Quote: HerbertSplatt "Franchises were brought in to raise standards and to encourage clubs not to panic buy overseas players for the quick fix and have time to encourage young player development in the 3 year franchise period.
Has that happened?'"
Resoundingly no. We are as far from Australia and NZ as we have ever been and most clubs' overseas players are of the 2nd class variety, not good enough for their league. I always thought that condemning championship clubs to the lower leagues in perpituity would lead to a fall in youth interest in those areas and I wonder if that is happening now. Anyway, whatever that arguement, a sport has to be fair and franchising if patently unfair and brings our game into disrepute in the eyes of those outside it.