not being ideal and being a mess are two pretty different things.

If in two months they have a clear plan and structure the fact it wasnt in place now will be of no interest to anyone.

What would happen if Crusaders were forced to wait 12 months, what would be the sense in making them sit on the sidelines for a year if they have everything in place to compete next season? Introducing inflexible deadlines would be completely stupid, it would be one of the worst things the RFL could do.

' Clear plan and structure '

Even if Crusaders were to lose out it would be because of their own disorganisation, something that should not be encouraged! You shouldn't put the majority of clubs out for the benefit of one or a minority (see the super league licensing process)
Last year, when the applications should have been made every super league club should have been asked if they wanted to be in the championships if they failed to get into super league, simple

If they said yes, then went bust after the decision, we would be in exactly the same position.

I recently paid for two CC1 season tickets for next year, the lady in the office gave me a voucher and appologised saying 'i'm sorry we haven't printed the tickets yet as we don't know how many games will be played or how many divisions there will be!' The club has tried to get some cash in from the fans up front but potentially could loose out if the rfl raise the number of games played substantially.

Its pathetic wha the RFL are doing to Championship clubs are are killing them off.

1,) Some Championship clubs have the Early bird offers on for season tickets, Except nobody knows if they are worth buying yet becuase they dont know how many games there will be and who is going to be in the league. Thus effecting how much money the club can spend getting players on board early enough.

2,) The clubs do not know how many home games they are going to get and therefore cannot accuaratly work out income forcasts etc, This has a impact on the turnover on the club and therfore on the amount of money they can use on buying players and ensuring they do not go over the Salary cap, which is something like 40% of club turnover or £300,000. I mean look at leigh and Barrow this year, Leigh would have won and Barrow in the PLayoffs. Imagine going over the Salary cap becuase they buy players and then clubs have less gate money due to less home games, Not the clubs fault, its the RFL for not having the structure in place early enough for clubs to organise themselves.

It alright all you high and mighty being spoonfed money by sky in the SL but it doesn't work like that in the championship and they need to do proper business plans as most dont have money backers/hobbyists.

3.) T.V deal, who is it with ?. how many games to be shown ?. do the clubs make any money from the games, if not then it should be of no interest to have games on during the week as it effects to the crowds. Again this effects the clubs forcasts and business plans which effect point 1 & 2

Right off for my lunch, Rant over.

Won what?

If there was no Cap breaches the year before they would have won the League.

This is why it matters so much that clubs have as much time as possible to get their forcasts right on the income so they can spend the appropriate amount on players and not breach the cap.

Fev would've still finished top on points difference I think?

Other than that, the points you made were spot on.

Yep fev would have finished top.Well done Toulouse for conceding 90 in one game.

Let's not drift the thread , however it is a good point , clubs are now looking to recruit for next season , they need to know the set up , there are budgets to be worked out with salary cap issues if they get it wrong

Come on Nigel , get a bloody move on , you're starting to take the now

Just to complicate things further, rumours abound on twitter from the journo who did the Ned Catic revelations that the RFL investigation into Barrow has unearthed things which will result in Barrow being demoted to CC1 as punishment.

Then of course we have the Crusaders saga, the fact that Swinton haven't yet got a ground for next season, the fact that Oldham could still win the CC1 play offs but their stadium doesn't meet CC minimum standards....

Its all a bit of a mess really.

What a mess, the fans and clubs deserve better.

The RFL are making a total cock up of the league sytems at the moment.

Personally I support the franchising of Super league mainly because the leap between the Championship and SL is too great either way.

BUT since grasping the nettle in my mind they have made cock up after cock up.

The timings of these decisions need to be better placed because look at the knock on effect for the whole of RL.

All the decisions should be done in the off season before.

Announcements like widnes are in during the season and we are dropping a team from SL but we'll decide in a few months what purpose does it serve.

Let everyone know the off season before then everyone has time to plan.

Crusaders leaving SL was a bullet dodger for the RFL. Wakey were gone.

Personally I think if the RFL did ever drop a SL side we would be faced with a Souths situation.

That the championship clubs cant really sell season tickets for next year to give them some income over the winter break when they need it most is pathetic, further weakens the game and creates even more bad feeling towards Super league from the rest of the RL community in the UK.

Without knowing the league structure what are the players playing for?

And yet I can see the same thing happening again when the licenses come up for review.

Some heads should be rolling.