Why do many continue? Swinton, Oldham, Workington etc ...... They must be mad or they do it out of love and addiction. There aren't many who go through their gates - we're talking 200 to 700 at best. At the moment, my club are producing thrilling rugby but next year things may be vastly different. I'll still plod along.

good on them, it must be hard to plow on knowing it counts for very little.

we got oldham in the cup a couple of seasons ago at Belle vue. their supporters were brilliant and had a great day despite getting a bit of a pasting, about 20 or so stayed in the clubhouse after the game and partied on.

good times..

oh the rights to an opinion. Like that you are a to$$er

I agree, though you should take into consideration that there is on-field criteria in order to apply for a license. Think of it as a three-year season, with two chances per year to win the right to be promoted. Farcical you may perceive it, but it's the system drawn up at Red Hall that Championship fans have had to learn to understand and accept.

On the flip-side, you can see the benefits of the three-year licensing. It'll ensure that whoever goes up next year will be better equipped than any other promoted teams have been to SL, Widnes, Huddersfield, Hull KR, Castleford, the newly elected Championship team next year will have a much better chance of developing a successful playing squad and all-round product than any of their predecessors.

Well done to Widnes, being excluded last time has done them a favour as it's made sure they got their house in order. It would have been a pointless exercise to have them come up, struggle, get into financial trouble and fall out again. Look at how many times it took Hull KR to have false dawns before they made it, and they've made a good fist of it, I hope Widnes can do the same.

What finishing second and losing a GF in extra time? Granted we had player exemptions (and before Starbug put's his two penneth in players with Visa issues) but come off it for someone who's followed Widnes for so long surely you can't believe that statement?

did you actually think before you posted this? sudddenly its a shame we have this system? you wouldnt be saying that if your club had got its act together and had a stronger bid. 'worst team in history of sport to gain promotion' say what????? and yes, i can think of dozens of football teams that have been promoted after making it into the last playoff places. so it does happen believe it or not. and how exactly is making the playoffs every year for as long as i can remember and back to back cup finals making us a bad team? your post has absolutely no basis in fact, or even a shadowy reflection of reality.

I overlooked the grand final. fair point. My only issue with it all was how quickly you was allowed to be a super league club whilst we were continually shafted whenever super league wanted something new. This does not mean I am anti Crusaders or anti expansion so please do not think I am. Expansion is great but all the news in the press is about your problems last year, being allowed to reinvent yourselves hundreds of miles away and all of Londons woes and pleas for help. But you are there so good luck and I do hope you make a good fist of being successful. I believe that missing out last time has helped us long term as we are now 100% ready not only to be a super league club but to be a super league club who can progress and challenge some bigger teams on a regular basis. I really do think we we can bring a lot to the division if we are lucky enough to get the golden ticket this time. And, in closing, a post where i am not a troll!! Progress made?!!!!

Well, aint you the king of the trolls.

For a start, if we get a place in SL we wont have been 'promoted'. We will have been given a place by a licence system. The word 'promotion' has absolutely no relevance to top flight British RL at the present time, or have you been living in a cave with the rest of the trolls?

it is still promotion. regardless of the method and process.

widnes are being supremely arrogant by basically saying we dont need to compete anymore!

this attitude has undermined the entire division.

this is not a troll just an opinion,

To be fair though I would imagine all Championship teams have subconsciously lost a little motivation since the traditional method of promotion was scrapped.

I've no doubt though that the Chemics will be ready and prepared when they rightfully get their spot back.

They never have before, why would they start now?

You sure?