I suspect the place will go to Bradford on the hope that all the bandwagon jumping fans will come out of the woodwork again and the RFL/Super League can say they have another 'big city' team and that all us 'lesser' clubs should be eternally grateful for the amount of support they'll bring to our games. Because as we all know "Super League needs a strong Bradford Bulls".

The likes of Fev don't stand a chance. A great old club who have progressed steadily off the field without any obvious serious financial difficulties and have been putting together a decent squad albeit with the Championship in mind, but three clubs in the WMDC area?....... nah, they RFL/SL won't go for that. Outside bets would be Leigh if Derek hasn't upset too many people, or London because we "need a presence in the capital".

Possibly but if the current virus situation continues there may be doubts over their finances given the cost of coming back and forth to the UK. Even Bernard Guasch owner of Catalans is feeling the pinch this year and has asked the French government for support as they don't have access to any of the £16 Million available for UK based clubs.

Is there a secret millionaire or two in the wings at Bradford? They are a basket case now. Odsal is a shambles.
Makes absolutely no sense to select them without dumping all their current players and taking the leftovers from other clubs for JK to work his miracle again, therefore, it goes without saying it will probably be them. Seems to be how we work in RL.

I don`t exactly know the set up in terms of investment or the financial backing from there board but money doesn't seem to be an issue for them, they have continued to sign SL players throughout the pandemic.

I read last year that they gain 3 million euros per annum per year just in sponsorships, which is absolutely huge especially when they are in the championship - At the time I think the figure was that was 60% of there income which, which puts them at brining in around 5 mil a year, no idea how they do it but they seem to put it back into there playing squad.

They have just moved to a fantastic new stadium, there attendance is above avg for championship, they are probably level with Leigh in terms of the best playing squad in the championship and they do so much more for French rugby league than Catalan are doing which is next to zero.

Not saying it should be them but I reckon they should be up there.

If they remain in The Championship, they will still be coming back and forth with the same frequency as if they were in SL

Also, with how the UK government has handled the virus, there is more chance of getting to see a game in France than going over to Cas for a derby game
Seriously though, if we cant get fans in next season, were all screwed.

Thinking about it, it’s a shame Sheffield aren’t a viable option. RL journalists go on about how Toronto is a sports mad city and now a lost opportunity, what about Sheffield?

There attendance is one of if not the worst in the championship and has been for a number of years, there is very little appetite for rugby league in Sheffield IMO.

There was until the greed of SL saw them sacrificed for Ken’s Wallet. Probably the most short term, selfish and incompetent decision the game ever made and it’s a long list!

When you look at the money wasted on non starters like Toronto you want to weep. Lost now, nobody in steal city will ever trust the sport again.

True Vasty.
You can only hope that an England game at the dee-dars ground (Bramall Lane) in the World Cup [imay[/i reignite the fire.....

I think it was more important to Shudds that the mergers of Hudds/Sheff and Hull/Gateshead reduced the number of teams in Super League and prevented them getting relegated as they once again ended up bottom of the pile immediately pre merger.

They also got some cracking players from Sheffield although finishing bottom again for the only season that they were known as Shudds.