Salford and Cas have done some earthmoving on their sites. Wakefield's has no plans, no funding and in fact seems to consist of nothing but a press release and Rodney Walker showing his face from time to time.

we could say we are the halifax from another country there is another halifax in canada or something isnt there we could trick them

Would the RFL put on "FREE " busses do you think??

I heard that Castlefords funds for their new stadium were tied up in the Olympics and so nothing would be even started until the Olympics were over.

No, it was a 'Minestrone'.

they would do anything for a team from a different country.

Is that you shooting your Ten CC for the day?

Only coz 'I don't like cricket'.

Don't believe him....he loves it!

You know I'm 'Truckin right'.

I think the next round of franchising is make or beak for the RFL and the sport, very serious stuff. Anyone with half a brain cell knows that the last round of franchise was an excuse to get Celtic and Salford into super league.

This time round, there are many strong clubs in the national leagues, who aren't in "development" areas and many clubs in super league who aren't so strong. when these license applications are compared, i feel there won't be much between them. Will the RFL be forced into cutting some super league clubs in favour of national league clubs? I can't see how they can avoid this if the process is completely transparent.

If not, where does this leave these strong national league clubs? Another round of exclusion from franchise will hardly raise interest in the sport here and national league clubs will suffer. I don't want to sound like a "flat capper, (yawn)" but if you destroy and demoralise the game where it is strong, the whole thing goes belly up. A house won't stand without foundations.

It will be interesting to see how the RFL deal with the clubs that spun them a line last time.

I fear they won't and tough times are ahead

its an absolute bloody disgrace

Good post.
Will the RFL have the 'bottle' to make the right decision?
It will go either the same way as before and they will stick with the existing SL and the policy of 'expansion at all costs' mentality OR they will decide on the clubs who fit the criteria best.
As you say the worry for us and the other Championship clubs is will they really relegate anybody from SL, especially the weaker clubs Harlequins and Celtic Crusaders (based on support)???
My fear is they won't for two reasons, one is fear of a legal challenge and the other is ' egg on face' if they kick out Harlequins and Celtic Crusaders as its an admission that expansion has not worked or the clubs with grounds that do not fit the criteria properly, Cas, Salford and Wakey..
It should be based on the criteria and NOTHING else, not well this club 'has plans for a new stadium' and this club is a special case 'cos its in London, Wales or France, (They all get a point for being where they are anywa) or it would damage this club if we kick them out of SL.
It would be a huge kick in the teeth for us, Widnes and say Leigh if they kept in say Cas, Wakey, Salford if they don't get their grounds sorted or Harlequins and Celtic Crusaders if they keep getting very poor crowds.
I hope I am wrong, something tells me one will get in and no more and it will be Wakey that get the chop as they will never admit it aint working in London or Wales..

No such thing. For all intents and purposes it's a "private members" club an they all signed a clause stipulating that they cannot bring legal action if the "club" kicks them out. Your second reason is spot on - egg on faces if Celtic fail.

I know it sounds very nasty but I hope they do as they should never have got in SL in the first place, I won't change my tune.
It should have been Widnes imo as they were ready apart from a financial blip which they got over just as quickly as it happened.
Us and Widnes should get in SL next with Celtic Crusaders and one from Wakey and Salford if they don't have their new stadium actually ready kicked out, Wakey have no excuse they promised a stadium improvement that never happened when they got in last time.

Latest on Salford:

[url=http://viewtopic.php?t=417300Reds stadium update[/url

"All partners in the development remain in a very positive mood despite the setbacks we have had to face from time to time. Confidence in the delivery of the development within the timeframe remains high due to the quality and strength of the development team partners"



[iReds’ Chairman, John Wilkinson said:

“We have the land, we have planning permission and we have a very supportive and highly qualified team working this project through and it will be delivered". [/i

.........we have ............... no money to build it.

[size=150Still confident of that timeframe - which was by the START of 2010 originally. [/size
[urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/feb/15/rugbyleague.superleague[/url


I'm reading it...................the words are really there ................



I really feel sorry for the Salford fans. None of this is their doing. They're still being fed this rubbish. Not so sure the RFL will digest it so easily next time round either.

[urlhttp://halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article.php?id=153[/url

Great to see the cladding going up!!

Clad......but still very scantilly!!!

Very good, noticed on Sunday that the steelwork to hold the cladding up ect was pretty much completed, It'll actually look like a stand once this is on and not a building site

goes against lot of my thoughts as usually prefer scantily clad things.

Salford update:

[url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5408361,00.htmlCompletion date moved to 2011 - probably[/url
[iThe stadium is not dependent on LSC funding. People have seen the LSC funding go and assumed we cannot build the stadium - not true...I always said 2010 but I think if I am very honest with myself I think we shall be playing our rugby there by 2011.[/i
[uJohn Wilkinson[/u

Righto John.

Which has just reminded me, anyone else heard they're after Gavin Henson!?

Yeh, John Dixon said he'll have him, if he'll play for £2.

Went on to say they're far more interested in investing in their youth development and bringing their own players through.

Thats better

I heard it was Jim Henson!.

It's time to play the music,
It's time to light the lights,