Surely the reasoning behind licensing was to give stability and allow the game to expand, originally with Paris and then with Catalan.
If these clubs are up for relegation, then, we may as well have 1 up/ 1 down etc.
This can be done with minimum criteria but, why would you need to grant a licence, we may as well stay as we are, which doesnt solve the problem of allowing new high spending clubs joining at the bottom of the pile and thrashing all and sundry, until they are able to gain promotion (twice).
Toronto, would have been better served, joining a "protected" top flight, just as Catalan did and developing from there, which may allow the game to properly establish itself in North America.
As others have said, what is taking place now, in league 1, isn't doing anyone any good whatsoever.
Even the Toronto fans wont want to shell out their hard earned dollar to watch a procession every other week.
Instead of "spreading the word", it's sending the game backwards.

I like this idea.

With the system I suggested, you get all teams/clubs who are capable of being an SL side in SL whilst not totally closing the door on the Championship sides. Granted not many of the rest of the Championship clubs could get promoted or meet criteria, but it doesn't close the door on any that could eventually meet the criteria.

What is taking place in the 2 leagues outside of SL isn't great. I go watch my team every week but I can't get enthused about seeing them beat a part time team by 50 points. Granted, we got ourselves in to this situation but by having clubs like Toronto, Hull KR, Toulouse etc. in the lower leagues trouncing teams doesn't help the game attract new support. It only serves to help the RFL say that the current format is working when all they are doing is holding back the game. If all or most of the championship teams were as competitive with each other as most of SL are, then I can see a reason for the current format but atm its pointless.

Also, Toronto are looking to have 10000 season ticket holders. How many of those will they have if they can't get into SL within say 4-5 years? All the current enthusiasm for RL there could wane and we have then lost all those potential supporters of the game. The same could be said for Bradford or Toulouse. And I know that Hull KR won't get the same amount of support if they can't get back into SL this year.

By getting all SL ready clubs into a revised SL, should help those clubs and the game keep hold of that support.

This is all my opinion of course.

Why not just let them in when they are ready. Remove them if they arent.

The only way to square expansion and p+r would be to have conferences. Some for licensed clubs not at risk of relegation, some unlicensed clubs who didn't meet the criteria who were at risk of relegation.

I agree. Anything to stop the support drain from clubs and to help expansion.

That it has left them entirely uncompetitive. Was that not clear enough?

The problem with that is the smaller clubs are left battling for survival promoting short termism there, and if we went to 16 clubs who, realistically would be able to compete if they were promoted? It also wouldn't really address the competitiveness issue and if anything would likely exacerbate it as bar a meltdown the relegated club would walk through the next year to promotion again

I agree but, why not just increase SL to 16 clubs instead of having 2 "conferences", at least we'd all get the chance of a trip to Toronto/Perpignan/Toulouse and East Hull

Seriously though, IF we are saying there are only 16 SL ready clubs, then play offs with Championship clubs is just "filler" in the league program and it would lead to blow out scores, one of the issues that started this thread.

I dont think that we can have it both ways.
Either say no to Toulouse and Toronto or go for P/R, I dont think the two things can go together.
I know that opinion is split and many in the fans in the heartlands say, sod the French or Canadians and that they should sort themselves out but, assuming that we want to expand the game internationally in the next 50 years, this isnt an option.

Just curious as to your team list?

Also what happens if we have other clubs who want to join (more french/NA teams)? do they do into the championship

There are 3 -4 teams currently in the lower leagues who would have the crowds etc. plus the current SL setup.

By still having the ability to gain promotion, you are not alienating any new clubs. However you could also add additional clubs in through licensing, eventually getting up to 2 pools of 10.

The solution I propose does need some tweaks but it would solve a lot of issues of supporters leaving clubs because they're not at the top table

How do you define " when they are ready " ? , without the option of promotion via winning it on the pitch Leigh wouldn't have found the investment , so you are essentially cutting everybody adrift again

So if Leigh are given a franchise why does Beaumont pull out.