I think dropping teams into the top flight only works under a licencing system with a very strict criteria which creates a target for so called 'lesser' clubs both on and off the field.

I think attempting to fast track teams under the current format would work, it would rock too many boats, and imo any expansion team needs time to bed in in one place, the one recent example we have where we followed this was Catalan. If I remember rightly they had exemption from relegation and I can't see a way that works in the 8's system.

Personally I've never been too bothered by promotion and relegation, I believe a competitive super league would create enough drama without that added. I also think with the exception of the couple of teams, their aren't many below SL capable of stepping up. For me it takes more than just being competitive on the field to prove that.

That seems crazy, but even if it were true, what would it matter? Casual fans wouldnt care, the potential fanbase of toulouse wouldnt care, who even are these 'rest' that may care and would be turned off the game?

Firstly. How many clubs do you think we have 'dropped into' our top flight.
Secondly, attendances were higher under Franchising. They dropped last year, and dropped again this year.

like now?

Leicester City are owned by a multi-billion pound company who has invested hundreds of millions of pounds in to them, breaking the football league financial regulations and making huge losses. Sounds a great way to run a sport.

This is entirely true.

And should this system 'work' and in two or three years the top 4 of the championship is made up of Toulouse, Toronto, London and Hemel, with Leigh, Halifax, Fev etc battling it out for the championship shield, that this system will suddenly be unfair.

PSG
London
Gateshead
Wales south / north
Catalan

So roughly 1 every 4 years of SL.

The only one to progress, surprise surprise a club from the Rl heartlands. By expansionist standards not really an expansion.

London were 16 years old at the time of Super League, played in the final top flight winter season and finished ahead of workington, whilst they did get promoted 'off the field as it were' lets not forget, they spent nearly 20 years in the top flight, finished 2nd in SL and reached a CC final.

Crusaders did exactly what you are proposing, they put them in the lowest league and they overspent on overseas players to gain promotion on the field. They were the 2nd best team in the 2nd division a year 2 were promoted.

So we are left with 3. PSG a bad idea poorly executed. Gateshead, did ok before being sacrificed to save a club promoted through P+R, and Les Catalans, unmitigated success.

Crusaders didn't overspend , they were funded by the Welsh RL development grant via Leighton Samuels company Decor , unfortunately nobody in Bridgend even knew they existed or cared

This thread so far shows why expansion is the shambles it is. Nothing coherent or consistent.

No it shows we have 2 trains of thought , those that want geographical expansion NOW at any cost to the game

And those that understand the benefits of ALL expansion but also that it needs the underlying support of local people for it to be sustainable ,

As I posted earlier and on other threads , we now have the beginnings of a ' second front ' a ' new heartlands ' in the area from Coventry down to the Skolars , across from south Wales to Oxford/Hemel , this area needs support at grass roots with juniors clubs , and eventually we will see some of these fledgling ' pro ' clubs grow

It will not be easy and we don't have a fortune to finance it , but the opportunity is there

Yeah, they did.

To be fair, its also shown those needing to hide behind straw men too.

The good thing about Toulouse is that it has grassroots supporters and players. It has a good junior system. It has sponsorship. The grassroots supporters and players will expand in numbers once the team is in Super League (as happened with Catalans).

The good thing about Toronto is that it has grassroots supporters (3,000 season tickets already) and a brilliant boss, with two competent coaches, and plenty of sponsorship. All it needs now is to build a good team with some Canadian or American NFL rejects involved, and to start serious junior development.

Toulouse and Toronto are examples of expansion done right.

Hopefully one of them will eventually replace Catalans, because they've one of the best teams but won't win nothing.

Toronto haven't actually played a game yet , you do realise that ?

I did realise that. However I thought that they were raring to roll through League One undefeated and rarely even challenged, just like the brave Frenchmen of Toulouse.