I'm sorry but your missing our point. We agree totally that our current coach and performances are a disgrace and should only result in the sacking of SM. BUT we are responding to Someones question of "do we rearly deserve a franchise? And the answer is yes based on the below which is repeated for your sake.

Clubs are assessed on criteria in 5 key areas:
a. Commercial, Marketing, Media and Community.
b. Facilities.
c. Finance.
d. Governance and Business Management.
e. Playing Strength and Player Performance Strategy.
Clubs that meet all of the A Grade criteria across the 5 areas will be awarded an A Grade licence.  Clubs that materially meet all the A Grade criteria and/or satisfy the RFL that they will meet the criteria in the next round of licensing will be awarded a B Grade licence. 

Once again I'll point out point "e". Further down on the list.

I agree our coaching and backroom staff needs an overhaul starting with the departure of SM but our performances have very little impact on our application success.

Salford v Saints 2010 = 5685
Salford v Saints 2011 = 5929

Not a massive difference. Plus two crowds over 6000 last year

Fair points lyrad red and it is meant to be a discussion,and thats what forums are for.
One of my biggest points i made is that the main purpose of the franchising system is to help develop the game at a local/super league/and national level regarding the youth development of british players,and to give clubs the chance to produce home grown talent!we have sadly had chances to do this with alan hunte and his team working hard and some great kids waiting in the wings who are being overshadowed by the useless crop of crooked players we have bought to the club,what did willie talau(prob cost us £150k over 2 years)bring to the party?doesnt look like our big name signings in messrs anderson and bailey are gonna bring much to the cause either!ive been more impressed especialy in the full back position in what i have seen in young jack holmes then our £140k a year aussie star so far this season!!

True, but if there was still relegation Mcrae would've been gone 12-18 months ago, yet the fans are expected to put up with poor coaching/performances every week and then celebrate getting a franchise. Fantastic.

Think we do deserve a franchise for the sterling work the club is doing getting the stadium built (OK in conjunction with many other parties) but saying the youth policy is a selling point is a moot point at the minute as we seem to have a coach with the reverse Midas touch. Hunte brings through some cracking youngsters and then inexplicably they steadily go backwards when he loses his influence over them.

How ironic it would be if SM is a leading cause if we don't franchise when he was brought in for his big name status to help secure our bid last time.

300+ increase in attendance on last years fixture is worth a well done from me keep up the good work

Probably not , but with Barton on the way you are well worth another 5/6 years to get it moving in Man , sorry Salford

So the answer is yes , because of your location , so don't waste it

First game of the season always sees a few extra as well.

We have improved in certain areas such as community since the last bid, but in others we have gone backwards.

Karl harrison put many of the structures in place for the acedemy and shop etc. Th academy under Hunte has gone from strength to strength but the marketing and merchandising is poor.

The on field performance is vital as it adds to the bid in so many areas, community, finance, awareness, marketing.

This is why we need to get rid of McRae, build to the new stadium from strength not the weak position we are currently.

I am sure the club recognises this and will address the issues and McRae won't walk away.

Let's be honest the marketing dept at the club must be tearing their hair out at the moment. The team performances are damaging the clubs marketing and merchandising sales opportunities. Hopefully if results improve they should have something much more marketable when we move in the new stadium.

[iUnder the present franchise system of course the Salford City Reds deserve another three year deal.

But when we move over to Barton I feel we will have to improve in all areas both on and off the field in order to stay in the top flight come 2016.

It looks like the Widnes Vikings are to be invited into the Super League this time around and quite righty so but at who's expense?

The ways things are going off the field the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are in a bad position and could face the chop sadly this time.
[/i

Anyone who really thinks that it's wakey and wakey only as dead certs to go down are seriously deluded. We are on a par with them in every area. Going into administration doesn't lose you brownie points anymore so IMO it's going to be a tighter decision than a lot of you seem to think it is.