The quality of ground was only one "Licensing" factor in deciding who would be in Superleague. Yes there was pressure on Wakey and Castleford to provide a better facility to play in, but this was impossible at the first time of the licensing due to the refusal of the council to provide any help at all to the clubs.

Then at the next round of licensing Castleford applied still with no prospect of a ground, but were given a license with the footnote "[ithe significant challenge for the club for the next (the planned third) licensing period will be to move to a proposed new facility[/i many many years on any idea of removing Castleford from Superleague remains a joke, as big a joke as the Lewis led falling over to accommodate the Harlequins and Celtic Crusaders.

On that second round of licensing in 2011 Wakefield had also failed to deliver the stadium but all that was said about that was the "stadium position was uncertain"

Again there was no real threat of expulsion at all. Cas had been bottom of SL in 2008 and only Harlequins had worse crowds than Cas and Wakey so low crowds and poor grounds should have seen an end to their SL status, but the RFL were not so stupid as to actually drop them from Superleague and hoist in such as Salford & Celtic Crusaders instead, so they moved to a 14 club Superleague so they didn't have to back their threats with action.

Empty threats from the RFL and promises that could not be kept by Cas and Wakey were just stuff and nonsense......

The idea of "passing the criteria" was an utter joke.

Of course clubs could not pass criteria in Tommy Cooper style[i "just like that"[/i in 2009 with licensing sprung upon them, but three years later when the second round of licenses came about in 2011 only Hull, Leeds, Wigan and Warrington actually passed the criteria in full.....

Saints were criticised for their rubbish ground in the 2011 round of licensing, and were "downgraded" for that.......

The reality was that Richard Lewis came into the game to take it away from being a northern M62 sport. Protecting London was important to him. then introducing Les Catalans was another move which expanded the footprint of Superleague (but shrunk the footprint of the French game) and then along came Celtic Crusaders in Wales.

Just what Lewis wanted, to move towards, a spread of clubs whose expanded geographical positioning would bring in new investment and growth. Eyes were on a scottish club perhaps joining?

Scotland never happened, Wales collapsed, London struggled and may be at their lowest point now, and Catalans ignored their French players remit.......

So clubs were kicked out of SL then?

"Eluded to", "promised" - nonsense.

It's a FACT - the RFL did not say Wakey/Cas/Saints/Salford would be out of SL if they did not build a new ground.

It's also a FACT that neither Wakey or Cas made any promises regarding stadium developments.

And "never intended to materialise" - that's an idiotic thing to say; of course the clubs want better facilities.

Another lazy and simplistic assumption. Neither Wakey or Cas have been fortunate enough to have a rich owner, a willing Council/developers or a bigger football club to scrounge of.

Apart from possibly Warrington & Saints, have any of these beholden clubs ended up with a good footing?

Not Wigan, Huddersfield, Salford, Hull FC.

Leigh?

It seems anywhere that has a Stadium Management Company or a soccer club as a host is a poisoned chalice.

I cant believe you think its fake that we are just making this up, FWIW again we've been promised a tart up of Belle Vue but again the company which has been given land to build on still is hiding and not taking responsibility for an agreement for the land, the Wakefield council is inept it has allowed them to continue to get away with a promise for years, added that the past top Councillor was a cas fan and share holder you can see through why the wool has been pulled over our eyes.

I don't expect this to happen even now sadly

Oh do shut up.

Just taken a look at Moor Lane and it's more than adequate for Salfords needs. Nothing wrong with it and it certainly looks possible to increase its capacity in the future. We need to be realistic, it's fine even for SL, certainly way better than Trailfinders.

It's called sarcasm Vasty but obviously wasted on you.

Are we not solvent? We haven't paid the full rent for the stadium however that isn't debt hanging over our heads. It's just not been asked for AFAIK.

Salford remain solvent only as long as someone keeps deciding not to call their debt in.