I understand and appreciate that Warrington didn't want this to happen, and there has probably been an element of 'sabotage' over the past few months, but I think that the way Swinton, a once proud club have sold their independence to become essentially a glorified academy is shameful. I am not really up on the Swinton squad this year if I am honest but I presume a player, who is probably getting paid by the match will now have to drop out and miss the chance to play in front of the cameras.

Some may argue that Swinton are simply picking the best squad, but the league table would suggest otherwise. There has been talk of players unhappy, and if relegated at the end of the year and this shoddy system stays in place will Warrington still want to be partnered with them? That is a lot of gaps to then try and fill if not.

Is it fair that Whitehaven should have to play against an international stand off (who's wage would probably take up the majority of the C salary cap) then the next week Batley play a much weakened side? No. The Championship is a strong competition in its own right, and it is incredibly disrespectful to treat it (and the paying fans) as some kind of glorified warm up for recovering Super League players.

Blokes and their dopey principles. A northern disease ?

Agreed - but as I said, it's not swinton's fault.

Morley playing for Swinton as well in the next couple of weeks

It has been their choice to not sign the memorandum of understanding and use the system in a way which no other club has though. Last year Smith said to Paul Rowley that we couldn't be partnered as Leigh are "too ambitious", it is pretty clear what he meant now. I understand the reasons why but it is sad to see us use a once proud club in this way.

I was always terrified of first team players making their comebacks in A team games in case someone wanted to make a name for themselves by cleaning out, or singling out, one of our "stars".

Obviously players need to get match fitness somehow so we have no choice, but hope Gary Chambers looks after him.

Leigh are in the again moneywise, how's that ambition working out for them?

A once proud club.

Hate that sentence, years of mismanagement and dwindling crowds and we are the architects of a loss of pride?

You lot are fantastic. all pride in rugby league was lost when promotion and relegtion was scrapped. dont be blaming anything else for this. This is all down to the biggest teams in the land wanting to keep themselves in the top league. even if it means kicking the soul out of the competitio. dont blame anything else apart from the franchise system.

So, without franchising Swinton would be playing in a brand new stadium in front of thousands of fans with a team pushing for promotion? It's not just franchising or P&R; clubs are well managed or they are not. Look at Salford - same city as Swinton with a franchise and a new stadium but hardly any fans and went bust. Every situation is different and to blame Super League or the clubs or the economy or the fans or the media is just lazy. You need to look at the circumstances in each case. If you are looking for an overarching reason, then it is that Rugby League is a minority sport in this country with a low profile and a limited fan base which in turn means that there is not enough money (from sponsorship, gate receipts, merchandise and media rights) to make it sustainable at a fully professional level for more than 10-15 clubs. Sorry.

Whilst I might agree with the analysis in your 'State of the Nation' address i think that it is a little unfair, or rather the system is. A sport based on an elite, where as long as you can afford to pay the tally man, then all is well relatively speaking will inevitably become sterile.

I think P&R is an essential part of any competative sport, as the lower elite clubs try to scramble up the safety ladder and an aspiring second tier club have something tangeable to aim for, perhaps as long as there are qualification criteria?

Keep cracking your skull against a glass ceiling and you'll get a headache, what I do find a little unpalletable is the notion that the rule makers can seemngly adjust that qualification criteria at will, remove that glass ceiling, or be blinded by facts and figures that don't appear to stand up to too much scrutiny.

Crusaders well we need a club in Wales, Fulham/Quins/Bronco's well we need a club in London as it will help with media and sponsorship, Toulouse we could really get the comp going in the South of France, Bradford let's buy the ground and keep one of our 'names' in the comp' Salford, well we need a 'Manchester' team don't we?

As for Swinton, don't they reallise that because Salford got into trouble they should know their place? I find it odd that whilst Salford's town hall is in Swinton, the community stadium is really SCR's and presumably a vital part of their franchise bid? a case of taking Swinton's poll tax including the houses built on Station Road building your 'rivals' a stadium whilst you play in Leigh....

Yeah right

If I were a Swinton supporter I would be rather excited to see Briers and Morley turn out for my team...

Wonder why the crowds are dwindling?

The crowds appear to be down in SL as well as the Championship. We are down about 6pc, Wigan and Saints I think were down 6-10 pc. Leigh and Swinton are both down. I suspect the problem with the Championship clubs is the fact that there is no financial room for manoeuvre. The players that a club can afford are presumably signed on the basis of last years attendances ?

I would n`t disagree with you but the Yed does n`t appear to grasp that. We`d love to have a benefactor like Moran but a few businessmen are looking at a few alternatives, which hopefully will bear fruition.