That point's a bit irrelevant though.

They must have decided that Fax's proposal was worse than Wakey's. Presumably, Crusaders would have retained their place (I'm guessing) and Wakefield would have been kicked out, had the Crusaders not withdrawn.

Crusaders asked to withdraw because their finances wouldnt last three years? the application was too weak to suceed anyway? i would hope crusaders jumped before they were pushed!

But didn't they in their previous guise advise on rail privatisation!?

I think people are getting carried away. The RFL have a hard job - as so few clubs (if any) meet decent criteria or even have the potential to become free-standing viable businesses. Accordingly, the RFL will always have to make decisions not on who has the strongest case but who has the least weak case. They also have to make decisions in that light at particular points in time based on real-world assessments then. It is this which probably accounts for the apparent inconsistencies.

fax decided to bin off there youth development section to spend all there money on the first team, why should that short term decision be rewarded as part of a process thats supposed to be about long term planning?

What are you on about, get a fookin' grip. So now because Halifax doesn't get a licence the game is corrupt? Pathetic. What was there to be re-evaluated? Crusaders withdrawn because their finances were not strong enough for a three year licence so you would assume their application was too weak to be successful anyway so they pulled out. Clearly Halifax's application wasn't good enough, accept it and move on.

The RFL it would appear had no early warning of the Crusdaers falling on their sword, so had very little room to manouvre in the time scale. The remit was one club to be brought up, Widnes and one to be removed this has now happened. I can understand the Fax fans position, but it is bad enough getting one club up and running by next season from now without doubling the problem.

Clearly Wakey are in a better position to compete next season then Fax are and for once the RFL have taken the correct course for the good of the game. The RFL had taken the only logical decision they have fulfilled the remit correctly with Widnes coming up and they now have three season to turn it around or they will go next time ( Quins permitting ).

It can not have been easy and the Crusaders players/fans must be very upset by the news the timing could not have been worse. The game will have some very tough decisions to take in the coming years as the world changes for the worse, this could turn out to be one of the easier ones.

Its an absoulute disgrace, and if I was a Fax fan id be absoulutely fuming. How the hell can Wakefield possibly have a better application than Halifax??? Somebody please enlighten me. Belle Vue is an absoulute dump, they have been stringing people along with this "we are getting a new ground" for years, youth development and crowds are also pathetic.

So, Wakefield are going to play at Belle Vue again next season..........................What a farce.

I'm very amused by the notion that Wakefield are so cosy with the RL higher ups that they are prepaired to reject the strong aplication of Fax in favour of the weak one by Wakefield - just tell me why would they do this? How would this be in the best interests of the game?

Im sorry for those Fax fans that have had their ambitions dashed today but it defies logic that the RFL would do anything other than to award the 14 licences to the best 14 aplications.

That quote and the RFL dont go hand in hand.

It's an absolute disgrace that Cas spent a season in NL1 when it should have been you, but hey

Hi 21-12.

I have been waiting for you.
You haven't dissapointed me.

I think it a little unfair that Halifax followers should complain when their club was permitted to spend beyond the salary cap for the 2010 season during which they ticked the box for on-field criteria by winning the Grand Final.
It was other Super League clubs that agreed with the latest ruling on clubs going into administration - probably to do a favour for Crusaders.
Best wishes to Wakefield.Good luck in the future to Halifax.

rlWatch until the end to see why Wakey were chosen above Halifaxrl