People would feel far more comfortable with this if IMG had put their cards on the table before finding out who may want to be in SL.
Notwithstanding the fact that, on principle, you shouldn't promote/relegate anyone because they have more or less plastic seats.

I'm ok with having well defined minimum standards for SL but, this isn't what appears to be happening and who decides which criteria is most appropriate.

Just imagine if, at some point, in an attempt to expand the game, there is some geographical restriction on whether a club could be in the top flight.
Of course, they've said, from the get-go that A grade clubs wont be relegated but, as more clubs achieve this grading, RL will become a protection racket for certain clubs, just as it always has been, with certain clubs having substantially more influence then others into the running of the game.

Just remember folks, we were effectively chucked out once before.

RL is a sport and should be about what happens for 80 minutes on a Sunday afternoon and not measured by having X number of plastic seats and it's a major, major worry that IMG seem to have this concept back to front.

Just noticed this from yesterday’s Difficult to disagree with the first 4 of these clubs, but how the hell does number 5 keep getting the positive press. https://www.totalrl.com/imgs-overhaul-o ... -the-most/

Just noticed this from yesterday’s Difficult to disagree with the first 4 of these clubs, but how the hell does number 5 keep getting the positive press. https://www.totalrl.com/imgs-overhaul-o ... -the-most/

Bottom line is, should any of those clubs get in at our expense?
Have to say no.
London - Tried before and failed.
Toulouse - In the brown stuff financially.
Newcastle - Good idea, but part-time.
Bradford - Odsal. Say no more.....
York - Probably the best placed out of the lot.

You say "Bradford - Odsal. Say no more...", but I must!

Bust 4 times in a decade, whipround and auction money pocketed by old directors to pay off debts to themselves, delusions of grandeur, arrogance and entitlement, bailed out by the RFL in shady secret deals, owned by the bloke who oversaw the Toronto debacle!

Bulls for SL?

Not for me, never!

A fully functioning Bulls side could give the game a boost but, as usual, it's all about the money.

I'm still struggling with having "A" grade clubs exempt from relegation.
RL is supposed to be a sport and the game takes place on the field of play.
No problem with meeting financial criteria and some minimum standards but, even if there were 14 "A" grade clubs, it wont suddenly increase the appeal of RL to the TV companies and this is the most significant revenue for the clubs.

The truth is with Bradford is that they will never get anywhere near the height's they have been at, even with some success. They are looking back at "Bullmania" and it`s nothing but a pipe dream IMO. They haven`t had those massive crowds in 15 years, they haven`t been in SL for 10 years, Odsal is substandard (that's been very kind) and the money that they would have to put into to bring it to standard is above and beyond what you could imagine. Sure, if they came back into SL, they might add another solid club into the mix in terms of 8/9k crowds but that is about where it ends.

The best thing that IMG could do to promote the support is a 'sporting documentary' a bit like the 'all or nothings' that amazon produce, the amount of sporting documentaries both present day and in the past that have elevated the respected sports in unrivalled.

The ones of the top of my head that have been produced and are 'hits' on streaming sites.

All or nothings - NFL, NHL, Rugby union, Football
F1 drive to survive
The golf one
NBA
and I'm sure tennis (the one of the most dull sports around)

I wholeheartedly agree. We've needed this for a long time but Amazon and to a certain extent Disney + are making it much more trendy and accessible.

I think you under estimate tennis though.
The winners of men's and womens singles will each get £2.4 million and Tennis is the 4th biggest sport in the world for sports betting, only behind NFL, Football and Horse Racing.
Over half a million attended Wimbledon last year.
53 million watched the final on iPlayer with 7.5millikn watching the men's final live.
9.2 million tuned in live to watch Raducanu in the US Open

You may be in the minority thinking its dull.

No sorry but it’s dull along with Formula One and no way should Raducanu receive an award, has she won another match since.

I agree with you but, it's not going to be about what you or I think.
The have made great play about this not being about "promises". However, the perceived "pull" of Bradford, Newcastle and London (plus Toulouse) will no doubt give them some extra brownie points somewhere and at the risk of being boring, criteria can easily be changed to accommodate a "preferred" bidder.
Once the clubs have agreed in principle (and lets face it we're already fully signed up with IMG), there is no going back.

I guess it's up to us to try and get an A grade, if this is possible ?

That's going to take us well off subject but suffice to say I wholeheartedly disagree with you about Raducanu.

yeah agree with the points above, although i still think its dull

Fair enough.
I was, of course, trying to put it succinctly.