The RFL have (mistakenly in my opinion) guaranteed one Championship club a license for 2012. Lay all the names of all the Championship clubs out on a table. Now, gamble your house and all your possessions on which club you'd think has the best chance of surviving in SL right now.

That's how i look at it and sensibly it's how the RFL are looking at it. It may not be sport in it's rawest form but that's where we are at.

Now move ahead to July, take Widnes out from that list and add the remaining SL clubs. Now bet your house on which clubs you think have the best chance of surviving in SL. Not so clear cut this one is it? Because you now have to add into the mix the ultimate aim of the RFL - to expand the game. There are now more variables to that gamble. More considerations than crowd sizes or past financial difficulties. Who knows what BskyB have said to the RFL behind closed doors? There could be ultimatums and all sorts being thrown at them to guarantee future TV deals and funding. If you take a step back and think about what the RFL are trying to do then i feel more at ease about what is ultimately happening. I have one or two gripes at the criteria and how they have stuttered from one operational rule change to another but essentially i have to go along with the overall aims of the governing body.

Spot on , that is why I have refrained from using the word ' Deserved ' when in relation to who is in SL , and who will be going into SL , nobody deserves anything anymore , it is all about who they want to appease SKY and retain the best TV deal

Not happy with that , but accept it is what is happening

So Leigh dont deserve to be in the Championship?

I think you are referring to our reinstatement there? Go find the RFL statement on the subject. The RFL haven't benefitted from that financially unlike the financial reward for keeping the Welsh in there, a few million was involved there if they booted them out

Completely agree Starbug.


So Leigh dont deserve to be in the Championship?
On what grounds?

We were terrible that season, however, if Gateshead hadn't gone out in the middle of the season and brought in players they couldn't afford to pay they would've finished in the relegation places anyway. As it was, we were relegated, then a spot in the Championship was freed up by Gateshead going bust and it was decided we should take that spot.

Not sure what it has to do with the argument about Widnes' on field performance. Some widnes fans have argued that if you needed to, you would've spent more on your squad. Trouble is, if you're spending the full salary cap, that argument isn't really valid.

So, who in your opinion should have taken Gateshead's place when they went bust?

Simply going along with what Stargirl was saying! Your saying Widnes don't 'deserve' to go into SL as should only be based on what happens on the field then that point applies to Leigh in 2009?

The two scenarios are not really comparable. In 2009, a championship club went bust and reformed in the bottom tier. It was decided that their place should be taken by the highest place team. So actually, yes, we deserved the spot based on what had happened on the field. However, we were incredibly lucky that the spot in the Championship became available in the first place.

And Widnes would be going up via ticking the on field criteria box?

Under the current system, Widnes should be getting a franchise. However, I think the system is flawed. (Not Widnes' fault). How does winning the northern rail cup in 2009 point to having enough on-field success to be in Super League in 2012?

Some Widnes fans walked away from last year's northern rail final, without being too bothered because they knew Batley posed no threat in franchise applications. Any system that leads to that can't be right.

But we are where we are, the big question is, now Widnes have ticked the necessary boxes, can they bring all of this work that has been done over the last few seasons together to produce a team that can compete at the highest level? And is Denis Betts the man to lead it?

Yes - see Steve O'Connor





No - see Brian Noble

Boring Brian? So Widnes can look forward to 5 drives and a kick whilst totally disregarding the yoof?