I would agree with Sandbag that in the scheme of the lower leagues - our recent past (albeit boom and bust) has actually been more suucessful than the majority of those in our league and some of those above.

The fact that we have also played in the top flight at one point on our own merit is something that a large percentage of the clubs in our league and above have yet to do...

The likes of the Welsh and Gateshead clubs were essentially created for SL purposes. London Skolars are not a traditional club as London Broncos were in esscence Fulham (who always did ok prior at similar level to ourselves).

I think one of the points Sandbag was making was that the geography and number of games being played outside of Championship makes it hard to gain momentum, finances, and following. Add into the mix that the whole franchise system is mental as if it was so hot football would have been doing it way before us.....
The Dons have been fortunate in some ways that we have learnt from our mistakes, but I honestly cannot see all those in Div 2 or whatever it is going to be called finishing teh full season. (I hope I am wrong).

Some of the amateur teams I know of, prefer to be so as their is less drain on resources and in reality the decent amateur sides would compete with the majority of the divsion that will be formed.

If I was a Fev or Fax fan I would be completely dissolusioned by now, Widnes have shown very little and have a financial history that is far from perfect.
Fev showed they can compete at a higher level but 3 League titles in a row and they will still be in same league next season....(And they are a genuine traditional club)

Sorry but the system / set up changes too frequently - how many other fans have to ask what the promotion criteria is at the start of each year.
Football Top 2 Promoted from Championship - next 4 play off for final spot.
The great thing with this is that it does mean the Blackpool's of this world get a shot - do ok and if run right still end up a better club whatever happens. It's not that long since Man City were a league below Premier...
Yes sugar daddies cause a false picture - but nobody in the Premier League is safe on name, stadium and status alone...


God knows if Bradford can struggle what hope do so many have?
The fact that SL signed into a sponsorship deal that secured no funding or revenue to the sport or League is absolute example of lacking business sense, added into the mix they bought one of the poorest SL grounds around, why couldn't that money have gone into development?.

I am happy with how our club is run and performs as each game is generally exciting - but ultimately any sportsman wants to play at the the highest level possible and if no promotion exists that knocks some opportunities out of the window and can make team retention and recruitment difficult.

I would love to know how many Champ and Champ 1 teams field a second team in any shape or form?
Where is the expansion and sustainability in that?

It would just be nice to go through 5 seasons plus with some consistency.

As always IMO.

I'm sorry but the RFL hardly have a good track record as regards expansion etc. Gateshead and Sheffield for instance, the original clubs were asset stripped to shore up Hull sharks and Huddersfield, to their eternal credit both clubs reformed. Paris were first, when that didn't work Catalans came in,London broncos have had that many identities i can't even take them seriously . The sport is not in a good position, why try to expand ,when what you already have is struggling. There is only so much finance available at the moment, can't see the point in spreading it thinner on something that has been tried and is seemingly ,at the moment , unachievable .

I don't think Catalan are a good example. The team is propped up with Aussies and Kiwis. The smattering of French players in there has not helped to increase the standard of the French international side.

Surely Catalan would be better served playing in a stronger French elite league. France RL desperately needs a higher standard top league. Come to think of it so does the UK.

Good debate. Looking at the wreckage of tried and failed expansion clubs over the years, it's hard to make an argument in favour. Then of course there was Mansfield Marksman, Kent/Southend/Folkestone Invicta, Carlisle Border Raiders, Blackpool and Bridgend ( however, at least here there has been a spin-off of the North and South Wales teams). Expansion can work - the amateur game has proved that, but I believe, unless and until the game gets a foothold in schools, circumventing Rugby Union, we have little hope ( I don't see that happening any time soon). Better to make sure that we support and develop the teams we already have than to spread ourselves too thinly in my opinion.

On a separate point, as I've said before, 18 games in a season is too few. It does not allow you to gain momentum attendance-wise when there are yawning gaps in the schedules. Am so glad we have been promoted, as at least next season we will be getting another four home games which will help greatly and, of course, the added bonus of getting local derbies back! Good times. I'm still looking at this thread title and having to pinch myself!

the present Catalan side is represented in the french league with their reserve club (UTC) - the current Catalan Dragons squad contains 19 french qualified players who have played for the first team in the SL this season which isn't bad and hardly 'propped up with aussies and kiwis' as you suggest but I agree the international team hasn't progressed much and won't until another french SL team emerges and even then they will never compete with the likes of the England team with such a huge professional pool to choose from