I'm quite concerned about the rumours/news emerging. I was originally supportive of the SL clubs taking a more directive role, because it seemed to me that they had perceived the problems correctly.

The problem we have is that there are too few clubs which are large enough, or have the potential to be large enough. SL needs more clubs who can compete for honours, generate good crowds and profile upon which to sell decent TV rights, and produce future players through a good talent development system. So the key questions we had facing us were:

1) How do we increase the competitiveness of SL?
2) Linked to that, how do we grow the game in terms of players, fans and sponsorship?

Based on the rumours emerging today, the answers appear to be:

1) How do we increase the competitiveness of SL? We won't. We'll just chuck out two of the less competitive clubs and hope nobody notices that there are still a majority of also-rans in SL with no incentive to improve.

2) Linked to that, how do we grow the game in terms of players, fans and sponsorship? We won't. We'll just take the existing fanbase, playerbase and sponsorship, and try to concentrate it amongst 10 clubs rather than 12.

Essentially they're hoping to spread the same jam thicker, rather than making more jam. That's a recipe for the sport's demise into increasing irrelevance, and not in the long-term either.

Probably because this is the first time the SL or RFL have said 'no' to him. He's just having a tantram.

Big changing news about league structure etc. As at 7pm no reports of it on Sky RL website. Shows how little Sky actually think of the sport.

Hes not the only one not happy I think this might run a bit

It's called democracy. The RFL allowed the SL clubs to make these decisions, and now, just because he lost the vote he's whining and the sky is falling in. Sounds familiar.

You misunderstand my point, he’s not the only person unhappy about this (not me by the way, we m talking about other people in the game) the whole point being made is that this decision wasn’t made in a democratic way

It's the RFL's fault for allowing SL to become an almost seperate entity a decade or so ago.

In the end it's all down to money. Or rather, making sure that some 'new' finance helps the non-SL leagues (however they are defined in the future) with the aim of helping them ALL go pro over time. That is the only way the competition will grow. That new finance doesn't mean Sky money, but maybe a cheapish deal with the BBC or something that will still give them all more than they receive now.

Whilst I disagree with GH and his statement, he has every right within a 'democratic' system to air his grievances about the outcome. Democracy is, after all, about encouraging debate, rather than shutting it down with "you lost, get over it".

GH's statement states that it needs the RFL to show some leadership. We've been waiting for that since Richard Lewis left. Whilst GH has always been an "RFL" man, he can't really blame the other club chairmen of getting board waiting for it to come.

Not really shutting him down. Just find it a tad funny that after 20 years of getting his own way he's finally not. A lot of people outside Leeds can't actually stand him. Petty I know.

See my earlier post about helping the lower leagues in terms of finance and the support they need. If this goes through I think it will help. Can't see anything other than 14 teams in SL otherwise the teams will lose income by reducing the number of home games.

Excuse my ignorance but where is the press release? I first heard this on BBC web page & there is no mention of SL 1+2. Just that the Super 8s are going next year.

No idea. This just seemed to be the thread to use. All we know is no middle 8s from 2019 and 1 up, 1 down. All the rest is conjecture.