Quote TFC="TFC"And that Smokey, is why I won't ever truly agree with you on this issue. Fair enough non league RL sides play to win, some players play just to get wages in Pro RL and match bonuses. However in Wakefields case and along with the likes of clubs who have a very slim chance of returning to Super League once they are deadlocked in the national league, who at one time or another have had varying degrees of success whether that be in recent years or years gone by, it is quite plain that there will never be major interest in a club of which the prospects of success in the sport are constricted by a 'vision' of the sport becoming nationally played and appreciated.
Fact is that I don't just want my club to win hollow matches and watch us stay rooted, and not have the chance to be the best. For example, I support Sheffield Wednesday, and although we aren't in the best position at the moment, I know that one day we may well make a return to the premier league. As such I don't care about winning as such, but about the progress of the club. My fear is that Wakey will be denied the same chance, and as showed by the franchise system, we don't have the same chance as some of the more desirable 'expansion clubs'.
Even though we may well have a good license application in 3 years time, this could be dismissed for all we know, owing to the league remaining at 14 teams. It just seems that we will indeed be plunged into the mire if we have to spend a minimum of 3 seasons in the national league.
Which leads back to my original point, I would like to feel assured that we have the same chances of being 'promoted' again without fear that we aren't a desirable club and as such don't stand a chance. However, evidence suggests that we aren't fighting on an even playing field. As shown by the RFL stating that one SL team would be dropped before any applications had been recieved. It was completely unfair to judge before having any materials or evidence in which to judge initially. In addition to this, the Welsh franchise has received vast amounts of preferential treatment over the past year, which in itself would be fine had the RFL come out and said that this franchise would receive backing from the RFL. Unfortunately supporters seem to be led down cul-de-sacs and stringed along. I do not just speak for Wakefield of course, but the clubs who are in the same league as us; Leigh, Halifax, Featherstone, Castleford and so on.'"
But the point is, you wouldnt want Sheffield Wednesday back in the premier league, if it was only going to cause the same problems that almost put the club out of existance last time, and are still being felt now having put the club in 3rd tier of football would you.
P+R was part of a system that nigh on killed Sheffield Wednesday, it certainly contributed to their problems. What franchising would mean, is that whilst it may take a little longer to get them back to the premier league, when they do, they will be much better placed to take advantage of it.
If Wakefield were to be relegated under a P+R system this year, what benefit will they get out of it? none really, they will lose a lot of money and visibility. Yes they may get promoted next year, but if they havent addressed any of their structural problems that are affecting them now, and causing the problems they are having now, they are going to be in exactly the same position when they are promoted, only this team weakend by a year spent in the lower leagues. They then have the priority of staying in the league over and above addressing their problems. As we have seen, Wakefield have spent 12 years pretty much uniformly having one aim, avoiding relegation which has meant the problems affecting them 12 years ago are still the same problems affecting them now.
