Franchise decisions likelyhood?

Quote: Chang "In principle yes, but IIRC the RFL stated that clubs can only go up or down by one grade and as such the grade A clubs could only drop to a grade B and would not be eligble for defranchising, the only clubs at risk would be the B and C graded clubs. However for a Grade A or B club to drop a grade surely they must have to resubmit their application for review as some of the criteria are performance related and could have changed in the current franchise period. Or are we saying reach grade A and you are exempt for all time, if this was the case why would Stains wast their slush fund on a new ground when they are untouchable in this scenario. Some clubs pies, FC and Shudds for example will always score top marks for the facilities, but turnover, crowds and performance can change thus affecting the grading. So all clubs are "on a level playing field" just some parts of the field are a little more elevated than the rest depending on geography and the reason they were invited in in the first place. Egg on face is a big factor at red hall and those buffoons would not spot a lost cause until it nailed their collective coffins down, even then the bloke at the pearly gates would have to explain it to them. Sorry I digress, all existing franchised clubs as far as I can remember need to resubmit and the qualifying clubs from the NL's or any rabbit out of the hat the RFL and the rest of their magic circle care to favour are invited to apply. Then the "team" from Red Hall will consult the well renowned firm of Sepp Blatter and Co, to determine which bids are the best ones to survive in Super League and the go in another direction spouting some PR babble to justify why a sows ear is the current vouge for girls to put their make up and cash in on a night on the town.

Just my thoughts on it mind, I may be wrong but I don't think its wide of the mark

nearly right. youir correct about only being able to change one grade each time (barring a financial meltdown) but only the current grade c clubs are eligble for the drop, not the b grade ones. only the c grade clubs put in full applications this time. whilst b grade clubs could drop to a c grade this time round that grading is for the next franchise period when they would be expected to put a full application in. A and B grade can still lose and gain franchise points based on the cut down bids they do put in but only the C grad clubs go into the full detail as they will be scrutinised more in comparison with the clubs applying to come up (although we all know thats a smokescreen and RFL will just do what they want).