Mate - you're not getting it.

The clubs decide what they want the RFL to do and the RFL does it.

That's the problem with the way the game's governed.

Sure - the RFL can make suggestions but they only happen if the clubs vote for the proposal.

God forbid.

I agree that the RFL have been poor in their overall supervision of the Sport, Unless we have an all powerful RFL, that sets out how everything is done in detail, each board will "interpret" the best way to run the clubs - however its important to keep in mind that they have had to tread a careful balance to avoid the Super League Clubs breaking away - and all of the top clubs, and some in the Championship, have strongly pushed against this type of controversial control step.

The present structures make it clear that whilst the RFL will regulate clubs retrospectively on the salary cap, they have no responsibility for the day to day finances of any club - that is clearly the duty of the board of directors. Legally a director must not spend money the company doesn't have or believe it will get. It is the "believe it will get part" which has been the downfall of so many clubs, including Fax in the past. Widnes appear to have spent all their season ticket money for this year in keeping going over the winter as they had no other cash to pay the bills. Fax and most clubs are are no different, we struggle during off season to have enough money to pay the bills, if we are properly run this is well planned for, if we are not we end up asking players to take salary cuts or worse we fail.

Our Board have a duty to ensue that the club is financially well run, we know how often in the past the push for onfield success has failed here and sadly it looks like that has been one of the problems at Widnes. You mustn't spend what you are not going to get and every penny you do spend needs to be accounted for and spent wisely. I just hope thats what our Board are doing.

Poor's not the word.

Every club is represented at the RFL.

Even in Will Carling's day, there were only 57 old pharts governing the RFU, representing around 1900 clubs.