Quote: Charlie Sierra "But if
then that would not put
because Bradford would have been relegated and not entitled to play any part in next year's top 12, unless they somehow get more than six points back!'"
I think it would because you have no idea what the High Court will rule and what would follow. Lets say the High Court rule in favour of Bradford (I doubt they will BTW) and they say that the originally points deduction was unlawful! What happens next? Bradford claim mitigating circumstances for their relegation, claiming that the unlawful points deduction impacted on the potential outcome of the league and that had the points not been unlawfully deducted, they might have won more games and kept some of the players which left the club because of this. The RFL are stuck between a massive rock and a hard place. They can't just decide to keep Bradford up and relegate say Salford or Wakefield, because legal action from them would follow and they will most definitely win that battle!
Also, what happens if Bradford do finish just 4 point behind Salford or Wakefield and then after the season has ended the High Court rule in Bradford's favour? We have Salford or Wakefield claiming similar mitigating circumstances and then they will be hot-footing it down to the High Court to keep themselves in Super League.
The reality is that this will already be effecting Salford and Wakefield recruitment for next season. I think had the Bulls accepted their fate then it is fairly certain players would be happy to sign with either club now, knowing that things looks reasonably certain for playing in SL next year.
I think the RFL would have no choice but to wait until the outcome of a legal challenge was known and fully understood. Given there will be a cut-off point where the RFL would indeed have to say, sorry, we can't roll out a new league structure because of this and as such we have no choice but to say, as you where for 2015 and start again in 2016!