Halifax RLFC Independent Supporters Trust

PRESS RELEASE – 1st August 2011

In light of recent events regarding Halifax RLFC’s failed bid to win a Super League franchise for the 2012-2014 seasons, members of the Halifax RLFC Independent Supporters Trust committee have been inundated with calls and emails of support from all walks of the rugby league community. It is this support that has spurred us into action.

Many have expressed their concern at the events both in the build up to last Tuesday’s announcement and many more surrounding the statements and “post decision” interviews that were issued and given by the RFL hierarchy in the aftermath of Halifax RLFC’s failed Super League bid. We feel the fundamental problem of our game goes much deeper than that, put simply . . . . No Promotion or Relegation.

Therefore the board of The Halifax RLFC Independent Supporters Trust have decided to take a stance. We intend to challenge the integrity, as well as the decisions being made by The Rugby Football League, who without consulting the paying public of our great sport continue to make ambiguous decisions that we feel are not in the best interests of our game. Also this decision is not based on, nor is it a direct attack on any of our fellow rugby league clubs, they can only undertake and look to meet the “franchise criteria” asked of them. Indeed we wish all fellow rugby league clubs the very best of luck during the remainder of this and forthcoming seasons.

However we do feel that our sport is being strangled by the very people entrusted in supposedly driving our sport forward. We feel the RFL through adopting the franchise model in 2009 is killing the game we love and is choosing to ignore the heartlands in favour of expansion at any cost. The current plight of Crusaders coupled with the return to the French League of Toulouse shows that expansion is failing and we already know promotion and relegation is no longer advocated. . . . . Why?

How can our game be a sport without the real possibility of promotion and relegation? – To quote Kevin Sinfield highlighted during an interview with BBC Sport in May 2005, just after the new franchising system was launched "The great thing about sport is competition - relegation is intrinsic to that." - We agree.

What incentive does an ambitious club outside of Super League have if the parameters / criteria of the franchising system keep changing, with new goal posts added or indeed removed at will to suit the RFL hierarchy at that time? The gulf in finances and investment between the top 2 tiers is getting wider and wider and worryingly for any aspiring Super League teams the elite league appears to be a closed shop or at best a masonesque type members club. We have questions a plenty and want answers, not just for Halifax RLFC but for the wider rugby league family on where our game is being taken.

Therefore as an independent voice in support of Halifax RLFC we intend to let our concerns be seen and most certainly heard and we fully intend to challenge the legitimacy of a franchising system that fails to keep to its own “minimum standard criteria” blueprint; more importantly ask why a governing body chooses to strip our game of the true fighting spirit from which it was born out of on 29th August 1895 i.e. Promotion & Relegation.

We are therefore looking to kick-start our “Hate RFL, Love P&R” campaign by staging a protest on Thursday 11th August at the Halifax RLFC v Widnes Vikings game and we invite all rugby league fans to help us to take the fight to The RFL.

Our intention for this event is via the use of banners, flags, t-shirts etc (as the game is live on Sky TV) to voice our concerns. This is merely the start of our battle and it really doesn’t matter if you are a Halifax RLFC supporters trust member; or even a Halifax RLFC supporter or not, join our protest, come along to the game and show the RFL we are to be taken seriously.

What we want and need is a collective, coordinated effort; as we will be much stronger shouting and making a noise together rather than pulling in different directions. We intend to get answers to the many questions we and the rugby league community have. This initial protest will be the mere start, we have lots of ideas but we would welcome input and support from anybody interested in supporting us on this journey.

We will have more news on our plans shortly and we hope you will support us. If you would like to ask any questions or you can pledge support to our “Hate RFL, Love P&R” campaign please contact:-

Chris Smith on chris_smith1975@hotmail.co.uk (Vice Chairman)
Linda Kitson @ johnlindakitson@btinternet.com (Chairman)

Let’s make rugby league great again, together we can and will achieve our dreams.

Thank you

The Board
Halifax RLFC Independent Supporters Trust

Halifax RLFC Independent Supporters Trust

PRESS RELEASE – 1st August 2011

In light of recent events regarding Halifax RLFC’s failed bid to win a Super League franchise for the 2012-2014 seasons, members of the Halifax RLFC Independent Supporters Trust committee have been inundated with calls and emails of support from all walks of the rugby league community. It is this support that has spurred us into action.

Many have expressed their concern at the events both in the build up to last Tuesday’s announcement and many more surrounding the statements and “post decision” interviews that were issued and given by the RFL hierarchy in the aftermath of Halifax RLFC’s failed Super League bid. We feel the fundamental problem of our game goes much deeper than that, put simply . . . . No Promotion or Relegation.

Therefore the board of The Halifax RLFC Independent Supporters Trust have decided to take a stance. We intend to challenge the integrity, as well as the decisions being made by The Rugby Football League, who without consulting the paying public of our great sport continue to make ambiguous decisions that we feel are not in the best interests of our game. Also this decision is not based on, nor is it a direct attack on any of our fellow rugby league clubs, they can only undertake and look to meet the “franchise criteria” asked of them. Indeed we wish all fellow rugby league clubs the very best of luck during the remainder of this and forthcoming seasons.

However we do feel that our sport is being strangled by the very people entrusted in supposedly driving our sport forward. We feel the RFL through adopting the franchise model in 2009 is killing the game we love and is choosing to ignore the heartlands in favour of expansion at any cost. The current plight of Crusaders coupled with the return to the French League of Toulouse shows that expansion is failing and we already know promotion and relegation is no longer advocated. . . . . Why?

How can our game be a sport without the real possibility of promotion and relegation? – To quote Kevin Sinfield highlighted during an interview with BBC Sport in May 2005, just after the new franchising system was launched "The great thing about sport is competition - relegation is intrinsic to that." - We agree.

What incentive does an ambitious club outside of Super League have if the parameters / criteria of the franchising system keep changing, with new goal posts added or indeed removed at will to suit the RFL hierarchy at that time? The gulf in finances and investment between the top 2 tiers is getting wider and wider and worryingly for any aspiring Super League teams the elite league appears to be a closed shop or at best a masonesque type members club. We have questions a plenty and want answers, not just for Halifax RLFC but for the wider rugby league family on where our game is being taken.

Therefore as an independent voice in support of Halifax RLFC we intend to let our concerns be seen and most certainly heard and we fully intend to challenge the legitimacy of a franchising system that fails to keep to its own “minimum standard criteria” blueprint; more importantly ask why a governing body chooses to strip our game of the true fighting spirit from which it was born out of on 29th August 1895 i.e. Promotion & Relegation.

We are therefore looking to kick-start our “Hate RFL, Love P&R” campaign by staging a protest on Thursday 11th August at the Halifax RLFC v Widnes Vikings game and we invite all rugby league fans to help us to take the fight to The RFL.

Our intention for this event is via the use of banners, flags, t-shirts etc (as the game is live on Sky TV) to voice our concerns. This is merely the start of our battle and it really doesn’t matter if you are a Halifax RLFC supporters trust member; or even a Halifax RLFC supporter or not, join our protest, come along to the game and show the RFL we are to be taken seriously.

What we want and need is a collective, coordinated effort; as we will be much stronger shouting and making a noise together rather than pulling in different directions. We intend to get answers to the many questions we and the rugby league community have. This initial protest will be the mere start, we have lots of ideas but we would welcome input and support from anybody interested in supporting us on this journey.

We will have more news on our plans shortly and we hope you will support us. If you would like to ask any questions or you can pledge support to our “Hate RFL, Love P&R” campaign please contact:-

Chris Smith on chris_smith1975@hotmail.co.uk (Vice Chairman)
Linda Kitson @ johnlindakitson@btinternet.com (Chairman)

Let’s make rugby league great again, together we can and will achieve our dreams.

Thank you

The Board
Halifax RLFC Independent Supporters Trust