No the problem is that the licensing process is fine in theory and has been handled exactly as was promised. The problem is sport is not a business it's about passion. Because of that when you don't get the result you want you accuse it of being a sham, I know if Trinity had lost I would.

We were a nice little backwater sport once and life was straight forward. We wanted more and took the SKY money, but that comes at a price and this is it. If you want an easy sport go back to part time small time RL. If you don't we will have to learn that in the cut throat world of big times sport it gets complicated and things are not always fair.

The Crusaders weren't a sham? Are you seriously making this point?

the important bits there being 'from their point of view' and 'from what the chairman says'.
I refer you to vastmans post.

On reading this, one would think that Wakefield were the slick operators in 21st Century sport, sweeping all from their path.
In reality, all that has come out of Belle Vue for decades (off the pitch) is hot air and inaction.

I can hear the reply being formulated "But that was in the past, the future's going to be different" ... aye and pigs will fly.

Not really.

Most of us hope that their new owners will actually come through, but surely they should be made to prove it this time before taking their word blindly once again?

I'm not disagreeing with anything Vastman has said, merely stating that the RL should have told Fax of the reasons they weren't getting a franchise place before they announced who would be. As far as I can see, the only reason they didn't get a franchise place is because they haven't, as Widnes have, a sugar daddy. The possession of a benevolent chairman is probably vital to any SL club but it wasn't part of the criteria. My main point is the whole thing could have been handled far better than it has.

I'm not making any point about the Crusaders. Your problem Chris is you are so angry trying to justify your opinions you don't listen. The point I'm making is the minute big money enters into a sport it turns nasty and there are losers and winners both on and off the pitch. Thus you end up with fans back biting over issues that barely registered 20 years ago.

So what do you want Chris, to go back to the older simpler times or take the money and take your chances. You must be pretty naive if you think it is ever going to be any different their will always be darker forces at work and no club is innocent. It's alright criticising Lewis and Co but what exactly do you expect from them. They are employed for a start by the very clubs they are supposed to be in charge of. These same clubs including your own who have rich and powerful men behind them pushing their own agendas - they are on a hiding to nothing at the RFL.

Lewis didn't invent the franchise, he is employed to implement it by the clubs which surprise surprise includes Widnes. The clubs created this situation not their vessel the RFL, just remember that. They did it because club owners just like fans tend to have an I'm alright Jack mentality.

That coming from a HKR fan? Wow.

And you know they took it blindly. Where of course everything you and Fax offer is gospel and beyond reproach. You have a new owner after going into admin and so do we, why do you seem to think your so much better than us. You are one arrogant sod.

First off, characterising me as angry is very far off the mark. I'm not angry. I'm not a fax fan and my club has not missed out, so you are wrong.

I don't listen? I don't listen? This is the VT. No one listens. If they did, I and others would not have come under such unjustifiable criticism over the crusaders issue. Let's not get personal. I've not made judgements on you, and you shouldn't make them of me.

The rest of your post bares no resemblance to anything I've ever said so I'm ignoring it.

Of course it doesn't - it's an attempted explanation of my original point which you didn't understand. Chris, it's not all about you