If, like in 2008, the licences are decided in the July of 2011, then if Crusaders or possibly another SL team are not granted one, they would be playing from July to the end of the season knowing they will not be there next season. This would give an advantage to the teams playing them in the 2nd half of the season. I would hope thye RFL have thought about this!!!

RFL think ahead??????????

Well not really since all the players and staff would be contracted till the end of the 2011 campain at the very least, So there'll be no changes in that respect.

I can understand that mentially it would have some sort of effect but wouldn;t you rather go out on a high that just give up?

Besides common sence would say that the annocement would be made the week following the grand final in 2011...... or not made public knowledge until then at least.......

This is the RFL we are talking about though!

Sadly it's the only way it can work.

You can't leave it till the off season to announce who will be in SL as any new teams will need to plan ahead recruitment wise.

They should announce it early enough, around mid season possibly meaning any potential team that is gonna be rejected still has to play everyone for a 2nd time that season. No one gets an unfair advantage then .

Hardly a crisis tho

They could announce who is coming into but not anounce who is going to drop out .. possably

Again i don't think that would work.

You can't leave a teams fate up in the air like that.

The best way to do it is to announce mid season what any possible changes there is gonna be.

This the teams which are either staying up or going down enough time to plan ahead.

The last thing they should do is leave it till the end of the season as it would be far to late for any new team to recruit good enough players. What simply would happen is all the players from the team that's been sent down would go to the new team as there wouldn't be many other choices out there.

so what would happen. Mid season, a team has been struggling for last couple of season and gets the chop. They then go on and have a surge , get in the top 8 and reach the grand final, possabliy win it .
Has anyone any idea on that scenario
I know im taking daft but it could happen

its ok saying they will have nothing to play for.......as a club, no they wont.

as individuals the players will be playing for superleague size contracts elsewhere, so the team will still be playing to the best of its ability imo.

The RFL might not drop any club out of the SL.
As they have already confirmed, one club will come up from the Championship. We could certainly have either a 15 or 16 club SL.
SKY's tv contract will be for re-negotiation then and if the viewing figures continue to increase then an increase in SKY money could allow one or two more clubs in SL.
Of the clubs warned about their grounds most if not all could well have building work under way by the time the RFL are carrying out their assessment in 2011. The vulnerable ones will be those with construction work not started.
I'd be surprised if any of the current SL clubs don't make it through the next licence round.

This.

So like the old relegation system then?...

Of course they can leave it until the end of the season just give the teams that are coming up the knowledge that they are so they can plan ahead.

No teams will drop out regardless of performance or how crap their stadiums are.

I think that might to begin to change from now on