and the closer we can get to making SL larger - ie 16 FT teams, the closer we get to looking at a franchised competition with SL1 and SL2 with P&R between them.

Great idea

It would have to be an East vs West game as we would have players and teams from areas other than Lancs and Yorks.

But there isn't enough good players to support a 14 team Super League.

Surely SL2 needs to be a 'stepping stone' division - for those that want it?

Reduce SL to 10 clubs - and the monies saved would be split among the 10 clubs in SL2.

A club can be promoted from the Championship as part-time, but must use the additional funding to sort out it's minimum requirements to operate on a full-time basis, before making a push for SL1. No funding to be used on players salaries.....this must be sourced from the club's own revenue streams - be that increased crowds, corporate, sponsorship, merchandising, etc. And all the clubs finances must be transparent, and open to scrutiny.

Same applies in SL1. All central funding (TV revenue, and sponsorship) can only be used to improve facilities, academy set-up, administration, and commercial set-up. Again, salaries must be funded from revenue streams, and be open to scrutiny. This way, no club should be able to operate beyond it's means. Obviously, this would involve a 'cap' based on previous season's earnings, so players would have to be induced with 'back end' bonuses based on how well the club has performed commercially......incentivise them to create the interest, that will generate the income!!
Now, as nine home games a season is not ideal there would have to be an additional cup competition - maybe along the lines of the Trains Cup, but for the clubs in SL's 1 and 2. (Maybe 4 groups of 5 teams....and you play each other team home and away - creating 4 more home games) Top 2 from each group go through to quarter finals. These groups drawn completely at random, so as not to 'favour' the SL1 clubs. And the group games to be integrated into the season's fixtures - not played 'pre season' - to maintain an interest. (IMHO this is what should be happening in Trains Cup at present!)

A 26 game 'season' (plus CC and play-offs.....which would revert to top 6.), means there should be enough free weeks to include some meaningful 'rep' games as well. An 'East' v 'West' Origin style series (and that means 3 games!!)

And - how about moving The Magic Weekend to the south of France???

Thoughts?