I've posted it elsewhere - I'm sure the Wakefield bid was better than the Fax bid for the next three years. But it shouldn't have mattered! Wakefield should have been punished for failing to make progress on a new ground and going into Admin. They should have been removed from SL because they failed to meet the terms of the previous licence. They should have been treated in EXACTLY the same way as Widnes 3 years ago who had a big money backer, all sorts of great plans going forward and financial guarantees and yet were excluded because of previously going into Administration. Now, the RFL can spin this however they want, but they have rewarded failure. They could have sent a strong message to others by replacing Wakefield with Fax, showing how licencing was a genuine attempt to drive up standards. They have failed to do that and now fans are left wondering what on earth the licence basis for the next round will be, because this one wasn't the same as the last one and this is supposed to be about stability!

any links to this please?

Can't be any holes bigger than a company only 41 days old submitting a super league license application and then succeeding.

Submitting how they'd done so well in the past (nearly going bust only 41 days ago) and how they'll be a success in the future after their proven track record of 41 days.

Hmmmmm, sound business acumen there!

After writing that, I can't think how Halifax would think they had a better application then them.

This is where the RFL try and make themselves look credible by whispering to the press that HRLFC's bid had "considerable holes in it".

You mean the RFL would reveal details of the "private and confidential" applications. Surely they wouldn't do that.

You were told you had an application that was clearly Super League standard. You have been cheated out of a place and it makes my blood boil the RFL could embarrass the sport on a very rare day it could get centre stage. Would have loved the Bulls-Fax rivalry to have got going again and I truely am so sorry for you guys. I agree with your chairman you have been used and do NOT take this lying down.

The FACTS are that the stadium in the original licensing process (Thornes Park) did not proceed because WMDC (NOT the club) chose to scrap the plans (and in fact tried to wash their hands of any moral obligation to the club); BV will satisfy the stadium criteria by the start of 2012 (the judgement criteria for today's announcement); and we have been punished for going into Administration by virtue of a 4 point deduction.

The comparison on the financial aspect between today's decision & the decision Widnes got 3 years ago are miles apart. The rules were changed when Crusaders went into Administration last year in an attempt buy the RFL to manipulate the system to ensure that Crusaders would stay in SL.

Ultimately Crusaders withdrew their application & if Halifax's application was considered to be on a par (at worst) with Wakefield's then Fax would be in SL next season. The FACT is that the Halifax application was judged to be the worst of the 14 still being considered and that is why Wakefield have stayed up.

Wakefield fans have learnt over the last few years with the ups & downs of the planning process and the financial turmoil in the close season that all we can do is accept what's happened and move on with a desire to become stronger.

So Mr Rowley was wrong , was he ?

Are you suggesting the RFL are petty enough to let comments from an owner on the subject at hand affect their judgement in the future ?

How petty would that make them ?

Well the club has been told why they failed and on what areas so i guess we just wait and see if they tell the fans why. The interview on Look North with Ralph Rimmer was fun where he had said he had told the club why thy had failed but then when pushed by HG said he couldnt say why they had failed until the club were told.

The way Rowley whined and bleated was wrong, yes.

Steele has done the same thing - didn't work for Leigh and won't work for Halifax.

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

Oi, Taffy!!! Don't come round here with that "talking sense and using facts" nonsense!

Flash git.

Back to the original topic - what are we going to do to protest?

Organised sit in at the end of a game? Half Time Pitch demonstration like the one at Thrum Hall a few years ago?

We need to do something, organised and together - to show the RFL that they can't treat lower league clubs this badly.

Who is on Sky on Thursday?

il back fax a proper club. this system is turning everyone against each other. what do the RFL actually want from the game.