now!

Dont be suprised if the crusaders and south wales merge .then they get double funding from rfl .go straight into the championship and will be back in SL in 3 years time

Difficult to be positive after this farce.

BUT I am also worried that the handling of the MC affair last week could also be very damaging. I fear several of our players are unlikely to want to re-sign for us next year. Quite a number stayed this year because of the coach, following his lead and taking a pay cut (a certain few didn’t). They were here mainly because of MC and they are totally pi**ed off at what happened last week.