So the turkeys have voted for Christmas...

I know its all hypothetical but I believe that SO'C may have a bit more fight if it was to happen again. He wouldn't really be left with any other option would he. With a top stadium, youth development that can't really go any further, decent crowds and a competitive team on the pitch - if we were rejected again, we may as well get rid of all youth development and have no full time players - how would that be good for the game?

Surely the RFL must be seen to reward clubs for doing things the right way, otherwise what the point in anyone even trying? Also if it is treated as a closed shop, there would absolutely no threat to the current SL teams to improve on what they are doing. You never know in a couple of years time we might be held by the RFL as a shining example of how to win a licence from outside SL.

Dont know what everyones getting in a flap about. Nothing has really changed. Once again as in previous seasons if a team can prove that it has the means(not just a sugar daddy pumping in money) they will be aloud to spend more than the cap.
Once again it wont affect teams with SL ambitions, Fev, Fax Widne< barrow etc. Its more aimed at teams like Haven, Leigh, Batley where they havnt got the income to support their spending.

That's a bridge we need to cross if we come to it. Though i feel it will be the end for pro rl in Widnes if we don't. I can also see SOC quite rightly walking. I'll probably give up on the game at that point.

Bang on, Chris.

It would be a very frightening prospect for Widnes if we don't get the nod for 2012. We may as well be bumbling along with crowds of 1,000 and have no youth structure, like most of the other clubs. We would have no advantage over clubs with attendances of 400 like Gateshead. It would be very possible that we could be relegated and find our club dying on its ar5e in Championship 1.

We'll be competing with no financial advantage with clubs like Batley, Sheffield, Dewsbury and Oldham, as well as the traditionally strong clubs in this league such as Halifax, Whitehaven, Leigh and Fev. Then there'll be the RFL expansion clubs who'll be full of Aussies and probably won't have to worry about silly things like a salary cap.

This is bad news for us. It really is.

I wouldn't worry too much, Fax salary is only 250k a year, almost half the current salary cap, and 50k under next years. Therefore we can still strengthen next year. Surely your players wont be on that much more than ours?

I think the news is fantastic for Widnes, after lifting the NRC.

Agreed! After 2012 I can only really see 'Expansion' sides breaking into SL if franchise system says the same!

TBH should just put Widnes / Leigh / Halifax and 1 of Cumbria ( Barrow due to money) in to Super League and leave the rest at the even playing field across board that they want!

But aint there the same chance of that for Halifax & Barrow anyway?
Alot of our players already on 2 year deals so if they do get excemption then so will we!

Seems a little optimistick with the likes of Beswick / Gleeson / Penky / Black on board!

Yes. There'll be no real advantage for any club in this league anymore, no matter how strong they are off the field. That's sort of the point
That's not really what I'm on about. Forget this/next season. Look at the situation we'll be in should we not get a SL place in 2012.

How far has over-spending got us? Even in SL? Nowhere. I'm positive that Cullen can build a squad better than most in the Championship.

And if that frees cash from SOC's pocket to splash out for a SL squad if we get the nod, then that's fantastic.

If we don't get a licence for 2012 Cullen may not be here to pick up the pieces. We don't know who we could end up with.

There'll be no more guaranteed places for Championship clubs for a SL licence and we would face the very real prospect of being relegated. Far more than we do now.