my apologies for under-estimating.

thats a fantastic crowd for the club against a SL side

heck probably good enough for SL.

it is too early for them given widnes are a shoe in, toulose and maybe paris want a spot, but its another area thats got a good chance

Once again


NO

I would hope that all Chp clubs are to aim for SL in the not too far future. It would progress the Chp a long way if all clubs were in serious competition for SL spots. In fact, along with the dual reg system, I think the Chp's looking a much better standard of late due to this competition.
I'd personally like a possible restructuring of the Chp, two different ways depending on SL's long term aspirations but that's another issue.
2012 is too close for Sheffield but attendances are played on far too much when in reality if a team can get by financially in a new area, nice stadium and growing juniors...who cares

Let me guess... L.Ron Hubbard/nickcat impersonation?

For anyone with current knowledge of Sheffield soccer, how does Hillsborough compare to BL? Re- capacity, quality of seating etc.

Similar, but no pig muck.

Wednesday fan? Mr Price?

pretty good post there.

yeah the more championship clubs with realistic chances at SL the better for the game

outside of widnes who are a SL club, fax and leigh have real potential as SL clubs.

leigh with that fantastic ground could easily be in SL. fax with their ground completed can do things as well, pressuring clubs like wakey or cas who arent doing much on their grounds

Leigh have other problems re Sl but lets not set Starbug off on one.
Fax.. unless we go to a 16 team conference system OR they get a full restructure youth setup I fail to see what they'll bring to the table above already established W Yorkshire clubs who run full academies, already guarantee say 6000 fans (i havent checked averages) and are competitive. Hypothetically if they now were in Barrow I think they'd be in with a tremendous shout even in 2012 but to destroy a current SL club.. I'm not sure Fax are/will be worth that risk.

Outside of Widnes, imho your best bets are Barrow (location and stadium holds back what is a big junior conveyor, RL heartland area starved of SL), Toulouse/Stade (for obvious reasons) and MAYBE Leigh. Leigh though, they're behind Widnes by such a distance and in exactly the same geographical location.
Drop a bomb on Widnes, and Leigh MAY have a chance

As I said in another thread though, I would hold back an expansion franchise for 2014/5 guaranteed to one clubs application put forward in 2012. South Wales would be a great shout and it would allow two or three years growth time, as the Catalans had.

leigh/fax have no chance for the next round, more down the track.

only one SL club will get kicked out, the rfl wont have the guts to do more, and widnes take that spot

theyll only add paris and toulose if they can get their own TV deal that covers their costs.

so it will either be 14 teams with one team dropping out for widnes, or 16 teams with the previous scenario plus 2 new french teams.

barrow should never be considered for SL. the only way any cumbrian team should get in is maybe as a joint venture, and even then i wouldnt go for it myself.

I disagree completely on Barrow. There's a great opportunity to get a LOT of talent up there playing to SL standard. Like Perignan it's almost the forgotten heartlands and a great opportunity for expansion. They need a new ground and if that comes about I wouldnt have a hesitation at getting them in.
It wont be 16 teams, they've already stated it will be staying at 14 for the forseeable future.

Salford/Cas for Widnes in 2012 will be the only change and it's the right one imo, no point destroying 2 established SL clubs.
I guarantee they wont add 2 french teams for a long, long time. One maybe, 2 no chance

its all hypothetical but if the french clubs get their own tv deal theyll be granted entry

and reports from france are that stade francaise are interested in a RL team

why would the RFL turn it down if it doesnt have to fund it.

barrow would add zero to super league. it would waste a valuable spot on a team which adds zilch

Interesting choice of words , will Messr's Lewis and Wood be using that term in 12 months time ?