To those who want a break away league to house former Yorkshire greats, I can confirm that in 2012 there will be a league where there will be local derbies, involving us, Dewsbury, Batley, Fev, and possibly Cas and Halifax. These will slug it out all season and will have not only TV money but also it's own knock out tournament.

That's what is being asked for by some loons, and it is on it's way for us. It's called the Championship. Now what was your point again?

I agree with Smokey wholehearteredly here. If Wakefield get relegated, it will be the clubs fault, not the RFL's. The club has had more than enough time to sort itself out, it hasn't and it could fall to pieces soon because of it.

Smokey's quite right about the RFL wanting a strong Wakefield side. Wakefield is a RL hotbed with a very high amount of amateur players in the area. The population of Wakefield is higher than that of Hull, the home of two successful SL clubs. To say the RFL wants Wakefield out solely because they want an expansion side in is madness. The RFL are taking a leaf out of the NRL book with Franchises, so I'm sure they're also aware that the NRL has eight teams in Sydney. This means that five SL teams in West Yorkshire is possible. If Wakefield were well run, well supported and financially viable the RFL would be more than happy for us to be in. The likelihood is we'll get kicked out and that will be because the club is badly run.

Mr Slithers you talk about the attendance at the relegation battle at Belle Vue, but have you looked at the attendances for the rest of the matches that season? If I remember rightly more than half of the matches didn't reach 40% of capacity. There were only three significant attendances that season; the two against Cas and one against Bradford in the first round, the rest were pitifully low. In fact we played Bradford twice that season, the second match being about half the attendance of the first and the attendance for Leeds was about half of the same fixture the previous year. The reliance for attendances on two or three matches a season is true of every season. We always rely on the travelling fans of Leeds, Bradford and Cas to bump up our attendances. Heck, even when we have a half price ticket offer to see Diversity we still can't anywhere near the capacity.

Absolutely ludricous statement believing that the RFL want a strong Wakefield Wilcats, it reads a good argument but is grasping at straws. Have you forgotten Celtic Crusaders, Harlequins and Catalan Dragons, they are representive of which town or city?

Do any of those clubs have a strong fan base, travelling support or infrastucture?

Wakefield and Castleford are both easily identified with not only every rugby league fan but all viewers of the sport on SKY TV.

I feel that neither the RFL or SKY are bothered which club is in Super League as long as either club has a new stadium a good financial base, a good fan base and the infrstructure in place to support the club going forward.

Yes that is a contradiction as to what is actually happening when looking at the clubs guarenteed a Super League place.

If we want to remain in Super League we have to deliver what the RFL and SKY want, if we cannot then theres no point apportioning blame to the RFL or SKY, the club knew what was at stake when they recieved a franchise 3 years ago, have the club or more importantly the BOD moved us forward enabling us to be in a strong position for the new license application they have not.

It is easy to blame others for the problems that beset the club, me personally the club itself is to blame for the dilema we now face.

You really don't get my point at all do you?
I am not talking about the Wildcats, we have obviously been poorly managed and now we look to be in the and unlike other teams in the SL we don't look like we'll get bailed out by the RL. I am talking about the franchise situation in general. Promotion and relegation gives all teams hope at playing at the top regardless of where they are based or how large their crowds are. Scrapping promotion and relegation has essentially told clubs they have no chance at getting to the top and been used as an excuse to save teams that didn't deserve to be there. What kind of motivation is that?!?!?
Promotion and relegation keeps the season alive until the last whistle, it makes it exciting at both ends of the table and it is fair for all clubs, it links the leagues, franchising does not!

Yes I know, I went to a lot of them. Without knowing it you have just proved my point and shown why we need promotion and relegation! The battles bring in the crowds and make the final games exciting. I'm moaning about the way Super League teams are decided, not about the way we have been managed.

Yes, it did give you one good attendance a few years ago. But there were 13 other matches that year which didnt get good attendances, and P+R forced Wakefield to focus on staying up, rather than addressing why there were 13 matches which were poorly attended

Can you not see that happens already?


Touché

And without P&R this game would have been another one!

True.


I've always been against it.

Or just give up mid season like our players did.

Do you ever log off?

We get TV money ?