Can I also say thank you to the fan who started this thread, for the kind words, and convey my disbelief that a positive thread has turned into a negative mess.

That's very nice, if you think that the actions of volunteers are anything like enough to bring a club up to SL standard then you're absolutely kidding yourself. That's a total whimsical fantasy, it's like in the first wars when guns were available and opposing armies thought they could overcome them with 'courage'. No, clubs like Batley and Dewsbury will never be able to compete in Super League and if you ask people at those clubs they'll probably tell you the same. So yeah, if people are volunteering because they think it will help their clubs reach SL standard then what they are doing is pointless.

The truth is that Featherstone are not a big enough club to compete at SL level. They aren't big enough and don't have the potential for growth. The only way they would be able to compete would be if the current SL clubs were brought down to their standard. Which would of course be absolutely stupid but seems to be what most people want, so whatever, enjoy it, just don't blame me when the sport here doesn't progress and falls further and further behind the NRL and RU.

Who do you support head hunter? I would assume by your dismissive tone that it is one of the big guns, Wigan Leeds st helens or maybe even warrington and huddersfield at a push. dewsbury and batley are probably not ready, but what's to day they couldn't achieve it? I feel you have a very negative view on this, and I feel you have missed my point.

There is a wealth of work done throughout rugby league because fans HOPE that one day their team will be good enough to compete. What your saying is that they needn't bother, they will never be good enough. Imagine the collapse of the game if everyone thought like you. I notice you failed to pick up on any of my other points, just the volunteers part. In answer to that, I think that building a whole new stand to bring our club owned stadium more in line with sl standards using a recycled stadium and volunteers shows ingenuity and cost effective savvy. Something which many sl clubs have proven they lack. You need more clubs like featherstone in sl not less.

The way I feel is that sl is almost like a completely different sport. I don't bother watching any games or internationals, why? Because its a closed shop and none of the players mean anything to me. Open it up and you may start to fill the stadium more for the international and get a few more species watching on tv not a solution but a start to the lack of neutrals attending rl showcase events like the challenge cup final. It was on tv and I didn't bother watching, the only reason for me would be to see Richard whiting play, an ex rover.

None of that is relevant though, you seem to be totally deluded about the nature of the sport and the nature of Super League. It's not a charity. If you think that clubs like Batley and Dewsbury are ever going to be in SL then you aren't living in the real world. Featherstone in Super League would go the exact same way that Leigh did. The likes of Featherstone and Leigh are good Championship clubs, they are valuable for the sport but they simply are not top-flight clubs, and don't have the potential to be. With the best will in the world, Featherstone are a similar but much smaller club than Castleford and Wakefield, two clubs who themselves struggle to compete in SL. The (flawed) rationale for changing the league structure is apparently to create more competitive games, even if Featherstone maxed out their potential and reached the level that the likes of Castleford are currently at then they still wouldn't be good enough for Super League. The fact that Featherstone were resourceful enough to get a new stand is great, but it isn't anything like enough for them to be able to compete. It's a drop in the ocean, honestly.

They seem to be pretty well run and they are doing a good job at the moment, but Featherstone in SL would be a disaster for everyone concerned. If you want to be a blinkered one-club fan then whatever, that's your loss. Nobody needs to contrive things to cater for a tiny minority of people with backwards mentalities.

Thankfully those people running SL have decided that arrogant viewpoints like the one above have no place in RL. Clubs outside SL will be afforded the opportunity to challenge for a place in SL by being the best on the pitch. That's why we're all here isn't it? To watch a game of Rugby League. Headhunter has never answered the question of which team he goes to watch week in week out because he doesn't go and watch the game week in week out. It's a competitive sport not a gentlemen's club. SL chairmen have tried the franchise route and it's failed. It's their money, it's their experiences and it's their pocket it's hurting so they're now trying a different route once more.

Deal with it.

Can somebody, anybody tell me what catastrophy was afflicted upon Leigh by being promoted to and relegated from SL?

Headhunter, you say Fev and others dont have the ' potential ' , if not, who does?

Simple question sunshine, away you go

Does anybody have a cow?

It's not a bet. I have not asked for any wager. You can feel free to add to the pot if you are feeling flush?

Now replace SL with internationals and featherstone with USA.

In fact lets go the whole hog no team has been champions outside of these 4 in the last 20 years or so.

Bradford
St Helens
Wigan
Leeds

The rest are also rans so chuck all but these 4 out and just have a lottery draw once a year

Quite simply a horrific response that shows a definite 'as long as I'm alright' mentality. I completely disagree with the whole response and I understand that due to our different experiences watching teams in different leagues we are probably never going to agree or even take on board each others points here. Hopefully the people in charge do no have this view, because fev have done everything they can and more to get into top flight. No it's not a charity and letting us in isn't like throwing us a proverbial bone only for us to choke on it. I feel it is the spirit of what makes sport great, that chance you can get up there and compete...and maybe even stay up.

What team do you support I ask again as you seem to be picking and choosing which parts you reply to?

Finally, it it's just a small minority with backwards mentalities can you explain why the attendances are so awful for internationals and the challenge cup, our so called showpiece final? And why are attendances dropping everywhere outside superleague except at fev where even though fans at other clubs have been in short supply our attendance has bucked the trend and risen? Because licensing removed the hope and soul of the game and made promotion into a men in grey suits box ticking except use instead of sporting achievement. Again I would love to see how you mystery club would get back in after so many years out.