That's not the point Harold , he wasn't referring to just this year

His point being fine we can set up an academy , but if after 2/3/4/5 years we return to the Championship ( be that via the 8s or another structure ) will we be able to retain and finance it , and also my point that as a 2 nd tier club ( or a SL club for that matter ) can we attract enough basic talent to bring through SL or even top Championship calibre players ?

The Mrs is coming tomorrow (part timer) & asked "who is Anthony Gelling" !!!

At what cost ?

To be honest MC,you seem to have built your model elsewhere.From reading your posts there seems to be bridges to be built.Hopefully that bridge will be built,instead of déjà vu.

I'm not sure what the current funding from the RFL is for having an academy in SL.Surely stabilty to secure funding for an academy must be based on stability of the professional club!

Serious post time.
We sit between the best junior/academy set up in English rugby of any code at Wigan, and established SL clubs in Wire and Saints - the best kids will aspire to those clubs for the foreseeable future.
To build an alternative will take a number of things. Time, it won't happen overnight. SL status- without it you simply work with your local amateur clubs to produce more better players and pick up the ones who get left out at 19. Investment/will - if you are not committed and prepared to fund it then don't bother. Reputation - to attract you have to have a great one.