I am just curious as to the intentions of Feisal with regards to rugby league. I know he had dealings with Halifax before he had anything to do with us, and then he was involved at Wigan. Now it appears he has joined the Featherstone Rovers Strategic Management Board with a view to getting the flat cappers promoted to Super League.

I seem to remember that the last official word was that he was taking a back seat at Cas because he had personal and work commitments that he needed to deal with first. I don't see how rugby league could benefit his business unless he is providing Wigan with professional advice on fitting in players under the salary cap. I suspect he wanted more of a major role at Cas and was rebuffed by the board but I don't really know. Ever since his gesture of flying Vowles over from Australia, we don't seem to have heard that much from him.

He wanted access to the Tigers database. ie E-mail addresses of season ticket holders to promote Probiz. Tigers said no like Halifax did. So next stop - Flatcap land.

He claims he was rebuffed by the board but refused to disclose what he offered. He is now joining his mate Poskitt at Fev giving them the same big promises he made us.

I have no problem with any of these developments.

Faisal has had plenty to say and has managed the PR battle well, that is not a criticism it is a statement. Faisal is a young and dynamic business man who has high hopes and aspirations and is undoubtedly successful. He is looking for an opportunity to frame and enhance his business portfolio and needs a vehicle for that. At the moment he seems to be spreading himslef widely in a lot of directions.

Our board, for good or bad or right and wrong have protected our club from the financial pitfalls that have affliced many many RL clubs, even the last 12 months, Bradford, London again, Wakey, Widnes just before that, Crusaders etc.... so they must be doing something well - they have maintained a dignified silence of the Faisal developments, I never respond to speculation or react publically to staffing issues in my business, as a manager it is my job to shape the next chapter, not to bleat on about how it wasn't my fault something changed, so I would be keeping my powder dry and working hard, as opposed to tryign to demonstrate how much we tried to do the right thing.

Bottom line is that business relationships have to be mutually acceptable and in their values, behaviours as well as achieving an outcome. There seems to be a difference of opinion about investment and development and how that will reciprocate, but that happens all the time, so onwards and upwards.

Basically all this means is we will have a new shirt sponsor next season, its no big deal, we've had plenty before, and I'm sure we'll see plenty more in the future.

For all the purported information in the media and the speculation on the forums and terraces, all Probiz and their owner have done is sponsor our shirt for two years, and fly Ady Vowles across for a game, for the two years sponsorship I thank them for their support.

If Probiz are now to start an association with Feath, that will be they're forth rugby club, can you see a pattern forming here .................

That Feisal is interested until the club tells him he can't get his mits on the club because nobody actually knows anything about him or his intentions?

Then once that happens he sulks and goes off to his next team.

Fair play to FN, he has sponsored us and for a while gave us hope that he might be a catalyst for change. However as time has passed the nature/effect/cost of any wider input he may have been allowed began to worry me...rightly so if the ease, abandon and glibness with which he has again switched allegiences is anything to go by.

I find it a bit bizarre that there was never any official comment about Poskitt leaving. I don't know about the circumstances why he left but usually there is some sort of comment from the club.

Seems like a backward step to me for Craig. He might be able to bring in more sponsorship for them but Featherstone are not going to increase their fan base much whatever happens down there and I can't see them getting to super league, no matter how much they deserve it. Taking emotion and my dislike of Featherstone out of the equation, I think on a football basis they deserve a crack having done so well over the last few years, but I can't see what they would bring to the table other than another local derby for us.

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This quote baffles me and I have read it on other SL forums not just this one. What exactly should we bring to the table? Why are we any less deserving of a crack at SL than Widnes, Wakefield, Salford, London or even Cas. What do you or any of the above clubs bring to SL that makes you any more deserving?
Widnes won the Northern Rail cup then did nothing for 2 years. We have been the most consistent side in 2 seasons losing only 3 league games and whilst we might be a long way off SL on the field and to be fair off it we have the youth set up running U15, U16, U18, U23, teams funded without the help of the RFL and given the funding that SL clubs receive would give SL a good go.
There are at least 3 SL teams who don't seem to be improving year on year yet their fans seem to think they have the right to be in the top division on the basis that those in the Championship haven't anything to bring to the table, as i said, baffling.

I don't think anyone would have a problem with Fev joining SL (I certainly don't) as long as they were'nt replacing anyone. As I see it SL is watched by about 60,000 people on a weekly basis. Tigers and Wakey are getting about 8,000 to home games - if Fev were to replace either of those with attendances of 2,500 the game would lose a lot of supporters. SL cannot afford to do that at the moment. This is the reason (I think) people say "Fev won't add anything to the comp".

I have to agree with Tigerade on this.

On a playing basis alone Fev are the most deserving of Championship sides to be promoted to Superleague, however as everyone is aware, that is not the sole criteria on which SL entry is assessed.

When Cas went down into NL1 (as it was called then) we got average home crowds over 5,000 - more than a few SL sides - took 1500 to 2000 supporters to every away game and won the Grandfinal comfortably on both occasions. We were so markedly 'bigger' than the other clubs in the division at the time that it was easy to see a case for Cas being promoted back into SL.

The main doubt I'd have over Fev in SL is how big their crowds could be. With the novelty of being in SL and the assistance of some big away support especially in the 2 derby games I'd expect an average around 4000 in the 1st season. But once the novelty wore off and in the long term it's hard to see them maintaining that level of support or increasing it. Ultimately that affects their ability to produce the income needed to compete effectively on the field.

1 club achieving attendances of sub-5000 is more than enough in SL.

Rovers averaged nearly 5k before we were booted out of the top flight for PSG, if we got in super league we would average more than that now over time. The point you make about what we would bring to super league is exactly what is wrong with the whole franchise farce. What does it matter, we deserve a shot and im pretty certain we would bring as much as most other teams. The game of rugby league is not big enough to be elitest

We got 2,300 the other night against Leigh who brought around 150 fans, so do you think we would only get 2,500 in super league? most super league clubs would bring that in away support, i would bet money we would average at least 6k and would bet much more we wouldnt have the lowest average

Dont forget the club has 17 acres of land and have big plans for its use that will bring the club regular income, the plans are not just to get to super league and make up the numbers but actually win the damd thing. if we were very competitive in super league we would get the crowds i have no doubt. All we want is the same opportunity as yourselves, win the championship and have a go,

You would probably get 6K for the two derby games plus Leeds Rhino's. I think an avarage of about 4K would be nearer for Fev. But still better than London Bronco's - but we all know they won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

"All we want is the same opportunity as yourselves, win the championship and have a go" - Totally agree on that. You've deserved your chance.