A right royal cop out.

When Richard Lewis announced the name of Widnes as licence winners it was a joyful moment and a huge relief.However for me,that moment cannot compare to the final whistle at Rochdale in 2001 when we beat Oldham at Spotland and when Martin Crompton was presented with the trophy.It's still P&R for me but as everyone ought to know by now,that's not the game anymore.As has been pointed out numerous times now,the Widnes chairman found out exactly what the RFL required from potential candidates and played that game and won.Other clubs stuck to the same plan and lost.Too bad.Hopefully they will change tack now in their quest for 2015.Featherstone I think maybe have already started that process and never even applied this time.No arrogance or big headedness from this Widnes fan,just joy and relief tinged with sadness to be leaving behind such great clubs and fans.

Yes and they continue to play in the same competition they did before , the Hurricanes and all the other ' super ' clubs were all brand new clubs , that is how SL was to be originally , but some clubs didn't want that , they considered themselves above that

That is why it was SL Europe , it was meant to be a new tier of the sport above the competition already in place , but played in the summer with the original Championship continuing in winter

The fact is that the Championship was a dead duck before licensing ever came about, this was a big part of the problem. It's all very well and good saying bring P & R back but it could be far more damaging to the game of RL as a whole seeing strong clubs ruined by relegation to a division that can be the death of clubs if they are left in for too long. People have this rose tinted glass view of relegation from the 80's and 90's that wasn't what P & R had become in the 21st century. It was a farce where many clubs were competing but openly saying they wouldn't go for promotion.

I understand the damage this is doing to certain clubs, which is why I am not a complete fan of licensing. I think for reasons you've outlined that some clubs will find it difficult to survive without P & R but you've also exaggerated the situation. We had many clubs getting under 1,000 for years before licensing. Hunslet probably won the league with crowds not much higher than that.

Overall licensing at least guarantees some stability and drives up standards but is far from perfect. We shouldn't have a situation where Leigh face a minimum of 5 years before they can apply. I would like the RFL to admit that we have different types of teams and to ring fence the expansion clubs. Then I would like a more fluid system of licenses between SL and the Championship but based largely on off the field criteria. Say, make full licensing every 4 years for all clubs but any C grade heartland clubs are reassessed in the middle of this after 2 years against top performing Championship clubs. I'm not sure I'd keep the on the field requirement as strict as it is but it should still be there.

I'd also disagree that they've made on the field worthless. They were unlucky that Widnes met the sheer minimum that they could. I think they assumed that any club meeting the on the field criteria would probably have performed better than Widnes did anyway.

However it's time to stop blaming Widnes and making out like this was some shock. It was clear from day one that on the field was very much secondary. Anybody who thought otherwise must have been living on a different planet.

Promotion and relegation decided on financial matters alone. That's what you get for selling your sport to a moose knuckle kapitalist bullshine-monger like Rupert Murdoch.

As ye sow ....

Here's one - from my bessie mate Vikingman
Didn't take long for him to take his position in the ivory tower. I'll expect to read much more - even before you start your stint in SL

This is roogbeh leeeg. The greetest game with the greetest fans alreet? This is like last tme, all over again. Those that lose p1ss and b1tch and moan and whinge and accuse everyone else of being
a) Cheats.
b) Unworthy.
c) RFL favourites.
d) There due to bribes from successful club's sugar daddy.
e) Full of Aussies.
f) Previously bankrupt.
g) Breaking the salary cap.
h) Liars.
i) Without supporters.
j) Resident in a ty stadium.

Whereas those smug supporters whose club meets certain financial criteria believe themselves to be
a) The epitome of all that is good about Roogbeh Leeg.
b) The ONLY team there on merit alone.
c) Historically superior to all other clubs.
d) On the verge of winning the SooperDooperPooperScooperLeeg.

same old shiite, different licensing period.

Waah waah waah versus smirk smirk smirk.

That's pretty much how it is. Wonderful language.

I remember Fax raiding Leigh of their decent players when we were in SL and i didn't give a stuff. You adapt to your environment. I don't think i'll be swapping my Championship flat cap for a Super League top hat anytime soon though. Halifax, first and foremost though.

Gotta get off the bottom of the table. That's all that's occupying my immediate thoughts where roogbeh leeeg is concerned

Well I cant wait to see how many imports Widnes are allowed to have to start with, just to make them competitive. With this in mind, when it is announced, we will see how them been promoted will be for the better for the game, especially since they have proved they cannot compete on the pitch, apart from winning the 4th Grade competition (1. SL, 2. Chal Cup, 3. Champ, 4. NR Cup

Well I cant wait to see how many imports Widnes are allowed to have to start with, just to make them competitive. With this in mind, when it is announced, we will see how them been promoted will be for the better for the game, especially since they have proved they cannot compete on the pitch, apart from winning the 4th Grade competition (1. SL, 2. Chal Cup, 3. Champ, 4. NR Cup)

Your club have had a good run,what is it 12 years of SL and SL money?What do they have to show for it?Jack Shit.Time for a stronger club to replace a weaker one.That's the beauty of licensing.

Hang on!

You've been moaning that our NRC win got us through and calling it a farce, now its a crying shame if Fax weren't allowed to apply if they won nothing during the process. Which is it?

You can come watch us for a few matches, get a feel for it