The RFL still had it in their power to relegate us. Nothing in the rules stated you will be relegated unless Gateshead go bump or any other club. The correct decision was made, but it wasn't an automatic one so we should be grateful for it.

To be fair though we have run the full youth systems for the 6/7 (?) or however many years we have been at this level so it isnt just a case of SOC and his money.

Just to throw one in there but is the scrapping of the scholarships anything to do with the new player pathways that have been created at junior levels by the RFL whereby young lads on scholarship are no longer eligible to attend regional camps or service area level.

Players who would have been on Championship sides scholarship schemes now gain their next level of coaching at Regional Camps or below at service area and clubs at this level pick them up as Mr Chairman has stated in an affiliation with an amateur club where they play in National Youth League.

Saves the Championship clubs money and from what I have read the idea is then to give more players access to better coaching at regional and service area levels rather than the 'Elite' 25 or so who would make up the same at each.

Are the RFL going to withdraw the scholarship from the criteria though if not then how can clubs apply

Regional camps no longer exist! The rfl won't fund it anymore as they are very costly!

Service area is run only for the lads who don't have a scholarship! Which I assume the number of, has just suddenly increased, although the recent trials were a matter of weeks ago which did not include these lads!! Hmmm maybe they have missed out on that too!

Also regioal camps were held to aid the selection of the regional teams who then competed at a regional carnival to then aid the selection of a national camp and national team! Which is the countries elite! Which I'm sure pretty much all of this elite are already at sl clubs scholarships by this stage!

One problem with your plan Keith. The SL clubs will just plunder the best players from East, Miners and the other local teams and Leigh will never get the cream from their local amature teams. With an academy at the club we could have the best lads that want to play for Leigh. I think the plan is better for the local amature teams than the Centurions. Not saying that Leigh should just get your best players but it's heavilly loaded against all Champonship clubs. I feel the RFL are handing a golden goose to you all Keith and when you take it it's going to lay pebbles. Won't be long before the RFL withdraw funding to amature clubs in areas that are outside a profesional club in favour of expansion. Sorry but this game needs a clear out at the top and new rugby league blood brought in before we go past the point of no return.

could'nt agree more.

If there is no explanation forthcoming regarding the scholarship issue, and regarding that super league is now almost a completely closed shop. then is it not about time that all championship clubs chairmen get together and take the rfl to court, we were told all clubs had to accept the decision by the rfl on the last round of franchises and could challenge them, well B*ll*cks to them all its time to make a stand against the idiots at redhall.

i have been a scholarship coach at Leigh for 6years now,
been some great times , along with some other players we have
developed some great players going on to super league clubs at the end
of u16s scholarship because we DON'T have an u18s acadamy team,
players like Tommy Makinson just signed a 1st team contract at saints
age18, Grant Gore, Danny Crompton, Alex Gerrard all now at widnes
age18 playing u18s & 21s acadamy & just got 2 or 3yr contracts, also
Alex Marsh at wigan playing u18s acadamy. Now to my point WE ARE
HAVING A SCHOLARSHIP but wont be able to play games at the end
of scholarship year, as we only be allowed 10players per scholar year,
these players will go onto regional/national trials. The scholarship players
will train once a week & at the end of u16s scholarship, they will go onto
sign a contract for Leigh Centurions, ( if a super league club, inc: widnes
do not come into sign them ).

Just out of interest, how many went for regional and national trials this time just gone?

all 10players from each age group should go for regional trials this tues & thurs, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS WE HAVE NO U18s acadamy,
to get a super league licence/franchise you have to have a u18s ( we not got )
you have to have a scholarship system ( we have ) you have to have a reserve grade/u21s ( we have ), now widnes fill everyone of these thats probably the reason
they are allowed to run a full scholarship in line with super league clubs.

if you have a u18s you need a full scholarship to keep the player development/numbers to see you through each year, widnes have done their scholarship correctly over the past X amount of years, they then started their u18s ( who are going great guns this year ) & they have progressed into the top candidate for a super league franchise this year.

How do you know who your ten scholars are when they don't need to have signed until sept 1st?! Or will they be from last years team? In which case you had like 20ish lads in both age groups