Not over until the fat lady flushes but it seems to be heading that way

So we get to kill of a couple of clubs. Great.

Also fewer games may mean lower TV revenues. . .

I'd prefer us to go to 14 and get rid of the loop fixtures. In my ideal world that 14 would include Toulouse, York, Newcastle and a combined Cumbrian team. Unfortunately Newcastle seem to have gone backwards and in the real world I can't see Haven and Barrow fans supporting a combined team.

The future has to be franchises, its the only model that can help the game grow, but to achieve it, the club chairmen need to be willing to let go of the reins, and this is the hard part as we can see with the way that IMG are struggling with them.

Franchises should logically be based on geography, but also need to keep an eye on the heritage of the game and local rivalry. With that in mind, I'd go for an initial 12 team competition without P&R, but have very clear criteria for acceptance into the league for any club wishing to apply. If we do that, then we can grow from 12 to 14 or even 16 teams in time and eradicate the need for loop fixtures or suchlike.

The initial 12 clubs for me would be:

Leeds, Wigan, St Helens, Warrington, Catalans, Toulouse, Hull FC, Hull KR, Leigh, Salford, Huddersfield, (either) Cas or Wakey.

Then look to add as posters above have said.

As much as I agree that a franchise model would help grow the game, I fear it would have to sacrifice heritage clubs and traditional rivalries.

For a start, they'd sacrifice almost all of the West Yorkshire clubs. Then they'd push to merge the two Hull clubs, as well as Wigan and Leigh. The argument for would be to increase crowds and reduce the competition in the catchment area.

I envision a franchise league looking something like - North London Skolars, South London Broncos, Midland Hurricanes, a merged Wigan club, St Helens, Cumbria, Newcastle Thunder, York Knights, Leeds, Salford Red Devils, a merged Hull club, a merged Wakefield/Fev/Cas monstrosity, Catalans, and Toulouse.

The problem (or good thing, depending on how you look at it) is that there wouldn't be enough money to do it. Where would they build a new stadium in Cumbria? How would they support the London clubs, Midlands, and Newcastle?

But I think this is what IMG will be planning on doing.

That would work although I would add the bulls to that combination. A combination of Workington and Whitehaven might work. Unfortunately all these structures would take a lot of funding. Sadly the game is skint we need some rich benefactors. It’s not only rugby league that’s struggling top rugby union clubs are going bust . Funny old world when American football teams have bought into Leeds Utd. Look at the money Manchester City receives we are on a different planet to premier league football.