that would really split the league 4-5 clubs at the most

For me we have to go back to p and r in some form, there must be a sporting pathway to the top.

And that is exactly why you haven't got a franchise - A club with no junior setup and 2500 crowds!

I admit that we have escaped by the skin of our teeth, but you are so far behind even us (admittedly due to the gulf between SL and the national leagues) - you will be struggling. However I still think there are more spectators to be squeezed out of Halifax - where are the missing 3500? Get them back and you may have the key to unlock the SL door. How are the games meaningless anyway if there's the league title and Choo-Choo cup to play for?

It is a shame, I really like Halifax - fantastic day out, great stadium, friendly locals and good beer but they need to up their game.

I sincerely doubt we will see a 3,000 + attendance in the Championship next season , and probably only a few above 2,000 when Leigh ,Fax,Fev and Barrow play each other

I was looking forward to playing you lot , now we might end up with a poor Crusaders team instead , at this moment we have 9 teams in the Championship , giving us 8 home league games a season

Try building a future SL application on that

I think this will be a major issue for championship clubs in the forthcoming seasons. The league has just lost Widnes which had one of the bigger travelling supports as well as Toulouse and at best will gain Crusaders who will bring next to nobody. Thats if they carry on which is doubtful. There is also likelly to be a drop off from Halifax in the immediate aftermath of licensing and if games are not on sky then exposure for sponsors lessens, thus meaning less revenue there. Even if Premier Sports get thew deal then they aren't going to be able to pay much for the rights, they aren't a big enough company. There could be some major financial headaches for some clubs in the lower leagues unless the RFL breathes some new life in the competition pretty soon.

I thought they were revamping the whole championship set up.

You're right starbug, championship could do with a major rebranding and new tv deal. Rfl should be looking hard to find new sponsors and trying to sell tv rights that get closer to super league, that way it's not such a bigger gulf to go from champ to sl. In reality we need 2 full time leagues but is this sustainable in our game?

Toulouse are no loss , their matches tended to be the lowest attendances anyway , and it isn't just Widnes's away support , just that they attracted your ' occasional big match ' supporter , our ' derby ' match next year will probably be Swinton , with Halifax after that

The TV deal won't happen and has never been paid for anyway , so again no great loss as it cost us money when we were on , in fact the Co oP sponsorship only happened because of the TV deal , so that might go as well

Yes they were thinking about it , but with 5/6 games left clubs in the Championship still don't know if anybody will be relegated , and those in Championship 1 don't know if there will be any promotion , or which positions will win promotion

Bloody marvellous

You are being serious here ?

Trust me if you were in the championship you would have exactly the same problem with the attendances. we have been successful over the last 3 years too, and we still havent managed to increase the gates.

the games are meaningless ysure you play for 3 points and to get to the grand final, but we have just been to 2 successive grand finals, hasnt increased gates though because there is no promotion at the end of the season,

where is the selling point to come and watch a championship game these days??

you do have a youth set up but the sky money helps doesnt it? we dont have as much so therefore can't afford as much.

the only difference between the 2 clubs is the league they are playing in and the extra sky money super league teams get.

its the system though not you, i feel like we have been shafted by the RFL

there's the reasons why and you chairman can't see it

not a pop at you because I to hate the franchise system

hang in there bud