I won't do either I'm afraid, otherwise he'll stop telling me stuff, then I won't be able to contribute to 'rumours' threads.

Cas will know that no stadium progress will mean no substantial franchise even if they win the GF, the TV contract has been increased and there could easily be a redistribution of funds in order to create a 15th share, if Wakefield had the finances to spend the full cap I'm sure they could build a competitive squad, I'm expecting the MM weekend to be scrapped due to the poor crowds and overload on the fans pocket, TMK this is already in place for demoted or defranchised clubs, like I said earlier, the CC will be us most unaffected by this as Wakey will be replaced by Cas or not, and their pathway to SL via franchise applications will be unchanged.

Let's face facts, the RFL can pretty much do anything they feel they want to within this process.

It's another rumour but it's one I've now had told to me by three different people all of whom are well connected.

I have heard that phrase too often on here

Hopefully it will only be for a season we got NM sorted were back in 2013. Regarding parachute payment premiership clubs get this when relegated to the championship + we have bigger cost not just on field but with our A rated community program. I imaging we would be keeping a full time team both on and off the pitch and most of the parachute payment will probably be to avoid staff been made redundant

I'm sure the cc clubs would appreciate our large travelling support for a season

So will Halifax, who have met the criteria for SL, be allowed 12 months to sort out their Academy, scholarships and community initiatives? The CC clubs have 3 years in which to qualify on field, either by winning the NR cup or reaching the GF. Should they be disadvantaged by an unlevel playing field in the first year and possibly the second if Cas were to come down? Honestly, would you be happy with that if you were Championship fans?

Slugger you are on the right track.

I havn't heard this latest rumour bye the way, but if it were true I don't think Peter Box or his puppet master Mark Burns Williams would just sit back and allow it to work out nicely for us. All Cas have to do is get planning for wheldon Road and they are back infront of us and then all our plans are out of the window. Do people honestly believe that if this rumour is true Cas will not get their planning and therefore their funding before the newmarket enquiry is finalised.

If cas get planning for wr and the pi goes our way for NM then were are both in. It's not a case of them or us like it is at the moment

First and foremost this isn't my plan, I'm merely telling you what I've been told from people I respect.
I expect that the RFL will do what they want to do irrespective of whether the clubs agree or not, from memory I don't think many of the Championship clubs were happy with the introduction of franchising in the first place but it didn't stop it from being introduced.

Secondly, the Championship clubs are judged by an almost completely different criterion to SL clubs so the inequity is nothing new.

Thirdly, the Championship clubs might be given Hobsons choice about accepting, it might come down to a choice between accepting this plan or accepting no one being demoted/promoted.

True, but they will already be in and we will still be out.

Like I said a very very risky strategy if true

My understanding is that both clubs will be in their respective positions on a 1 year licence, so there won't be the option for a further 2.5 years of prevarication, with 6 months of frenzied PR at the end, involving hardhats and promises of £300 trillion of inwards investment, so less risky than it appears.

Well thats a different take on whats been posted so far, so is it 15 teams for next season then

I don't think so.

I interpreted it as 14 teams with Cas in and us out but both will be reviewed in 12 months time, if things have changed for us but not for Cas we will replace them, if we have both made progress then we go back in and make it 15 teams for 2013.