I'm pretty sure it was too. That we would be on reduced funding for two years was one of the contradictions with our 'one year' provisional licence.

Incidentally, with a full licensing round due at the end of it [ievery[/i club will be effectively on a 'provisional temporary' licence for the 2014 season.

The next licence renewal round is going to be interesting. Do they keep battering away at the "expansion" plan, do they give a chance to the likes of Fax, Featherstone or Leigh from the heartlands, do they take a much harder line on finances, do they cut the league to 12?
Probably only half the current SL clubs will be totally confident of maintaining their status

I think the game needs to either make licensing a lot clearer or go back to P&R of one up one down across the board. The game feels too divided IMO.

Can't get the image out of my head of Omar meeting the rfl like when Alan Partridge met Tony Hayers at the BBC...

Give us a second season ya !

The smart thing would be to build the heartland. Make it a strong focal point for the sport. If we're viewed as a regional sport then we should damn well be THE regional sport.

It's all very well pushing for expansion teams, but without a solid base, both in terms of finance and fans, they're going to struggle and, if history is any judge, fail. Not that I'm against the expansion of the game. I would love nothing more than for RL to take it's place among the elite sporting competitions in this country. However, the sad truth is we're down the pecking order below football, union and even cricket and seems like we're in danger of dropping lower.

If we're to go back to P&R then the Championship season needs to end mid-summer to allow the promoted team time to prepare and build for the following season.

SMELL MY CHEESE YOU MUVVA!!!!!!!!!

Monkey tennis.

That'd be good pre match entertainment.

Yeh, gimme a second season ya sh*t!

I might be mistooken but there is a photo in the Bankfield Hotel of a tennis match played at Odsal, either that or cricket. Definitely one or the other.

Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank?

If you don't do it Sky will

To be perfectly honest, it seems that more than enough of the 'heartland clubs' are in sufficient financial doo doo to suggest that the whole licensing system may well come up for debate before the next round.

Very much closing in on a shape up or ship out scenario.Would want to think that the authorities can't afford to 'invest' in financially insecure members, as overall it would damage the foundations of the game.On the other hand,I think it is more prudent than ever to level the playing field as far as Club ownership is concerned.In these days of coming austerity,investment into Clubs should be leveled or restricted, to stop financial fliers from taking advantage of those member teams who cannot attract such backing.Thereby ensuring,ground improvements apart,that the competition is about the generation of local talent embracing the whole culture of RL and success not solely reliant on the ability to buy the best players.