In today's Guardian....
rlhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/06/super-league-clubs-could-relocate-south-or-abroadrl

Not before time the RFL switched on to something like this. Lets hope a few move

Jeez, I bet Michael Carter's been on the blower already.

Tomar Trinity's got a nice ring about it.

It's not going to happen. Lets take Wakefield as an example. If Mr Carter was to up sticks and take them to Coventry or Dublin, another RL club would form in Wakefield and call themselves Wakefield Trinity or similar. A bit like when Sheffield moved to Huddersfield or Gateshead to Hull.

Funded by who? Playing where? With what players?

1. Supporters, new owner etc..

2. In Wakefield

3. With whatever players they can get.

They would essentially just re start in a lower division and they would still have a hardcore of 1.5-2k supporters.

Come on Smokey, stop trying to argue for arguing sake.

Some questions/comments...

High Wycombe to Coventry is about an hour. Wakey (for instance) to Coventry or Newcastle is 2+ hrs. That makes a lot of difference to existing fans for both clubs.

So what happened to existing Wasps fans?
1. Still have season passes
2. Go to irregular home games
3. Don't attend matches
4. Given up on the team completely

Yes you may get some new fans going, but if the fan base is going to end up equal or less than it's current fanbase, what's the point? RL is hardly very good at selling itself is it? (I'm looking at you Red Hall and Eddie Stobart).

Wakefield fans wouldn't even go if they played in Castleford so any discussion of whether or not fans would travel to a new city is pointless.

1. Where are these people now. Wakefield are hardly a club flushed with cash now.

2. Where in Wakefield? They are currently tenants to a landlord who doesn't really want them in a stadium that isn't fit for purpose and a new club won't even have that. There isn't a suitable stadium in Wakefield at all and the unsuitable ones already have rl teams in them

3.where from?

You make it sound very easy when there would be massive hurdles to overcome with likely not very much notice and starting from scratch. They would probably have only 3 or 4 months to organise, get investment, find a stadium, then find sponsors, players, start marketing, start selling tickets get a passable business plan and accepted in to the RFL, all for a club that isn't called Wakefield Trinity. If they don't do it in those 3 or 4 months then they miss at least 1 year, fans will drift away and to other clubs and it's pretty much over.

But its not impossible and can be done. While not at the same level, Sheffield and Gateshead did it. With enough will it can be done. People will always find a way. Mark Aston is testament to that.

Can't wait ......

Leigh-On-Sea 'till I die !!!

Yes, but, if we are talking SL "franchises" being give out to the "most worthy clubs" then all of the power would be with the governing body and those clubs who dance to their tune.
What is interesting is that, IIRC, Trinity were "blocked" from moving outside the City by the RFL and there is the biggest problem.
You couldn't trust the RFL to do this properly and they would make a complete mess of things, further damaging the game.
The sport certainly does need to think about where it is going and if a magic wand could be waved, it would be a "better product" if we had a true national league.
THe parochial nature of the sport is both its strength and its major weakness.
However, ultimately, for pro sport to succeed and become more attractive to the TV companies, which are clearly, the largest source of revenue to all major sport's, RL has to become more diverse.

Wasps are a bit of a special case, though; they are top of the league and beating all comers, so they are bound to attract (new) fans.

That wouldn't apply to any SL side in the same situation.

That's not a reason for it not to happen, but a statement of things that might occur if it does happen.

It could make financial sense for a club to relocate from an area with a dense concentration of RL teams, all competing for a limited support, to an area where there is potential for +10K crowds, whilst retaining its league status.

Like you said this does not rule out a phoenix club rising in that original area, starting from the bottom up.

So to be clear the RFL are open to moving a club anywhere they feel is OK.
Is this the same RFL that stops clubs trying to make a few quid by giving players an unusual shirt number.
I always thought they'd learnt a lesson with franchising. Guess we learn something every day