Promotion and relegation hasn't been scrapped it's just been changed. It'll now only happen every 3 years and it'll be based on a club's ability to survive and develop in the higher division. Promoted clubs will have a bit more time to prepare for the step up and then 3 years to build a stable base in the competition meaning they won't just have to sign all the players from the relegated side and sack all the players currently on their books because they've had no time to do anything else.

I think even fed up Widnes fans must admit that it wasn't working in the previous format.

RUBBISH
so nat 1 teams can put a super league team on the field and pay them S/L wages for 3 years on gates of 2,and 3,000 thats a sure fast track way to bankgrupcy and no guaranteed to S/L in 3yrs time are you sure you,re not richard lewis he said the same barking mad thing

i agree with the doom merchants, i cant see anything other than the 14 teams going on to be stronger (stadia permiting) thus making it more dificult for an outsider to get in on merit. for me unless a club fails to get a new stadium or they go bust (very doubtful) i think it will be very dificult to dislodge any of the 14 teams in 3 years time.


answer me this how many have been replaced in the NRL?

Really feel for you guys as lifelong Cas supporter, the RFL should have included Widnes instead of Celtic, but as ever they sacrifice tradional clubs who have been there and done for what?
Widnes were relegated to make room for a French experiment, the Tigers were relegated to allow the continuation of that experiment, now you've once again been sacrificed for the Welsh experiment.
French and Welsh experiments have been tried in the past and failed miserably taking money out of the game, I really think the RFL should have waited until the next 3 years franchises come around to see if the Welsh really are worthy of a place, because at present, their attendances are pathetic and that supporting what is a fairly successful team.
What will happen if the Celts get hammered week in week out?
Maybe that's the way Widnes will get their rightful place back, if the Celts fail to drum up sufficient attendances to support a Superleague club.

Harry Pinner, you're talking perfect sense.

Rantunrave, you're talking utter tripe!

Cancel sky subscriptions, moan about the RFL. I'll tell you what, why don't we just re-think the whole franchise format so that you can have your own way you big baby!

Windess should use this bad news to develop their business off the field, try to develop a strong junior set-up and start gearing towards the next round of franchise applications.

If all the fans and employees of the club went about things the same way as you have on here today the club would be in a sorry state.

the NRL has consistently expanded the league, without feeling the need to kick anyone out.

the RFL hasnt announced yet how many teams will be in SL in 2012.

The NRL was formed from the ashes of the ARL and SL competitions. Plenty were kicked out or killed to form it; Perth, Adelaide, Crushers, Mariners.

Then South Sydney were, and they regrouped and came back far stronger after a few years out of the top flight.

Edit:

Gold Coast Chargers went, too.

But they came back stronger. Lessons?

None of this will make any difference.

Having said that I have now canceled my Sky Sports package and will not be attending any RL events, other than watching my own club. That is a personal decision as I've had it with the game. I couldn't care less what effect this has on Sky or RL.

I could take it on the chin if widnes,or halifax had got in but not CELTIC CRUSADERS. did you see their factfile on sky sports news.Founded 2005 Ground capacity 12,000 even the sky presenter had a dig at them being allowed in S/L when he said'' They did have their ground full when brian adams was singing in concert there last year''.Maybe he,s a widnes supporter and gutted celtic got in before them.

I AM DOING IT AS WELL ON PRINCIPLE IF YOU DONT PROTEST NOBODY WILL LISTEN.
AND ANOTHER THING A--HOLE ITS NOT SOUR GRAPES RULES ARE THERE FOR A PURPOSE AND TO ABIDE BY NOT TO MOVE THE GOAL POSTS AS AND WHEN IT SUITS THE RL HQ

It's not going to change anything but i've just cancelled my sky. The only reason I ever got it was for the super league games with the hope that maybe we would be playing in that competition, now that's never going to happen why continue paying £50 a month?

500 paying fans and 2000 will be freebies given to the local schools so the attendance is bumped up a bit.

im seriously gutted you guys havent got in im a saints fan but have been to a few widnes games this season, and next season i will continue!!

She'll probably ring you back in Feb to say there's a lot of new subscriptions being taken out in Salford and Bridgend.

While it's not palatable to Widnes fans, I don't see why you'd be in any worse position to apply next time, that's only 2 seasons from now before the decision is made, so 2 seasons to get all the ticks in the other boxes.

And didn't that bloke with one huge ear say on Boots'n'all that a team from NL1 is guaranteed to join SL next time round?

That'll be why they are bringing Toulouse into NL1.

Yes - they have said at least one current team will be "relegated" and replaced with a team from NL1 - but if 2 current clubs aren't making the progress then they will both be replaced.

And as for Toulouse - they are only in with a chance if they have a grand final appearance in NL1 between now and 2011 as I believe that is one of the criteria for a club to be "promoted" from 2012