Typical Rugby League! Years ago Maurice Lindsay's plan was rejected wrongly in my view. Mr. Kookash got out having had enough. Mr. Hearns' ideas clearly did not appeal to the backwoodsmen of our game. Pity considering every sport he's involved in is thriving. The changes made in Australia angered many but were massively successful but we keep going round in circles and getting nowhere. Money is key to the game's future so it seems a form of franchising is vital. How about a team in Cumbria! Bit late obviously but long long overdue.

Featherstone contested the last Championship GF, so there's a case for them.

With the 12th team screwed over with pot money. I’d say Toulouse, as they could afford it and send KR down. KR the vote cheating .......

I'd give the 12th team 2 seasons. In the absence of fans it's very hard to see the chpionship going ahead so hard to see promotion/ relegation anyway.

Toulouse are the standout contenders but travel is very likely to be a problem. I'd love to just rename barrow Cumbria raiders for the season and see if it works with a Cumbria side. Give them 2 seasons, it's about time cumbria was involved again.

Featherstone massive no we don't need another team in that area...

Toulouse, London, York, Newcastle any will do

Is there any confirmation of how many would definitely take up the offer of a place in SL under these circumstances (they could change) and at this time?
Teams may have ambitions for SL but might feel compelled to wait until they are ready rather than scramble and struggle effectively putting them back in their planning.
The problem is time but you could make a case for certainly 4 teams possibly 6 and ideally you'd have a play off at least an attempt at meritocracy imo

You'd get plenty of Cumbrians arguing Barrow wasn't in Cumbria, and it's quite a long way from the Cumbrian rugby heartlands, but I'd agree, a Cumbrian team would be a boost to an area that traditionally produces it's fair share of players. It would probably need to be based around Whitehaven & Workington, who obviously have a traditional rivalry but you would hope would come together under a Cumbrian banner. A merger wouldn't work, but possibly still having Workington & Whitehaven in the lower leagues with a professional Cumbrian team might?

It would need a lot of money thrown at it, new stadium, and the population isn't huge around there to bring in the 6k fans minimum you need to compete, 50k between the two towns - it would be difficult to sustain I think.

I'd love to bring Toulouse in under a 2 year franchise. But where would that then leave the Championship? Would the backers and fans of Leigh, Featherstone, Halifax etc etc be interested in the Championship if there was a closed shop? Especially given they are likely to get reduced funding in 2021, would it be fair to relegate Hull KR / Wakey if Toulouse finished bottom. The ideal answer is a 14 team franchise comp with plans in place to expand - but it feels like we are further away from that than ever given the state of finances currently. Rugby League is at a difficult point at the moment

It's an important point, I think the likes of Toulouse, Leigh, possibly London through David Hughes have the backing to spend to cap, but they are seriously behind the 8 ball when it comes to recruitment, and by the time SL kicks off next year, much of their current squad wont have played a game for 12 months - so they are bound to start slow which will heap the pressure on. Then they have a big financial outlay in 2021 with the most likely outcome a relegation the following year, so the break up of a squad, it could absolutely set them back.

Featherstone I'm not sure, but Bradford, Newcastle & York just need to keep growing from where they are. It's too soon for them I think.

The focus, pre COVID, was on growth. In particular by tapping into the potential of overseas markets (France, Canada, USA).

Now we are in survival mode so a 12th team has to provide the top flight with a net gain. That means a club with an established, but possibly dormant, fan base and who are prepared to take less of the TV pot meaning that they need a wealthy backer. Bradford could potentially attract the fans but, if the fail after 2 years (and they probably would), then it would destroy all the rebuilding that has been going on for a few years.

All these posts simply reinforcing my earlier argument on this forum, that relegation is an outdated system & that we need to change to 3-5 yearly licensing system, allowing both new and existing SL clubs the certainty to be able to plan properly for the future.

A licensing syatem is fine, but there have to be conditions and failure to meet them must result in expulsion. One of the conditions should be mandatory reserve team, the other should be scrutiny of annual accounts and the other should be mandatory minimum spend on marketing.

Otherwise, clubs simply tread water safe fron relegation but with no desire or intent to improve themselves or the competition.

We did licensing already. People got fed up and complained there were to many dead rubbers, so they got rid of it, and if we reintroduce it the same will happen.

Toulouse or London for me. I still think we need a Southern based club, but Toulouse would help the game in France.
I know Fev are a traditional team but I don’t see what they add to SL. Bratfurt have been in administration rather too often for my liking. Leigh, similar to Fev.

How are you comparing Leigh to Fev?

Traditional team, not sure what they would add to SL. I have nothing against Leigh but still think we need to expand. I realise this is hurtful and if our roles were reversed I would be outraged. Sorry.