Whilst I understand your frustration , and even as a Cas fan , I do think you are being a little harsh on Wakey under the circumstances . Yes , you are absolutely correct that they went into administration , but they were able to do so confident in the knowledge that it wouldn't prevent them from applying for a super league franchise , as this rule had been ' wavered ' but not because of Wakey , but because of the Crusaders . When you look at the situation with the ground you are , again , absolutely correct in stating that Wakey have failed to fulfill their promise of a new stadium ( as have Cas at the moment to be fair ) , but there seems no doubt on here or on any of the other forums that Halifax ground is , at the moment , better than those of Wakey and Cas , and I would agree , but this has also been noted by the RFL , who will have awarded a point on the Fax application under stadium , but not under the Wakey or Cas application and , as has been stated on numerous occasions , this was not the only criteria of a super league franchise , and on all other points Wakey will have outscored you . Now , once again I don't doubt that you could have done much more on these fronts with the cash that SL clubs have had , and the security of 3 years in the top flight , had you been in their position , but the fact remains that you were not , however harsh that seems . Your main chance of a SL place was when the Championship applications were submitted , but unfortunately you came up against a very strong application from Widnes , there was absolutely no obligation from the RFL to promote a second championship side , and they did praise your application and actually gave you a second chance , but this may have turned out to be as protection for themselves in case , as has happened , a SL team was unable to continue , and they could save their own embarassment by promoting you . Rest assured that if a further SL team withdraws / Folds , you will be a shue in to fill their place , and rightly so . To be fair to Wakey their comminity work has merited a mention by the RFL to such an extent that they want other SL clubs to follow Wakeys example
In summary , and in a strange kind of way , it isn't Wakey that you should be angry at , it is the Crusaders . Had they not gone into administration in the first place , or having gone into administration , had they then decided to remove themselves from SL and not wait until yesterday , then you would also have been a SL club next year , as the RFL would definitely not have ' wavered ' the administration rule for Wakey ( or any other Sl club apart from expansion teams or Leeds , Wigan , Saints , Wire , Hull ) and Wakey wouldn't have been able to apply for a franchise this time around , Crusaders would have been out and Widnes and Fax ( the best 2 championship applications ) would have been in SL from 2012 .

Sorry if this upsets , and I know feelings are running high at the moment , and understandably so , but it isn't really Wakey's fault , they have , under the current stipulations of the RFL met with the requirements to be awarded a franchise for the next 3 years

everybody is angry about the RFL process and rule changes

It's funny, but had crusaders not pulled out and got the spot ahead of us, and indeed wakey, there wouldn't be anywhere near this reaction. Whilst many may not agree with the expansionist policy, we can at least understand it. We wouldn't have catalans without it, who offer more to the league that must not be named than many English clubs.

This is entirely different. Where wakey beat fax in the bid, are the factors which are predicated by their current membership of the league which must not be named, except one, Andrew Glover. The man with cash. And that worked so well for wakey last time, didn't it!

The wealth of junior talent in calderdale is second to none. The success of our junior amateur teams and school teams is testament to this. In that league, we would have a strong youth set up. We haven't now, because good young players want to go to superleague clubs with ft training. Who would blame them? Widnes bucked this trend as they knew they were a shoe in for the league that must not be named, and they could convince the mums and dads of kids that widnes would be the place to be to expedite their development.

It's not being harsh, its dealing with the shock of an outrageous turn of events.

No, it really isn't, is it?

Wakefield area (i.e. inc. Cas), pretty much dominate schools RL. For example, Outwood are about to win the National schools cup for a record 3rd year on the trot for a single age group.

I'm sure the Calderdale amateur clubs win everything...in Calderdale.

Do a bit of research would you... brooksbank. A similar record you'll find. Don't make this personal. You're undermining you're already feeble argument.

The whole franchise system is killing the game. There is no other sport in the world where you judged by everything except what happens on the pitch. It's an absolute farce and todays decision does not change my opinion in the slightest. I'm all for expansion, but they should have to start at the bottom and work their way up.

i only have detailed knowledge of one age group, as it is a group i regularly watch.
yorkshire champions u16 siddal
yorkshire champions u18 siddal
national cup semi final u16 king cross park (missed out on a last play try)
national school champs last 2 years brooksbank u15s ( in final again this year)
national school final this year brooksbank year 7s.
every single one of these players is from halifax.
players snapped up by bradford bulls in u16s this year alone- 6 (of which i know)
halifax players playing for england at u16s- 4, one of which captained the team.
many more players have signed at other teams, mainly from siddal and king cross park amateur clubs, siddal being arguably the best amateur team in the country(open age)

do not tell me that any area in the country produces better rl talent year after year than halifax.

My argument is nothing to do with Wakey or Cas I respect them both and I hope they do well.
They have been through the mill and the new guys in charge seem as though will do a good job.
As said on several other posts it's the RFL that set out a criteria and then just change the rules to suit which renders all the hard work done by the clubs worthless.
I just can't see how any clubs know what to do and what areas to work on when it may well change at anytime to suit the RFL.

I agree at least with promotion and relegation we all knew where we stood.

Can anyone honestly say what they need to do to go up right now and even if they could would they be prepared to put money on it not changing within the 3 year run up to the next set.

if it is to franchise then it must be out in the open, clearly set and not altered within that period.
if after the period any club or clubs meet the criteria they shoud be allowed to go up and not be excluded by limiting the number of teams in Super League which is the case at the moment.

You could work your nuts of for 3 years tick every box and stil not get in to SL.
As you righlty say no other sport in the world would allow this to happen.

Well, that sounds brilliant. So what's the excuse/reason that Fax can't/won't run a scholarship?? That sounds crazy.

Well that is just the point . As far as I know we did and the RFL made us give it up as they said only Widnes in the Champ could run one. Then we lose ground for not having one and people wonder why we are feeling cheated

Simple..... Cost!!

Widnes ran a scholarship and ploughed £1million quid in to run it I believe!! SL clubs get sky money. As the club can't run a FT scholarship we do what we can with the service area etc. But money along with a FT environment wins every time!! Do you not think we'd like to keep our burgeoning young local talent?? However you raise it as an argument I'm pretty certain Sheffields scholarship is not the same as a SL scheme and is backed by funding / grants as still seen as a development area! If the Eagles ever tick a box they'd shoot to the top of the pile!!

On the money avaiable you can only do so many things and Fax had to spend most of the funds avaiable on other things and don't forget the RFL set the criteria and told Fax what they had to do and the order in which to do it.

Now through volentary donations, sponsered walks etc from and by the fan base £20.000 pound out of the £25.000 needed to run the under 23's has been raised and the rest will follow.
The hard times that the RFL will readily mention as a reason for stadiums not being built applies just as much elsewhere.
Bricks cost just as much as boots.

Fev run one(?).

To the same standard and cost and in a FT environment as a SL club? I doubt that very much?? But open to you proving me wrong