You are correct, franchising can clearly work as a business model, but not the one being peddled by the RFL which is flawed beyond belief.

Chris, whilst I appreciate your take on the situation, as someone who has recently tasted both S.L & Championship forays, the similarities between Wakefield & Widnes are very few.



Wakefield don’t have the pleasure of playing in a quality stadium, courtesy of their Council, nor a rich benefactor, who had intimated that if Widnes failed to get a licence for 2012, he would have to review his position.



If the RFL are true to their word, and a team from the Championship is allowed entry into S.L in 2015, this would give Wakefield two years to meet the on-field criteria (Northern Rail / G.F) also to have a new ground ready for February 2015.



My biggest gripe in all this is, unlike Widnes, Salford, Castleford & Crusaders the Wakefield club has never finished in a relegation place, supporters of other sports find it baffling.



The only similarity with Widnes IMO is we were both dumped out of the top flight, after the RFL changed the goalposts mid-season.

1. I don't remember Steve O Connor saying anything of the sort, but when he took the job, there were several credible bids. Widnes has never been an unworkable club, we've simply been ran badly not least by the crooked owner who left us in the lurch.



2. Widnes finished second from bottom the season we were relegated. Which is where you are now. We knew it previously, which is why there were comparitively few complaints about it. But nevertheless, we were not the worst team, and we're relegated in a one off season and I'm sure you feel much the same about it. Also, Castleford were relegated even not finishing last, and the team who finished last, were safe. Under the old system, you might be in the very same position they are now. We've both been relegated to protect Catalans, one way or the other, and you simply have to move on from it when it happens.



3. The RFL have not changed the goalposts at all. You've had more than enough time to get your facilities and club in order and you've known far far in advance when D Day would be. You've had an unprecedented amount of time to ensure you are not the team going down, so far from changing the goalposts, you've really got no one to blame but the people running your club all that time. If you go down. I've got no stake in this, it matters not to me, I'm not boasting and I can completely understand your frustration. It just strikes me as odd that any of you think this is somehow unforseen and you are the only club suffering at the hands of the RFL and their new policies. Every club being left out of the top flight who has motivations to better their position is, not just you, and nobody cares about the Leighs or Barrows of this world. They're bitter small town clubs who can't see the bigger picture, until you step into their shoes.

The RFL have moved the goalposts to suit the protection of others, by removing the administration clause from the franchise application, i am fairly confident if it had been us first, it wouldn't have happened and crusaders would have been propped up until after the 26th.

Yet again they have moved the goalposts by claiming that all clubs must submit an application, but then not bothered reading the ones, that they want in, namely London and Crusaders.

They have also moved the goalposts by letting Crusaders move from south, to north Wales and practically into your back garden but not letting us move to Barnsley, about 9 miles away.

When both ourselves and Crusaders were having financial problems, they loaned Crusaders £750K plus, we asked for half that and were refused!!!

Goal posts not moved? i think you'll find they're in a permanent state of movement.

Yes I know neither you or Cas finished bottom, however, that was made clear to all clubs prior to the season beginning, Wakefield were in the same boat.



But, unlike the system now, at least it was clear. The club who finished in the relegation place / places, were relegated. As opposed to, the club who The RFL & its associates deem unworthy will be dumped, with scant evidence of neither procedure nor course for appeal.











The goalposts I was referring to was the season prior to the whole Super de Duper system coming into being. I don’t recall at the beginning of that season, the powers that be stating that the League would by culled, and only the top however many clubs (I can’t remember how many) would join RFL paradise.

and Workington, who finished bottom IIRC.

Simply by accepting your or Castlefords assertians as to either new or refurbished stadiums , the RFL are changing the goalposts from last time , even Salford will probably see the benifit of this as I dont expect the new place at Barton to be ready for the start of the season and it most certainly isn't at present



Last time you had to physically have a stadium in place at the time of the decision , Leigh had a 75 % complete stadium and it was obvious that it would be completed in time for the start of 2009 , but it was refused , yet the RFL accepted Salfords plans , Brewery Field and the nice pretty pictures they provided , and both Cas and wakeys graphics



Basically you are down , Cas will scape through for another three years , probably as a pay back of the W1g4n SC fiasco



Franchising stinks , simple as , I dont ever want Leigh to get one ' so that should give you the chance of a joke ' it simply doesn't work

sorry mate... you wern't listening!

This I don't get.... we have given the league a signed contract for leasing Oakwell - Barnsley... a grade A stadium and we can be there from game 1 - 2012 and stay for for as long as it takes... still using belle vue as a training and admin base.



The second option are fully funded temporary improvements to Belle Vue (to B grade standard) all of which will be moved to Newmarket upon completion, and used on the training reserve grade pitch.



We have A grade marks in community, youth & development, and commercial streams the envy of most SuperLeague teams... we are already in SL and would have to practuically dismantle the organisation for the championship (including the community work which is unsustainable with the financial resrictions in the championship)... and we have fully funded plans to spend the full cap next season and beyond!



Currently we are far stronger and more stable than many in the SL and croeds and memberships are fast improving... regardless of the current poor form of the team...





YES we have been in admin... but we are not the only ones.. and have already been punished for that (double jeapordy?)



this whole scenario is really giving me the poops!

You should work for the RFL Spook....on second thoughts you wouldnt get on there because you talk too much sense and apply logic to your thoughts...

we need to get that camp bloke in from bargain hunt to go round the ground....arr let's start off with this a shell for a score board.....start the bidding at a tenner

Sorry mate



way too busy working for the NSW government... similar sort of challenge though!