Im not sure what integrity they have shown in breaking the terms of their broadcast contract with the two major sports broadcasters in the country at the start of a new 5 year contract, meaning their broadcast contracts can be re-negotiated for much lower amounts, meaning less money coming in to their game and likely leading to clubs going bust throughout the league.

I don't want to see them kicked out and I would be happy with the same deduction we had. My only concern is that the new strict rules could be seen as a moveable feast, depending on which team is involved. Wigan/Leeds/Huddersfield/Saints/London/Warrington/Bradford/Hull FC can do whatever they want. Breach any rule they fancy and it won't be a problem. Salford/Wakefield/Cas/Widnes/Hull KR better not or you're out.

So no, I don't want to see them go. But, and this is a big but, it shouldn't be about a vote. It should be about what the rules say. So what do the rules say?

Nobody has suggested it is because of licencing or that it would be any different with P and R, but that still doesnt mean that the licencing application process shouldnt be stringent enough to highlight such a huge problem

Nobody has suggested that it isnt anybodys fault except the Bradford administration, so stop pretending anybody has suggested as such, you are once again changing the argument to avoid facing the truth

So if you dont believe it is down to franchising why have you used this as a stick to beat franchising with at every available opportunity?


And the application process did highlight these problems.

Ultimatly their decision

I havent

Obviously ignored then

Yeah, the principle of breaking contracts with your broadcast partners, losing money to invest in an already struggling league and youth development is very principled.

In the next ten years when celtic and rangers join the english football league and the scottish clubs can no longer run as professional entities, at least the 20 people still watching Scottish football can remember how much integrity their clubs which no longer exist showed when the kicked out rangers in a fit of schadenfreude

Having thought a little more since I posted last I tend to agree with you. The rules should be the only consideration. I would actualy like to see what the rules are though as there appears to be a different interpritation every day. The fans deserve better but the board deserve to be kicked out of the game. It is a complete mess but other companys go under every day in these hard times we are no different it's just the emotional baggage that comes with sports.

You have. You have done for about 5 years. Even when you were pretending to 'only quote Stevo'.

Or, and stay with me here, I know a lack of insults to the RFL directors and lack allegations of conspiracy or corruption will probably confuse you, but maybe, just maybe The RFL felt, with the information provided to them, that even despite these problems, Bradford were a better bet than Halifax

Their decision, and lets face it, in a RL world Celtic and Rangers would already be in SL or the English Premier League , thats how RL works, so who gives a stuff about the clubs left outside they can become the feeder clubs to the main 2 , they obviously add very little to the competition therefore have little worth, the amatuer and big 2 are the important bits

I dont massively disagree. And i havent said different. Simply that those clubs would come to regret that decision.

Another weird and wonderful conspiracy theory. Please explain for the benefit of the ignorant among us.

I said in the following paragraph, do what the rules say. So what do the rules say? If there is to be a vote to do something other than what the rules say, they clearly are a moveable feast. The point I was making that it would look like a conspiracy if the RFL do something other than what the rules say. I said at the start, I'm happy with four points. If there isn't a rule, fine, take a vote, do what you want. If the rules are not applied strictly, however, it is clear that different considerations apply to different teams.

Are the Bulls bigger than the game? No.

Sounds like your chip is bigger than mine.