Good, how is Sean Gleeson going at the reds this season out of interest?, he was poor for us last season.

this is the rub and will make any expulsion decision almost impossible...

Wakefields bid..

the franchise bid shows costed and guarenteed (including the placing of contracts to start August 2011 and be complete Oct 2011) stadium improvements at belle vue, improvements will make Trinity a b grade stadium (just short of A grade compliance) All the infrastructure is temporary and will be relocated to Newmarket to support the infrastructure for the reserve grade/ training facility... if thats not good enough for the RL there is a 4 year contract agreed with Oakwell (an grade A facility!)... the plans for the new newmarket sports complex are costed and fully funded, and literally no-one expects the December PI to go against the development which will be a huge and significant sports and education complex right in the middle of west Yorkshire (which goes way beyond A grade)... Wakefield is a city team... one of the aims in setting up SL was a newtwork of city teams... the new owners have guarenteed full salary cap expediture next season and beyond ... with a business plan and finances to back it up... the club are (at their own expense) advertising on television for every home game... which the whole game benefits from... since the takeover the income vs expenditure sheets show the club running at a profit, and new revenue streams are being introduced constantly... the club (as a superleageue entity have become an integral part of the cities community, supporting learning and development opportunities across scores of schools in the area, including excellent scholarship schemes for young players... a new retail outlet is opening in the new city centre Trinity walk shopping centre... with guarenteed presence for rugby league sales in a major shopping centre.. the youth set up is first class... and is producing real talent for the game... membership and attendances are up, significantly... and growing weekly... bridges with local business (including press) which were once very poor are being re-built with openness and honesty. The new club even managed to attract around 1500 people to a hotel on the outskirts of the city for a news conference in June!!

all of which has been achieved on the back of taking over a failing business run by a failing businessman... just imagine what this team can achieve with a full franchise period..


FWIW I think Cas and Salfords bids are just as valid but for different reasons. The awarding or taking away a franchise is far FARmore than relegating a football team to a lower playing division... taking away the franchise will be a blow to the community and prosperity of the area excluded..

TBH the only two clubs which could leave without significantly affecting their community are London and Wrexham... and I really hope that situation changes in the next franchise period.

good luck come July and enjoy the new stadium!! you have waited long enough!

He's been pretty good. He missed many of the early rounds with injury but upon reaching full fitness, Ash Gibson sustained an injury resulting in Gleeson getting a 2nd chance. He hasn't really looked back. Strong defence and a big right foot step. He set up a cracking try v Wire out of nothing

It seems that alot of players that left us at the end of last season are having better careers at other clubs for eg. Gleeson,Blanch,and Moore.

Interesting thoughts on Wakefield.

So you haven't finished bottom, but how many times have you breached the cap rules thereby allowing to to sign and retain players you couldn't afford?

How many times have you entered formal insolvency ?

These things make a difference as it can be seen to detract from the reputation of a sport.

the ground/stadium criteria may just have saved Salford plus our financial prudence. Most teams have a great history including teams such as Featherstone but no one will award a new licence based on that.

Just read the long article on Wakefield... "of the aims in setting up SL was a newtwork of city teams" ... Goodbye Wigan, St Helens, Warrington, Castleford, and Wrexham. Hello Blackburn, Liverpool, Chester, a third Hull, and St Asaph.

you forgot St Davids (pop 1300)

Are you sure Blackburn is a city? Good news for Lancaster, anyway (and for York over the hills).

Blackburn is indeed a town.