Go on then Mo enlighten us to what happens in 2021 (new TV deal I know of) - I may be wrong but champ teams get £250k now, worst case scenario we lose that. We would still be one of the best supported clubs outside SL so does everyone else go t1ts up as well - we just pay people less don’t we, there’s nowhere else for the to go

Might not be all doom and gloom..

If the champ clubs stick together and play on Saturday and Sunday they could have a package of 60 ish games to sell to broadcasters. In today's world content is king and if we can't get a minimum of £5 million for that then we must be employing some one from the RFL rather than a professional.

Controlling a champ competition with strict rules on salary cap and recruitment could lead to a very tight set of exciting games between well matched clubs - a marketable prospect.

You could then tell Superleague we aren't interested in promotion!

You could also go down the lines of the Championship becoming the transatlantic league. But I'll leave MO with his " we either go up or are doomed opinion".. Which of course he is entitled too.

It most definitely is, time for change. Personally I don't think SL is the answer.

You may be happy to settle for us to be plying our trade in what is the second best (Championship) on going for who know's how long, maybe forever. And you also may be employing some selective memory in your thinking that no one would be bothered about not being able to have a shot at promotion, do you not remember what it was like in the Championship with the draw bridge pulled firmly up under a closed shop scenario, all teams in the division suffered from reduced attendances, the majority of the public drifted away. Magically come 2015 and P&R was reinstated interest picked up and fans returned and it has been on an upward trend ever since.
I don't know what you do in life Atomic, but I would hazard a guess that those who have made good financially (Owners and Chairmen) those who invest in RL clubs like Leigh have gained their fortunes by being ambitious and being winner's and wanting/striving to get to the top. I would not see it being any different for those guy's in RL terms, take away the opportunity of promotion and I consider we will take away their desire of continuing to invest if we once again return to a closed shop, and I think our owner may be one of the first one's to vactate his seat, love him or loathe him Leigh needs him as do other clubs need their investor's, ambition is what keeps these guy's coming back for more, a closed shop will take the Championship back 5 years and it will dwindle away over time.

That’s a heart warming statement Harry. Unfortunately it is like a recurring record. Clubs sit and take the money from Sky,investors sponsors and never progress every season.

The game needs a massive cash injection and exposure and isn’t coming from the above. Leigh have been to SL and the yo yo effect is present again. There’s no Widnes to blame now.

You have the issue with Toronto possibly not being allowed into SL even if they gain promotion. So who would SL take?

What’s wrong with building a sustainable club and growing it? Why do they have to chuck all the eggs in one basket again

Hi Atomic and thanks for the reply,
Firstly and lets take the Championship as a whole do you not think collectively it is of a much better standard since 2015 when P&R was reintroduced?
So are you just hopeful or confident that the Championship can make it's own way in the world, forget the club's presently employed in SL and gain as you put it a "massive cash" injection from some Sky competitor?
Leigh is a "yoyo" club I will most definatley agree with that and it is the population of SL being 12 teams that makes it so, I would say that our rightful place in the order of merit is between 10th and 14th place in the league ladder of all clubs and in that I am referring to throughout the history of the game, not just the last few years, we have had our moments of joy and we have also spent a lot of the time at the bottom, we will never consistently be a top team neither will we ever be a permanent basement dweller.
The Toronto issue, I have said this before that if they gain promotion this season I think they will be allowed to step up, not as an associate member but as s guest of the the SL, BUT i also think that they will be under the microscope throughout 2020 and if the fit of how, where and when they can play their games, how teams will take the away trips to Canada and especially those chosen away in the loop fixtures, the cost implications and just maybe the exclusion of some player's by Immigration means, it will all be monitered, logged discussed and adjudicated before 2021 comes around.
So if SL do reject Toronto I think that P&R may just be suspended for a season.

Toronto should be promoted should they deserve it. Should they not be granted promotion, the whole thing is a farce.

I won't miss them if they pack up and Bogoff, but it wouldnt be fair !

I do not like the concept of North American (or French) teams playing in a British competition. However, the rules were made plain to Toronto, in that they had to work their way from League 1 to Sooper Dooper League. They are on the cusp of fulfilling the 'terms' of acceptance to SL, and they now have to be allowed in. (providing that they qualify)

It's a bit late for SL owners/chairmen to discover that:- Toronto is a long way away; they can't play at home in February and March; there may be visa issues with some of their players; return flights land you at a remote British airport; the hotel facilities provided by Toronto are not exactly five star; there aren't any training facilities, etc. etc. With a bit of luck, one of your number could end up with two trips there on 'loop' fixtures, plus another couple in the play offs! Welcome to the 'Global Game'!

Harry, I see Betfred have doubled their annual sponsorship for L1 and Champ. Now why would they do that? I agree the Championship is a far better competition than ever. But I don't agree with SL. So from 2020 SL will reduce what they pay to the lower tiers. Or should I say what SKY pay!

If Betfred can see the future of the lower tiers, why can't the product SL see it? Yes its time for the lower tiers to go it alone, it may split the game but the future of the game can no longer be held by the weakening product of SL.

Toronto (should they gain promotion) are now at the mercy of SL. SL now control SL,whatever the RFL agreed too is immaterial now.

Yes, I believe that is so, Col. However, the SL clubs are still going to find themselves subject to some of the 'discomforts' of having to play in Canada.

Danny craven has been at Widnes for 10 years and has had one good season in the championship.
He's an average player and injury prone.

Nobody more injury prone than Kevin Brown, but I bet he has SL gig next season..