Even if it's a minority, it's a pretty significant one: 6 out of last season's top 8 (with Saints apparently undecided).

More than enough to ensure nothing gets done, I'd imagine.

Clearly neither side has enough of a majority to press their interests through. Hetherington and Wood obviously tried this week, and failed (hence their angry kneejerk reactions in the press). So now, maybe, it's a game of who blinks first.

Seems unlikely that IL's faction will get much support from those clubs whom the RFL have by the short and curlies (Bradford and London), while the two Hetheringtons will not turn until there is no other option because whatever interest they are protecting is obviously important to them. But what about Saints, Cas, Salford, Widnes? Not sure how much intellect is at work in Widnes, but the first three might at some point realise that it will ultimately serve SL's purpose best if all parties agree to sit down and discuss in full the many concerns the leading SL clubs have about the game rather than just the bits Nigel Wood wants to talk about.

Saints are key for me. They hold the swaying vote. If they join the six, that'd be all this years play off teams bar Leeds. Reckon Salford would join the seven if Saints switch. Like a deck of cards.

Cas neither someone's just posted on our board, and Bradford not having a vote. So if true, it goes from being a minority of 6 against, to a minority of 5 in favour (and even then nobody seems sure about Salford/Koukash).

Worth noting that their Chief Exec has Hetherington links.

Duly noted, and with interest.

So we can write Widnes off for the time being.

Hetherington looked sick enough at the GF, gawd knows what he looks like now!

Just pinched this off TotalRL. Sounds more and more like some kind of unsophisticated pseudo-Mafia is attempting to run the RFL if this is the pathetic approach they bring to issues as enormously important as this.

[i"Pearson said that the meeting was called at short notice and the clubs weren't expecting the restructure to be on the agenda as all had agreed it should be delayed until after the WC. McManus was away, the Castleford CEO was 'very ill', Bradford had no vote as the new owners haven't been ratified yet, and it was clear that Heatherington had the Leeds, Wakey, and Widnes votes in his pocket.

It was a dead-set ambush attempt and the 6 who walked out were having no part of it. Kath Hetherington appears to have been representing Wakey in some way, although it's not clear how. James Rule, a very close friend and confidant of the above 2 was representing Widnes. And in case you missed it, Pearson wasn't alone with his concerns. There were 6 clubs who felt they were being set up.

Even if you want to dismiss these concerns as paranoia it seems inappropriate at best to spring a vote on such an important issue at a meeting where it wasn't on the circulated agenda and 3 clubs (Saints, Bradford, Castleford) weren't in a position to to make a decisive vote - one not being able to vote at all."[/i

Do Hetherington and Wood seriously think they are going to either bully or con (or both) 6 of the most influential clubs in the game by methods like these? Looks like they tried, had their bluff called and were found badly wanting. What a pair of numbskulls.

Seems like a desperate measure to me. And how anyone can say that it is the 6 clubs that are putting the game in danger is beyond me

Will be the most interesting off-season for years

I hope it doesn't take over the 'best Wigan team ever' threads.

I dont care as long as the kit thread stays

BT have announced they have acquired the rights the broadcast the champions league from 2015, outbidding ITV and SKY paying £897m - serious money. Now that SKY has lost this franchise wouldn't it be in its interests to inject a little money into SL ? This may lead to more matches being played mid week but is that a bad thing? No doubt SKY will still charge its customers the same price without CL but it needs to maintain is market share and SL has high viewing figures. This is good timing in regards to the "breakaway" clubs, is now the time to push SKY all the way?

It's a game changer, for sure. Sky now have a chunk of money that hasn't been invested and a big gap in their (unfortunately, winter) programming. It will be interesting how they respond strategically, and they almost certainly will.

Could be a great opportunity for RLs power men to get them over a barrel - if they've got the brass balls to do it - and demand more money. Interesting times ahead.