A press release is stirring things up a little for us.... it says Wakefield and Castleford, who are both hoping to press ahead with new stadium plans, are thought to be most at risk of losing their place among the game's elite following the statement that Five Championship clubs were given the go-ahead on friday to apply for a place in Super League in 2012.



Halifax, Featherstone, Batley, Barrow and Widnes have all fulfilled the on-field minimum criteria by either reaching the Grand Final or winning the Northern Rail Cup in the last two years.



Batley have said they are not interested and the others must prove they meet minimum standards off the field if they are to secure a three-year Super League licence.



The clubs, who have until December 3 to submit their applications for assessment, must have a stadium with a capacity of 10,000, a recent turnover of at least £1million and an average attendance of 2,500-plus.



It does seem that the RFL are hell bent on dragging this through the media once again and trying to make us and Wakey look like selling platers!

To be fair I think every man & his dog knows it`s Cas and /or Wakey, there are to many Yorkshire clubs and the RL want it leveling up.

How Bradford are keeping below the radar is beyond me though.

I still don't see how any of those teams, bar Widnes and maybe Halifax, could have a chance in SL.

at this moment in time we beat wakey hands down but that means very little now. for once in our clubs history we need to hammer the coffin lid down and press on with all the good things that are coming from the club and secure our future has a top flight rugby league club.

Anyone who actually believes in a fair and balanced franchise procedure is deluded at best, bordering on insane.

The clubs for 2012 are already decided.

I agree with other posters that Bradford are operating in stealth mode and seem to be doing so on the back of their phenomenal contribution to SL early years, it cant be on the past couple of years.

The RL must be hoping a further 3 years to rekindle that passion

It comes down to

Cas - stadium in the pipeline-decent sponsors on board-2 good seasons

Wakey - stadium in the pipeline-A city

Salford - stadium in the pipeline-Manchester based (loosely)

Pushing all things positive is a must but in the warped world that is Red Hall I wouldn't be suprised at anything also

with Cas and Wakey falling foul also in the Yorks v Lancs numbers game.

It is between Cas and Wakey. And each set of fans believe they have the better chance. But honestly looking at the current situation, who has the better prospects - Cas or Wakey?



[uCas[/u

Outline planning permission in place

Stadium planning permission by Xmas

Funds in place for stadium

No debt

Major long term international businesses sponsoring the club



[uWakey[/u

Second run in with taxman in less than 12 months and still with the noose round their neck.

Trouble paying players

No Outline planning permission with opposition from Leeds City Council

No Stadium planning permission



There was a reason why Wakey couldn't consider a joint venture in the stadium project, GH is a better prospect and they would have no money to invest unlike Cas.



So even if my heart says Cas, my head also says Cas. Can Wakey fans honsstly say that their heads think that they have the better chance than Cas??

Funds in place for stadium

Er, yes. Here we go again. We even have funds in place to pay our players too!

Er, dont think so.

Please explain your theory

But aren't your funds dependant on the whole development getting the green light?

Don't know...I have erased the squabblings of Grounds from my memory and don't reallly want to re-read 6 months of vitriol.



I feel we fought against mergers once and got our way, this just feels like payback and whats worse is that we voted the system in.

I feel that no matter what a club does on or off the RFL will eek out the teams it wants for its top league and if you dont like it then you can lump it.

How else from a Cas perspective can you have 2 good years in the comp, new sponsors coming aboard, a vibrant youth set up, a new ground finally looking to be in touching distance, a team that is filling with British talent and still be viewed by many to be a favourite for the chop?

The problem is that once you have had the franchise and look at the other teams that are vying for your place, you cannot see what extra they are bringing to the league that isn't there already, it seems financial stability-attendance-league finishes are things overlooked for geographical or past name tick boxes.