I know right now that feelings are running high regarding the RFL decision not to grant us a license for 1212-1214 but can I stress that we have to try and put this behind us and move forward. The appropriate persons to deal with this are the board, and Michael Steele has admirably made his feeling very clear in the press regarding what has happened. I have also read the view of Mike Riley on another post and he rightly is frustrated and annoyed by what has happened. The BOD and many support staff at the club who are both paid and unpaid have all given more to the club than their call of duty and I am privileged to know many of them and the work and time that they have given is not to be bettered anywhere else. I’m not saying that we have to accept this decision lying down but the only way we are going to make any sense of it is with dialogue between the RFL and our BOD. It’s not Wakefield’s fault that they have been given the license we craved or indeed, arguably should have had, it’s the men in power that have unfortunately been voted in by the SL chairmen that have done this.
I’m as gutted as the next person but we have to keep our focus on Halifax RLFC. Alright! We have a few games left until the end of the season and possibly some playoff games. What we need to do is focus on this and maybe we can get to another GF, we can then start planning immediately for next season and beyond. We have a new coach to recruit, new players to bring in that the new coach will obviously want, we have to continue to raise money to support our u23`s that the supporters trust have done a magnificent job of helping to finance, we also have to look forward to increased merchandising and hopefully a new shirt for next season that the fans would like to be available before Christmas and maybe a Bulls type offer on the season tickets, anything to get us re focused on our great club. We have to try to increase our fan base and if we can achieve that or if anyone has any great ideas not yet thought of that will help then tell the club. All I’m saying really is that we have to be `glass half full` and continue to stick together regardless of outside influence that we can do little about right now, but what we can do is to keep our chin up and soldier on.
Up the Fax.

Peter.

Well said peter. See you at the quiz tomorrow.

I think we will move on very quickly in some ways like getting behind the team and club etc but that does not mean we don't give the RFL hell for their actions in the meantime.
I know men aren't known to be the best multitaskers but I think we can do both on this occasion Pete.

The anger will take a while to die down. This season is pretty much dead as far as i'm concerned. A Grand Final victory would be hollow in the respect that prev iously such an appearance "ticked a box" and pushed Fax nearer to SL. What does it really mean in that regard now? Nothing, absolutely nothing. So, i now have to recondition my brain to equate a GF appearance/victory with merely pride in my club and that's it; along with the financial benefits to the club. We can win the GF and the NRC three times on the trot and i should be overwhelmed by that. But, should that happen i will at the same time witness one or two supposed SL clubs struggling, lying and cheating their way to yet another license.

It's a kick in the teeth and one of the worst kinds of elitism i've ever come across. I frequent the Sin Bin quite often on here. I see various posters decrying the Thatcher years and Tory politics yet the same two-faced posters extol the virtues of this very very "Tory-esque" eiltist club without realizing that it flies in the face of their so-called priciples. Those who laugh at our disgust today do so with a very "i'm alright Jack" attitude. They'd be the same if they had their club swept aside like ours was today.

I will always follow Halifax, that's never in doubt but my hatred for what the RFL have done today will live on forever. I hope they burn in hell.

Heavy that wasn't it?

Sorry.



Here's a cheery end ...........................................

If you read all the information on Crusaders, I doubt we will see them in the Championship next year either

But, doesn't the winners of the French comp have the right to apply for a SL licence for the next round ?

I wish I could be as positive about the future. I just can't see how things can improve significantly whilst the club is in the championship. I really feel this was our last chance for SL status. We met the criteria for SL three months ago but as of yesterday our bid was full of holes. Just feel the top tier of the game do not want Halifax RLFC because nevertheless how much we hate the likes of Woods and Lewis they do not operate in isolation within the RFL. They are part of a management committee that report back to all SL clubs and if there was a ground swell of support and backing for Halifax RLFC Woods and Lewis would have no choice but to reflect that. The fact that another so called expansion club has failed with another cost implication for the RFL i.e. the game should at least merit an investigation by the games administrators. But I am not holding my breath! Equally depressing is the future because I cannot see any liklihood that our position can improve significantly whilst in the championship. With the best marketing in the world we really can't expect to improve revenue streams given the secondary importance of this league. OK we may get a morale boost in the shape of Karl Harrison for next season and attendances will probably increase slightly but major sponsorship won't really increase because of uncertain economic times and the fact we are in a lower tier of the game with no promotion/relegation. I have heard some talk that the top RFL clubs want a SL restricted to just twelve clubs (some want only ten clubs) thereby getting a larger cut of the SKY revenues. Everything is against us! Also next year if the Crusaders are plying their trade in the Championship will they be subject to the normal salary cap? Phew I feel better now!

Dont be suprised if the crusaders and south wales merge .then they get double funding from rfl .go straight into the championship and will be back in SL in 3 years time