Agreed and that is some way off.

A couple of points to come out of tonights fans forum in Wigan:

* Chief Executive Mick Hogan is actively looking at main sponsors for 2011. (In London tomorrow talking to 3 companies).
* Our sponsorship deals are worth 30% more than last season.

Chairman Peter Hood confirmed at our Fans' Forum this evening, asked to comment on a press report, that the SL clubs have indeed been considering the possibility of reducing the number of clubs in SL. He did not indicate which clubs were pressing for any change, or what his position on the question was. He said it was for the SL clubs to decide the number of clubs, and for the RFL then to decide which ones.

At first I thought it was just rumour and pub talk, but I've heard from journalists, sponsors and now this from the Bulls board saying that a reduction is a real possibility. I think it's going to happen.

so some SL chairmen will dictate RL policy

there are 14 teams in SL assuming 3 abstain and 4 vote against and 7 just think of themselves who would have the casting vote?

Depends wether Mr Lewis threatens to resign again

The RFU's accounts are available online, but I do recall that their income from corporate hospitality at Twickers alone is something like £26M per year, that's over twice the RFL's total revenue, purely in hospitality! But of course they do own Twickers.

I think ticket sales are something like £80M per year (although without loking them up again, that might be the total revenue figure). Suffice to say they make plenty.

Think the tv money went up at the last deal - according to a BBC reportLast season, champions Manchester United earned £52.3m in Premier League television money, compared to £31.6m for bottom club West Bromwich Albion.

In a different report it also showed that Wigan earnt 6.8 million in prize money from the premier league (although not sure if this is part of the overall tv money or seperate). Either way Wigan probably netted £35-£40 million in tv +prize money.

If there are SL clubs talking of reducing the number of teams in SL, you can't help but think it will be the bigger clubs who either think they will get a bigger slice of the money or just scared that in the next tv deal there will be less money to go around. There's no way clubs like Wakey, Cas or Salford would vote to reduce the number of clubs.

not bothered reading all this thread

but the decision on the makeup of SL is solely up to the RFL and not the clubs

clubs all signed up to giving the RFL sole decision on certain things.

it would be a disaster to go back to 12 after just having expanded.

and 1/10 extra sky money for the remaining SL clubs wont make much difference

The clubs have shares, so it is not soley up to the RFL. If it was, there wouldn't be this discussion. So just stop right there on that assumption so it doesn't drag into pages of you trying to prove something that your aren't sure is right to be right (because it isn't and it's just a waste of everyone's time).

And 1/10th of Sky money extra per year (going on the current contract) is roughly £110k each. Considering clubs are losing between £500k per year on average, that would be a good help in plugging some of the deficit (and that's before assuming there isn't an increase on top of that).

i read something where the RFL made all clubs agree to give them sole control over the number of teams in SL.

sole control.

so unless the RFL wants it, its not happening.

you read loads of cr*p on the internet, some people just dont bother reading much about the game and go off rumours etc.

lower the salary cap by 100,000 per club then.

better than losing 2 teams.

problem solved. pleased to help