I was going to post this, but you beat me to it. Feels more like an idea being floated at the moment. As far as I know there are two or three clubs looking at League 1 next season (Manchester supposedly already have applied), so some sort of change seems very possible.

However, this suggestion is more extreme, and I put a lot of blame on Hemel for abusing their place in the league. Presumably the mechanism would be to reduce central funding, using whatever criteria produced the RFL's desired result, as that would effectively force clubs to withdraw. The article does talk about a national amateur division, which sounds completely unrealistic. But that might mean the disappearance of CLS doesn't make much difference (by which, I mean only on this topic and in the short term).

I think that's a bit harsh on Hemel tbh. Questions were beng raised as to exactly what value the expansion clubs were offering in return for £300k central funding well prior to Hemel's decamp to Yorkshire

Last time something this was done it was via relegation. Strangely Prescot actually paid a few quid in wages that season and escaped, much to the annoyance of some at the RFL. They were called Highfield at that point.

Edited to say none of the three relegated teams - Nottingham, Chorley and Blackpool - still exist. They were relegated to the National Conference.

Wouldn't read too much into it at this stage. He's had some previous 'stories' that have proved to be rubbish. Some of his insistences about Scotland getting 4 nations games and selling them out spring to mind.

If anything my bet would be on the move to a 'conference north/conference south' type model.

A contact up north is backing the fundamentals of this story up. It seems that removing some teams is an option being considered. As is doing nothing and various points in-between.

Unfortunately the decision to abolish the Conference South on financial grounds, which can't have saved much, suggests the financial winds ain't pretty and value for money will be closely looked at going well beyond C1 level.

It seems this may be on a bit of a backburner. Looks like they will sort out the top two division format first then see how many teams are needed for tier 3.