Quote: wrencat1873 "Surely the reasoning behind licensing was to give stability and allow the game to expand, originally with Paris and then with Catalan.
If these clubs are up for relegation, then, we may as well have 1 up/ 1 down etc.
This can be done with minimum criteria but, why would you need to grant a licence, we may as well stay as we are, which doesnt solve the problem of allowing new high spending clubs joining at the bottom of the pile and thrashing all and sundry, until they are able to gain promotion (twice).
Toronto, would have been better served, joining a "protected" top flight, just as Catalan did and developing from there, which may allow the game to properly establish itself in North America.
As others have said, what is taking place now, in league 1, isn't doing anyone any good whatsoever.
Even the Toronto fans wont want to shell out their hard earned dollar to watch a procession every other week.
Instead of "spreading the word", it's sending the game backwards.'"
With the system I suggested, you get all teams/clubs who are capable of being an SL side in SL whilst not totally closing the door on the Championship sides. Granted not many of the rest of the Championship clubs could get promoted or meet criteria, but it doesn't close the door on any that could eventually meet the criteria.
What is taking place in the 2 leagues outside of SL isn't great. I go watch my team every week but I can't get enthused about seeing them beat a part time team by 50 points. Granted, we got ourselves in to this situation but by having clubs like Toronto, Hull KR, Toulouse etc. in the lower leagues trouncing teams doesn't help the game attract new support. It only serves to help the RFL say that the current format is working when all they are doing is holding back the game. If all or most of the championship teams were as competitive with each other as most of SL are, then I can see a reason for the current format but atm its pointless.
Also, Toronto are looking to have 10000 season ticket holders. How many of those will they have if they can't get into SL within say 4-5 years? All the current enthusiasm for RL there could wane and we have then lost all those potential supporters of the game. The same could be said for Bradford or Toulouse. And I know that Hull KR won't get the same amount of support if they can't get back into SL this year.
By getting all SL ready clubs into a revised SL, should help those clubs and the game keep hold of that support.
This is all my opinion of course.