Look, I feel this issue needs to be put to bed once for all, or atleast the slight fued developing between small pockets of widnes and barrow supporters. I am fully commited Barrow fan and was at Craven Park last night. Firstly I would like to commend the Vikings on such a great lively and vocal away crowd they brought through to Cumbria; they contributed to a great atmosphere.

These "Barrow clowns" you refer to are a minority and a rarity, I can assure you. I know for a fact that your club is in a much better positition to apply for SL next year than we are, as do the vast majority of our fans. I am also aware that our facilities, both internally and externally do not meet the level of facilities that you are available to at the Widnes ground... you speak with such an alarm it puts me under the assumption that you believe this news to the fans of Barrow Raiders.

Perhaps this post has been stimulated by the dissapointing nature of your teams performance last night? I personally I enjoyed the match simply because of the performance, there was no malice or melicious feelings towards your club due to the obviously more advanced position you are in regarding the franchise system.

I wish you luck next season, at whatever level you shall be playing your rugby league.

You never know, this is the RFL after all, like most Widnes fans until its officially announced that we are in (if we are that is) then we wont beleive it.

Would a cap of 400k not still do this, how about 500k?

It was lowered because of licensing and the fact that winning the league means less. It was to increase competitiveness. In the past the teams with the most money kept a full-time squad and won the league easily. This wasn't necessary in the Championship.

The salary cap is an excuse for performance because the league is reduced to a competition of who can get the most out of 300k. In theory Leeds, Wigan or Brisbane would stand the same chance of winning the Championship as Batley.

We have the most fans and the most money. How exactly are we supposed to show this superiority when we are only allowed to spend the same as all the other clubs? It also means nothing about how clubs will do in Super League as the cap goes up by so much.

The fact is that if they scrapped the cap tomorrow there would be some clubs who would still be spending 300k, however Widnes could spend a lot more and very probably would. Those clubs are allowed to spend the maximum that they can but Widnes aren't. Hardly fair.

The fact also remains that we never had P&R with a cap like it is now. So it means nothing who finishes top and whether they should be in Super League.

maximus decimus, pepe and all other viking warriors! i think it probably best we just sit back safe in the knowledge we know the facts. rather than continuing to engage in pointless debate with misinformed fools. lets just keep to ourselves and wait a few years for our glorious victory in the super league grand final!

I'll be cheering you on from the pub , pint in hand

This is really running on. All I can say is that if/when you get in is Good Luck.
I'm sure that you'll need a lot as it'll still appear an uneven playing field but if you make a good shout of it it may open the door for next time for other clubs.