What I wish for is an end to franchises.

Why?

Perfect role for the Damo.

Kath Hetherington 8/13 favourite.

Warned ya.

Phil Clarke 5-4.

In an ideal world that would be the case, withe 14 teams in SL and the top teams in the Championship able to step up and replace theworst team. I reality that meant thr promoted team signing a good number of the players from the relegated team and dropping most of the players who helped gain promotion because they weren't considered good enough for SL. Players at relegated clubs had their contracts annulled.

The franchise system is about stability for the clubs involved, the investors in the game and the players. It is always going to have its opponents. The RFL will admit it's franchise system has had its problems but IMO the alternative would have been worse, although I cannot prove that.

Several clubs have moved to bette stadiums, mainly as a result of the franchise system where improvements in facilities have been part of the process.

IMO Richard Lewis has been an improvement on previous chairmen and has tried to bring the game forward. Maurice Watkins sounds like a good replacement. Lets hope he lives up to his billing. He seems to be involved in several other activities so I hope hiscommitment is of the required level to continue developing the game in the interim until a new CEO is appointed.

This would appear to be the dream move for Lewis.
I for one wish him well.
I also think that he deserves thanks for the changes he's wrought in the financial position of the RFL. IIRC they'd just overseen a disastrous world cup that left the organisation in debt to the tune of £2million.
We'll be lucky to attract as effective a CEO next time.
Clearly IMV certain club chairmen (knowing Lewis was leaving, he must have had to give more than a month's notice & he starts his new post at the end of this month) are setting their stall out in advance of any new appointment.
GH has been remarkably silent on this, I wonder why?

Possibly pessimistic? Lewis has been ok in my book but getting someone as good or better's not out of the question.

This is a great move for Richard Lewis, and a potential disaster for the RFL and Superleague.

A voice of calm and reason is leaving and I've got a nagging feeling that he's returning the keys to the asylum back to the lunatics.

Hopefully the game will use its common sense and bring in another independent Chief Executive who will treat the game as a business that needs to survive, and not a plaything that can be tinkered with at every opportunity.

I hope that I am wrong but only time will tell.

Richard Lewis is the Chairman of RFL, not the Chief Executive who is Nigel Wood.

I agree that this could be a potential disaster for the RFL and Superleague.

Good spot.