Quote Birchy="Birchy"Do we think that if a 'small' club like fev go up it will damage rugby league somehow? I have posted the attendance figures showing the damage below superleague which I believe franchising has done... But as long at this does not affect the top clubs that's not a problem is it? I guess not as you have nearly avoided mentioning it at all so it must be a painful truth I guess, either that it it is sofas beneath you it is simply inconsequential.
I really wonder what world you live in, where are these new superleague ready clubs with 8000 fans going to come from? Where are these stadiums ready to perfectly fit into superleague so snugly? Dreamland honestly.'"
There aren't any, that's why the proposed new system is nonsense. Replacing clubs that struggle to compete with even weaker clubs with less potential isn't progress. I don't support any of the 'top clubs' so I'm not sure what you are talking about in regards to that, but surely you can understand that having uncompetitive clubs in Super League isn't a good thing. And yes, there are two uncompetitive clubs at the moment. One will be competitive next year (Salford), and the other probably won't exist (London). Regardless, Super League is being reduced to 12 teams and we probably have 12 or 13 competitive clubs ATM, so the idea of relegating one of those clubs and replacing them with an uncompetitive club is totally illogical. If you seriously think that Featherstone can be competitive without reducing the standards of the league then good luck to you, and I hope you're right. What I don't want to see is standards at the top being reduced so that clubs such as Featherstone are able to compete, which is what some people on this forum seem to be advocating.
Quote BirchyI attend regular forums at fev where I can put my views, questions and concerns to the chairman, CEO and commercial manager and I get an honest and informed response. Sorry smokey, headhunter et al, I can see the level of professionalism, forward thinking and visible progress at the club. And why won't we compete given the same salary cap and a backer who is able and willing to spend it.
I am 100% certain that fev will ofer as much if not more than cas, Wakefield, salford, hull kr, London, Bradford and with the investment that is being talkedaabout then Huddersfield Warrington and then saints, leeds and wigan. Fev are growing at a manageable rate and are at the stage where SL is viable. Come along to our next forum and ask your questions. Please don't spout off rubbish.'"
Like I said, if you honestly believe that Featherstone and similar clubs can compete without standards in Super League being reduced to allow it, then good luck to you. I think you're in for a rude awakening though. Surely you can agree though that limiting the standard of Super League and holding back development to allow the likes of Featherstone to compete would be a bad thing?