Welcome to the Championships Wakey. Fun, sun, sea air in Blackpool, byes, bonus points and Thursday night live! Party party party!

That isn't the same now is it.
You are not on your own on this but still there it is.

no its not the same as a car park. but personally would rather park for free than say pay £5 to park in the car park.

however i cannot agree that parking around BV is a big issue.

Newmarket will have a car park.

They could have got someone to proof read the story on the website.

I couldn't have put it any better , it's all fun down here

Perhaps we decided that as everyone believes Richard Wright's Bullsh*t just because he says it often and loud we'd give that a go.

Seriously, the management have been working with Savills on this who are ultimately going to be the ones to guide the RFL/SL on grounds as part of the application process. It gives us a better chance of retaining our licence than we had 4 months ago but we are still hoping and praying rather than sitting pretty like some clubs that should be cacking themselves if things were assessed properly.

Licencing - transparent, open and honest

and you'd still be bottom of the pile

The issue here is whether the stadium part of the franchise is the issue upon which a licence rests... and you have to say, that is what the message appears to be loud an clear from the RFL! If we also assume that the RFL consider Crusaders and Quins untouchable because they are expansion clubs, again another loud and clear message, then we all know, if we are honest, that Salford in most other criteria are below both Cas and Wakey (with the exception of the administration question, but of course the RFL changed the rules on that one, so that too is now minor and actually put them in a financial stronger position than lots of other clubs with large tax bills hanging over their heads!).

Of course, Salford have complied with the stadium issue, put so high on the agenda by the RFL, and therefore this is clearly deemed to to trump the rest of Salford's bid over Cas and Wakey! And of course it should, if you go out and invest £20 in stadium and then see your anchor tenants income potential reduced overnight that would be an issue... and issue that would see Peel and Salford Council take the RFL to the High Court as quick as flash... and lose!

So, the issue here is both clubs have to do what they have to do, until hopefully the RFL sees the huge damage it is causing to our game and tells both Cas and Wakey they can stay.

James Elston said last night that this wasn't about Rugby and was about ticking boxes... and it is hard to disagree with him. So Wakefield have decided that two boxes that they don't have currently ticked can be ticked. So, that is what they are going to do... simple!

The RFL now know that Cas are no further forward than Wakefield from moving into a brand new ground now because of the financial constraints of selling WR and are possible actually going to fall behind if Wakefield get permission as expected in March/April next year. Wakefield know that Belle Vue is the least compliant ground in SL but that things look good to be in a new stadium at the start of 2014 season. So I think undertaking some cheap and cheerful temporarily improvements is the way and AG has to dig in his pocket for a £100k + to do this, then that is what he will do. This isn't going to be Wembley folks!

I actually don't think they have Cas in their sights as much as Bradford and Hull KR when it comes to the current ground compliance issues. I think these improvements make them more compliant than Bradford and better in some areas than Hull KR and Cas. So, what do the RFL do now?

There is no issue with money, AG and some fellow investors (read Eric France and others here) have the money, planning is probably not required as these are going to be classed as temporary structures and they have put this option in their bid (I understand it went in stating this as the bid option and that they have been working up the proposals since April 1st!). They can have all the work done in time for the start of season, once again, as the box ticking exercise requires.

It is time for the RFL to wake up and stop this nonsense and realise that they need to keep both Cas and Wakey in SL. The threat of Crusaders going bust again is a real one and how stupid will the RFL look if they kick either side out, only for Crusaders to not make the end of this season, never mind next!

I hate to break it to you but NCP WILL be getting work started for upgrading BEFORE the franchise's are handed out.
ATM This is just a 'promise' to get work done after they have been handed the franchise (Sound familiar?), Unforunatley Wakey have lots of previous on that score (New mangement or not).
Also lets not forget that Widnes had new management arrive before the last set of franchises and he made 'promise's' as well, Unforunatly for them the RFL needed more which they have now shown so they are in.
IMHO Wakey will probably get burned due to the previous owner and his promise's which means the RFL no longer trust them.

Firstly, this was not having a go at Bradford, Hull KR or Cas's grounds, I know that Hull KR are starting on improvement works (although I have long term fears for Bradford, who appear to have an even less supportive council than Wakefield and Cas) but the issue here is that they are almost fully compliant and as compliant as others, so that makes things harder for the RFL.

Your point about this being just a 'promise' is probably a little more than that now. AG will have to prove to Savills that he has the money in the bank, which I understand he has, and that it can be done for the start of 2012, which I understand he can also do... this is not major redevelopment! He doesn't require any legal or regulatory permissions and as such can just start the work. In that sense, this is as possibly as firm a commitment as you can get. If Savills don't agree, they will say so to the RFL.

The Widnes argument is a little different (with hindsight, which is always 20/20,they should have been in now I think though!) because they were outside of SL at the time and, they were not in SL because they were not good enough to be there at that time on merit! This is a whole different situation where the RFL are going to effectivley control the destiny of a business and as such, lets be clear here, people will lose their jobs, incomes and livelihoods at Wakey or Cas... that didn't happen at Widnes (well because of the RFL decision anyway).

I would also argue that same criticism could be level equally at Cas, lets face it, RW has said lots of things that turned out to be only half the truth. Things like, we have sold the ground and we have started building work on GH... he did say those things very clearly in the media... and they turned out to be half-truths at best. Also, once again, I am having to have a go at Cas in defending both theirs and Wakey's position, which I don't want to do... they both should stay... simple. RW has done what he has had to do and that is his job, just as it is AG and JE's job to do the same at Wakefield... but apparently that is different and a false dawn?

As for your final comment, what rubbish! As far as I am aware AG has made promises and delivered on every one so far, so why should the previous owners record count against him and why should the RFL not trust him because of Ted????