Quote: Mrs Barista "Interesting one. Clubs can now presumably ditch ground development plans if they don't need them specifically for a franchise.'"
How many clubs have lost a licence under the present system for failure to implement ground development plans?
The reality of licensing has been that if you're in, you stay in until you go bust. And even then maybe you can stay as a newco.
Bradford Bulls have employed people, players coaches staff, stopped tax from their wages and then failed to send this money to the taxman. Not only does this cheat society it cheats the rest of Super League. B licence, what a joke. Do you know this club was paying Matt Orford £580,000 for a 3 year stint but couldn't/wouldn't pay it's taxes?
If they are not relegated then the message is clear - if you don't want to pay your taxes no problem. But who would ever trust a Rugby League club?
Licensing was supposed to stop clubs spending money to avoid relegation yet we find it doesn't even stop clubs cheating the taxman.
By any objective measure licensing has been an abject failure. Salford in their shiny new meccano set are on the edge of administration with crowds down. On the pitch I haven't noticed us challenging Australia, we can't even beat the exiles.
P & R won't solve all that but it will help bring back integrity to the sport and fair play for ALL clubs.