Cas will go for Widnes and maybe Crusaders will go for Leigh but they have only said one club IIRC, so think it will be Cas for Widnes. The only thing that will change this is if Wakefield's community stadium plans don't go ahead and Cas's plans for Glasshoughton do go ahead... but Wakefield will be safe if they get planning in September and Yorkcourt start enabling works before Christmas.

I think the actual quote said "at least one club" though I might be wrong.

Toulouse have been invited to submit an application by the RFL, so they may be exempt, I will try and find the link but it was an official document that stated this

The sky money is there whether you have 1 away supporter or 100000 so the revenue from the away support is extra cash for the club, can any club afford to throw that away ?

Totally agree.

but Wakefield are only applying for outline in sept, something that cas already have, according to the wakey board , full planning will be submitted after outline planning has been granted, and a few of them are worried about that due to the so called nimbys and the highways sticking their oar in. guess we will have to wait and see

Do you know,I've thought long and hard about this one.Firstly,I have an intense dislike of Cas,I'll openly admit that.This goes back to my school days so I wont bore you with the details.
They have always played on the small town,punching above their weight excuse which to be quite honest gets more pathetic every time I hear it BUT for the more nostalgic traditionalist amongst us going d'arnt lane is an experience which most sports sorely lack these days but it is exactly that,nostalgia!
I almost feel sorry for the average glassblower but to progress and move forward the only way they can survive is to merge with Wakefield and have one community stadium in the Wakefiel MDC district.

One current Championship club is guaranteed a place in the 14 team SL (2012-2015) providing they tick all the relevant boxes.

The interesting thing that came out of the red button forum on the BBC yesterday was that that would still be the case even if all the current SL clubs can also tick all the boxes at the time of their assessment. A Championship team (should there be a suitable candidate) will be informed in March 2011 (I think they said) and the remaining 13 franchises allocated some months after. The team deemed the 14th best of the current SL will be the one to go in that scenario regardless.

Don't see how that can happen if all the right boxes are ticked.
I thought the idea of the franchise system was to tick all the right boxes?????

Do away with the Welsh folly.

That is what was said yesterday by John Ledger on behalf of the RFL.

1) SL is fixed for the next round of franchises at 14.
2) A suitable Championship side (if there is one) will be promoted.
3) An existing SL club will have to make way in that scenario.
4) That club will be the 14th best of the current SL even if they all make the criteria.

Of course the RFL are highly likely to have a safety net of multiple clubs struggling to meet their stadia deadlines having been warned of consequences in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

I agree re-stadia criteria but i don't get how a club could effectively meet all criteria set out and still lose a place the work and money invested to meet the criteria would mean f#ok all and be worthless!

is it possibole for various SL teams to be dropped? therefore going back to say a 12 team league for example?

at least 1 team will be dropped but SL will stay at 14 teams. Personally I think they should expand to 16 teams and a 30 game season, and include Widnes & Halifax in the new season, drop Trinity and bring Barrow in.