What are the rumours??

My time to shine was a decade ago.

Not sure where the rumour started, but it is said that DH is considering his position as our backer. He wobbled after the hammering by Wigan in the cup in 2013 and that was close to being the end of us....if he walks now then that's it for us as a full time entity and as such I would say C1 beckons

The rumour is apparently someone (a broncos fan) was told by 'The Game Caller' (bradford freelance journalist) yesterday.

The Game Caller was pretty "hit and miss' when it came to reporting the shenanigans at Odsal over the last few years which pointed to him not being the most reliable font of knowledge....how he'd be aware of DH's intentions would be a mystery.
Still, no smoke without fire I suppose.

But what of those potential investors who were deterred by DH's presence?

It's not just DH's presence that is a putting them off, but also the uncertainty of what the League will look like in future, licensing etc, not to mention that they were interested when we were in SL.
If there is to be a return to Licensing I would expect them (and others) to express their interest.

So what do we think the criteria for franchise will be?

Youth set up, attendance, ground, team performance, finances (debts etc)?? I'm not sure
just being "London" will be that beneficial if we are a part time club playing I front of 400 people in a "pimped up"park

1. Financial planning and fiscal independence over and above the Central Funding should be the #1 criteria. As Wales and PSG showed in a short time and we have shown over 2 decades, being financially stable is the first thing an expansion club needs.
Perez et al haven't spent massively in year 1, but they are making all the right noises and if they do fail, it won't be for lack of trying. Year 2 for them is key and they will need to be in the top 2 with similar crowd numbers for it to be considered a success, but what they have done that London, Paris & Wales failed to do is "have a strategic plan" aimed at becoming fiscally viable.
2. Development: Youth teams are where this will start at any "new" club, with the hope that if you run U16/U17/U18/U19 etc that at least some of these players will graduate to your first team. Expansion clubs development players must be protected from bigger clubs cherry picking them.
3. Stadia: It's all well and good welcoming 1,500 fans to ETF for a game v HKR, but any more than that and it becomes a struggle. Either put up the temporary seating now and try and fill the ground on our own, or look elsewhere.....even if it's only for the bigger games.

There's my top 3 anyway...

People are forgetting or are not aware of where the club was pre SuperLeague. The club changed dramatically from Crusaders to Broncos with the introduction of the Marantas, Super League and the Sky TV deal.
The same could happen again, it all depends on what is envisaged for the New Super League. What Sky require, if people are prepared to get involved and what finance is available from whatever source.

...everything else is pointless unless we have both the backing and a plan to reduce the need for that backing as we grow.

Not sure what you mean by reducing that backing? Not many clubs out there that can survive without someone who is willing to spend there own money. Toronto classic example rich mans toy!!!!
So someone comes in with the financial backing, a stadium, but in a virgin area for rugby league in the UK e.g. Wasps, do they get the nod ahead of one of the traditional clubs e.g. Wakey?
Toronto finish 5th next year! Leigh top, you have a choice of the two, who gets the nod? Who would be better for the game? Financially Toronto will be ok but youth development????
At the moment we have nothing that would get us a spot, just a few thoughts

describe how Liegh have a better youth system than Toronto.....
rlhttps://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/41575597rl

Shame about Hendo's departure but can't say as I'm surprised when the opportunity to join a SL club has come along that he's taken it, what he's done at London has clearly not gone unnoticed.
As for us we probably will appoint internally, DH's reputation will put too many serious candidates off.
AH will be very difficult to replace.Club gets the replacement wrong and it'll be next step on the way to C1, sadly.