There's plenty of rumour around that the RFL are trying to jettison several of the 'expansion' teams - Hemel, Oxford and Gloucester (with maybe a merger and relocation for the last two named). There are also rumours that at least one other non-expansion club has serious money issues and may not be around in 2018.

So I think there's a strong likelihood there'll be few enough teams in League One to allow a proper 'home and away' fixture list, especially if, as we were told, the League 1 Cup is being scrapped.

The current fixture set up is ridiculous - how can you have a proper league when it's down a a random draw whether you play your rivals at home or away?

Aaah another successful expansion experiment. TBF Gloucester have made a great fist of it and i know their chairman was keen to bring local talent through rather than being an SL teams reserve side.

What happened at Hemel was farcical. Out of all the expansion lot, i thought they would be the ones that would make it. But they became Dewsbury reserves. Of course the RFL turned a blind eye

Speaking of reserves, i see 2 Hull KR first teams (Greame Horne and Zack Docker-Clay) scored for ST HELENS reserve side this week. WTF s going on. I know Fax supporters have played hell as many of their games have been cancelled this year. You have Fax and Keighley trying to run a reserve side, then get the farce of Hull KR (Who don't run their own academy entirely either) sending first teams to play for another clubs reserves. Stick a fork in the sport it's done.

Only in rl would we not even know the number of teams in our new league or even something as basic as do we play home and away. Shambles...we'll fit right in.

If we get Gloucester at home there has to be a cheese rolling competition down the rooley lane end at half time.

Of course, the thing about the sanctity of the league programme disappeared forever when, after playing all your rivals home and away, you still weren't the champions as you had to win a play-off fixture. Don't think the RFL would think twice, to be honest.

And with the introduction of an extra super special game, where you get drawn against a team based on whatever the governing body feel like basing it on that year rather than anything fair, to be played at a neutral venue.

So today's T&A seems to indicate those signed on for 2018 aren't now definitely signed on following relegation

Seems like there was a clause in the contracts then, which i expected to be honest.

WE really are showing our pedigree as RL trailblazers. While everyone else in professional rugby is worrying about the 2017 league we have already put that season to bed and are concerned with 2018. Onwards and downwards.

Spiffing. No idea who's playing for us next year then. No idea who's coaching us. What a great proposition. Where do I sign up for a dozen season tickets?

I don't get it, Lee Smith is quoted as saying he wants to play for us next season but 'there's nothing myself or the club can do about it at the moment'.

Why not? What is stopping the club from sorting out 2018 contracts now? Technically we've been able to do it since the anti tampering deadline passed months ago.

I think it may to do with budgeting for home games. Like this season teams in League 1 get magically selected who they play at either home or away. If nothing changes with the structuring of league 1 i'm sure the management will have to look at which sides we play at home, the then likelihood of away support, then gauging walk up support. When you dont know who you ar eplaying and when can imagine its difficult to budget. It's like say the Keighley game they will know if we play them at home they will bring a few. If we dont get the opportunity to play them at home as with say hunslet there will go our biggest chances of revenue from away support

We can't possibly be waiting for the fixtures to come out before we start signing players, that's insane.

If that's right we really are fecked.

Of course Lee Smith wants to play for us. We don't expect anything from our players.