.........and Leigh, Halifax, and Featherstone, etc. My big problem with this licensing process is that it turns fans against each other because the criteria of performance on the field is replaced by the politics of performance off the field. You cannot argue against defeat on the pitch - knock-out comps, promotion/relegation, etc, but you can argue forever about stadia, attendances, import players, history, etc. Sadly for Wakey fans this year they are now feeling the fear of championship football. But when they (the club, not the fans) felt they were safe when licences were issued last time, they had no problem with the proces, its fairness or its suitability for our great game. Now they are threatened by this very same process, all of a sudden it is unjust, in-appropriate and the work of the devil! If it was good enough for Leigh, Halifax, Widnes, Featherstone, Barrow, etc, last time, it is good enough for all current SL clubs now. You cannot buy into a system/process when it suits and then argue against it when it doesn't.
Good luck to Wakey and all other clubs this time round, but I will not be signing the 'I like' page.
I'm out!

IMO Wakefield are now ahead of Castleford anyway, Wakefield have ALL the funding in place and can begin building as soon as the PI and full planning is granted.

The schedule for the PI makes it highly likely that a decision will be forthcoming by April/ May of next year, a full planning application will be submitted almost immediately and would be expected back by July/Aug.
Building would probably commence by Nov/Dec 2012

Castleford have full planning permission for their stadium but no money to even start building. Their funding will come from the proposed sale of Wheldon Rd to a supermarket developer but that sale is subject to obtaining planning permission. Unfortunately it is expected that the planning application will go to a PI which as we know could delay the sale and build considerably. Even if the supermarket plans don't get called in it's very unlikely that planning permission will be obtained inside of 18 months meaning Cas & Wakefield would be running neck & neck.

In real terms Castleford, despite having planning permission for their stadium, are right back to square one with no money to build and subject to the whole planning process (for the supermarket) all over again.

If the RFL stick to their statement that applications would be judged on what is in place, rather than what might be in place for 2012, then both Wakey and Cas are in difficulties - Wakey more so because of their brief flirtation with administration. Even when the last licences were issued, Wakey's feedback included some concern over a lack of a
Plan B. A year or so ago, clubs were all visited by the RFL and advised on what was expected of them in terms of them following up on the perceived weaknesses in their last bid to help them with their preparation and presentation of their new bids for 2012. It is hard to see fans of clubs other than Cas or Wakey sympathising with their plight - although many of us feel that no club should be sacrificed on the altar of expansionism alone. P & R for me but with minimum safe-guards in place to protect clubs from themselves. Look at the soccer play-offs in the next few weeks. Fantastic for all involved. Burnley and Blackpool were given the chance to live their dream. With safeguards in place, don't fans of RL clubs deserve the same?

100% behind P&R

I cant wait to visit Wakey next season, its been a long time. Used to have some good days out there.

You've read the application have you? I mean surely no one would state guesswork as a fact like that.

You know what, for all your bitching and trying to misrepresent what i have said, your death riding and criticisms of other clubs as if it defends Wakefield and all that nonsense.

If this is true. If Wakefield have a business plan which will see them grow and see them spending the full SC sustainably, If they have everything in place to move into the new stadium, If Wakefield show their academy is working and they can actually bother to bring them through into first team rather than going back to signing dross like Charlie Leeano, If Wakefield can do all the things needed to become a real force and an integral part of SL challenging for honours and being up there with the big clubs, then the franchise process gives them an opportunity to show it, and if they do, they will be in SL regardless of what Cas, Crusaders or anybody else is doing. If they cant show these things, then they will be relegated and have no one to blame but themselves.

I'd love to see some examples including context of where I've done those things!

The threads are still here, they dont disappear. Go back and look at them if you want.

They're not there because they don't exist!

Smokey, I've tried to have rational, intelligent debate with you in spite of being advised to not to bother but I'm seriously beginning to think that you're delusional!

I think the ' death riding ' of Wakefield displayed on this thread is disgusting , the people posting it should be ashamed of themselves