Correct........but will it be a bigger gap, or an ever closing one?

I feel that the game so far the has made the difference to our league position was the home game to Toulouse. We would have own that game had the ref not given the try that never was. Looking at the league now the top 3 teams are all full time, then Fev who have had a strong squat and well drilled for the last couple of years. So at this moment I think 5 in the league is not a bad place to be, also a few more wins and a bit of luck with other results may see us get a 4th spot.
I know people like to moan and this site was fairly quiet when we were on a 7 game winning run. We lose 2 and its all doom and gloom. With our size squad, injuries, all things considered I think we are performing well.

I still can't get my round some of it though.
When the coach himself as previously posted says.
"That either means I’m not getting the message across, the game plan needs to change or the personnel need to change.”
There clearly is something wrong and it's ongoing over a period of time and the coach doesn't think we are performing to the required standard.
What are supporters supposed to do when they see and read this and go to games that confirm it, where penalty after penalty are conceded, set after set are not completed and we can't seem to mount a serious attack without dropping the ball or running round like clueless, headless chickens game after game, just say ah well it's because we have a small squad.
From as a spectator event entertainment value the games are poor quality to watch.
Personally I'm not having a critical lets knock the coach or club moan for the sake of it but the book stops with the coach, it's not getting sorted and I'm struggling to understand why.

I understand all that. giving penalty's away all the time and dropping the ball is something the players have to address. Discipline can be spoken about in training but its up to the individual during the game not to break the law of the game, whether is messing with the ball giving the other player a quick face rub, these are conscious actions by the individual. These can be cut out totally by the players not doing it. Dropping the ball ? our team are semi professional and played the game for years. They play at a high standard and must have shown good skill to get where they are. Maybe its lack of concentration or enthusiasm.
I don't have the answers, as I said in my last post, we are 5th in the league, small part time squad not much cash, it could be worse (it could be better!) Im just trying to be realistic. I would love Fax to all conquering but we are not that club at the moment. We are sitting behind 3 full time clubs and a club well drilled who have been consistent for many years. Lets hope we get the win at Sheffield and see what happens from there.

Okay as I see it from what we think we know and being realistic for the foreseeable future.

We will be behind 3 existing full time teams regardless of what happens in the middle 8's, plus Fev and Toronto (F/T) next season.
There will be the challenge from other sides outside of these who on their day can play a bit and turn us over.

We have little money, a small squad that has question marks about it by the coach and will likely see some changes depending on circumstances.

The hope is that we will be able to get a side that gels, cuts out the bulk of the errors and plays out of it's skin based on some skill and team spirit supported by some of the lads coming through from the reserves (if we can afford to keep running a reserve side) and the dreaded DR / loan deals and in a regular season finish 5th or 6th or by a fantastic season somehow sneak into the top 4, that's if the middle 8's are retained.

Fair enough I can understand that and live with it provided we give it a real go and for now just see how things pan out.

There will be no middle eights from next year onwards. That was sealed the moment Hull KR got relegated. The SL clubs were happy for there to be pretend promotion and relegation, but they will vote to get rid of it all together now a club has actually been relegated.

I have heard rumors and posted about them.
Do you think there will any form of up or down, be it 1 up 1 down, some form of franchise, something else or will it be back to a closed shop with no one going anywhere?

It won't be a closed shop, they've got to get the icons back in there somehow.

I think they will bring some form of franchising back in. Where they decide every three years who gets to be in the club. Tolouse and Toronto will be promoted then a closed shop from there onwards, with the odd move from heartlands to expansion.

We'll be much the same as we are now.

It's not ideal but no one's come up with a better plan.

The big disadvantage for me is not knowing your fixtures for the last two months but folk seem to cope with it in - for example - Scottish or Welsh soccer.

Top goes up, bottom comes down.