Is the RFL, with its licensing criteria, helping both Super League and the Championship?

[Fully]

I am a bit smug on that perhaps. But I am sure that licensing Toulouse is the right decision for the long term good of the game in the northern hemisphere.

I'll answer this this three words: no it isn't.

The best interests of the Northern hemisphere would be a strong fully professional French league. That is the only way the French national team will maximise it's potential and domestic clubs with rich heritage won't be forced to face potential extinction.

[Bulletproof]

Current capacity is 7,600 I doubt it'd take that much to get up to the required 10,000 mark, didn't they manage to get it up from the 6k mark recently by throwing a few quid at it?

If that's all it takes, toss a few quid in its general direction, they should stop talking about it and promising it and just get it done. Hell, give mick wilson a spade. If all 1,500 Barrow fans get stuck in something so obviously easy could be arranged for tomorrow.

Seriously, if it was as easy as you're making out, they'd have done it and wouldn't need to talk about it in a future tense full of doubts. The ground in Barrow is simply not up to standard.

If anything, this announcement today pretty much puts the nail in the coffin for Barrow's bid because they are like I said a million times behind the pace in a number of areas and not just behind my club. Putting rose tinted spectacles aside Halifax and Leigh and even Featherstone are closer to fulfilling the criteria than Barrow.

[Bomb Jack]

Putting rose tinted spectacles aside Halifax and Leigh and even Featherstone are closer to fulfilling the criteria than Barrow.

Be careful BP you'll be upsetting Mick

[a.n Other]

A ground with one new stand and another closed due to safety fears due to it falling apart? Is that your definition of quality?

Three new stands in the past 12 years, and one converted into an all seater stand.

But you are right about one of the stands needing repairs.

[mick wilson]

Mr Wilson,

I do not doubt nor am I unaware of the great progress Barrow has made in the last two seasons. My use of the term "slack" referred to the condition of the stadium. If the club wants to be in Super League it will have to follow the examle of either Leigh or Halifax, and create a stadium of quality.

Walk before you run? Definitely.

Perhaps I am being a bit impatient about the stadium, but it will have to be adddressed before Barrow can be taken seriously for a SL license. That was all that I said, and it seems reasonable to me.

Sorry Paris,

I was bang out of order for calling you names, my bad, Sorry.

[mick wilson]

Current capacity is 7,600 I doubt it'd take that much to get up to the required 10,000 mark, didn't they manage to get it up from the 6k mark recently by throwing a few quid at it?

It did,nt cost hardly anything because we have been ultra crapola in recent times & H & S moves on thus reducing the capacity, All it took to increase it to 7,600 was proving we can successfully handling a big crowd.

So the home CC Game vs Wigan did the trick for us & H & S raised our capacity, thats why we were gutted after beating Cas away in this years CC we got Saints AWAY As a Home tie would have tested the 7,600 & if successful & theres no reason why it wouldnt have been they may have raise the capacity again.

The same ground has held over 20'000 a few times in the past, So can easily hold 10/ 12'000 in the future.

But I can see us being ignored again, then we lose momentum and the public getting put off by the powers to be pulling up the drawbridge.

[Bulletproof]

Be careful BP you'll be upsetting Mick

Not as much as the RFL undoubtedly have with this announcement.

[Saint Toppy]

In this case only Bradford and Hull KR will have unattractive, though marginally adequate, functional, stadia.

Both these clubs will be looking to improve their stadium in order to keep up with the other clubs.

And what about Shedingly ?

Having 1 shiny new stand doesn't make it an adequate stadium. The south stand is partly closed & one the verge of falling down and the away supporters end is just a few concrete steps in the open air. Their main stand isn't much better and all we hear from the whino's is a 'promise' that they will renovate.

Shedingly is 3/4 sh*t hole and the RFL should grow some balls and stop ar*e kissing Hetherington & Co and apply the same rules to Leeds as they have to the other clubs with poor stadia - A warning letter that they must renovate it or risk losing their licence !!

[shrek]

Seriously, if it was as easy as you're making out, they'd have done it and wouldn't need to talk about it in a future tense full of doubts. The ground in Barrow is simply not up to standard.

Sorry please don't mistake me thinking its viable on the current site with thinking its easy! My point was that having been able to achieve a job of getting the capacity up from 6000 to 7600 and thanks Mick for filling in the gaps in my knowledge on how this was achieved, they are not a million miles away from the required 10,000.

Why don't they do it now? Well only they can answer that, my opinion is whats the point? I don't subscribe to this obsession we have as a game with having shiny new stadiums were some seats only get sat in 2 or 3 times a year.

I can't help but see Cumbria as an easy win on the expansion front, we constantly harp on about Wales, France, London and the south, yet, Cumbria has an amateur set up, is currently producing players of Super League standard has three Championship clubs, its almost like the forgotten heartland and personally.

That said, the RFL might as well have announced yesterday it was a two horse race between Toulouse and Widnes as nobody else can meet the "new" criteria.

[shrek]

Sorry - double post.

Edited August 5, 2010 by shrek

[Bomb Jack]

Shedingly is 3/4 sh*t hole and the RFL should grow some balls and stop ar*e kissing Hetherington & Co and apply the same rules to Leeds as they have to the other clubs with poor stadia - A warning letter that they must renovate it or risk losing their licence !!

I have to admit after going to Headingly for the NL1 2007 Grand Final Vs Cas, i hadn't been for over 25 years, and bar the new Stand, it hadn't changed one bit.

I agree they should have been warned.

[The Parksider]

I don't subscribe to this obsession we have as a game with having shiny new stadiums were some seats only get sat in 2 or 3 times a year.

That's a great point.

It is a great policy as long as it encourages new grounds which I don't think you will disagree, draw bigger crowds. Average crowds at the Boulevard against KC, average at Wilderspool against HJ etc.

I feel Wakefield is the same having been there so many times but never with the lad. If they get their ground I think as a city club they will go places.

But the rule that succeeds when clubs are able to meet it is a good one.

When it turns into a rule that ejects clubs like Wakefield it becomes a bad one really.

I don't think you can blame the club too mcu - being in the same district council area as Cas and vice versa would be more a twist of fate rather than a lack of desire to upgrade.....

[Bomb Jack]

That said, the RFL might as well have announced yesterday it was a two horse race between Toulouse and Widnes as nobody else can meet the "new" criteria.

How do Toulouse meet that criteria ?

Have they won the NRC or got to the Grand Final ?

Are their crowds averaging 2,500 ?

Do they turnover a Million ?

[shrek]

How do Toulouse meet that criteria ?

Have they won the NRC or got to the Grand Final ?

Are their crowds averaging 2,500 ?

Do they turnover a Million ?

It would appear they don't have to. As posted in the other similar thread were you can find the link to the RFL document that has the following passage of text

(iii) in the case of overseas clubs invited to apply by the Board and who

are not currently in the Super League or the Championships, the Board shall have the

discretion to offer a place in one of the Championships or reject the application outright.

[Bomb Jack]

It would appear they don't have to. As posted in the other similar thread were you can find the link to the RFL document that has the following passage of text

I agree. But it was you that said the Criteria released yesterday was suited only to Widnes and Toulouse.

That clearly isn't the case.

[shrek]

I agree. But it was you that said the Criteria released yesterday was suited only to Widnes and Toulouse.

That clearly isn't the case.

Well if you want to split hairs, only Widnes comply to the criteria released yesterday, but Toulouse didn't have to as they already had the invitation card in there hand.

So that said I stand by my original comment that yesterday the RFL might as well have announced its a two horse race between Toulouse and Widnes.

[Bomb Jack]

I stand by my original comment that yesterday the RFL might as well have announced its a two horse race between Toulouse and Widnes.

Back in 2008, why didn't the RFL just say " There is only one place up for grabs, because Celtic Crusaders have been guaranteed one spot even though their bid is a joke, and the other place is between Widnes and Salford, but we'll give it to Salford because Widnes have just come out of Administration " ?

It's all about being seen to do it fairly, even though it's not.

[The Parksider]

So that said I stand by my original comment that yesterday the RFL might as well have announced its a two horse race between Toulouse and Widnes.

If Hudgell and Hughes have had enough, and cas and Wakey don't have the grounds then there may not even be enough runners in the race?

Any indications Toulouse and Widnes have it made will be from indications that there are SL clubs who the RFL may well know now can't make it in 2012.....

[shrek]

Back in 2008, why didn't the RFL just say " There is only one place up for grabs, because Celtic Crusaders have been guaranteed one spot even though their bid is a joke, and the other place is between Widnes and Salford, but we'll give it to Salford because Widnes have just come out of Administration " ?

I've no idea they didn't consult with me you'll have to ask them!

It's all about being seen to do it fairly, even though it's not.

I am willing to wager there are plenty outside of Widnes who will disagree that the RFL are even being seen to do it fairly after yesterdays announcement!

Edited August 5, 2010 by shrek

[shrek]

If Hudgell and Hughes have had enough, and cas and Wakey don't have the grounds then there may not even be enough runners in the race?

Any indications Toulouse and Widnes have it made will be from indications that there are SL clubs who the RFL may well know now can't make it in 2012.....

Agreed, its at times like this I start to think our foundations are built on sand!

[Bomb Jack]

I am willing to wager there are plenty outside of Widnes who will disagree that the RFL are even being seen to do it fairly after yesterdays announcement!

They are righting a wrong from 2008, everyone knows it !

[Bomb Jack]

Joking aside, can you honestly tell me Widnes don't have the strongest bid from outside Super League, and stronger than some inside Super League ?

Edited August 5, 2010 by Bomb Jack

[shrek]

Joking aside, can you honestly tell me Widnes don't have the strongest bid from outside Super League, and stronger than some inside Super League ?

No, I thought they should have been in last time.

I'd also like to see Barrow in, for reasons outlined earlier, sadly two clubs going up isn't an option due to TV money unless something unforeseen happens to an existing clubs as per Parksiders runners and riders post. Even then Cumbria doesn't seem to feature on the RFL's radar, mustn't be glamourous enough!

[Maximus Decimus]

No, I thought they should have been in last time.

I'd also like to see Barrow in, for reasons outlined earlier, sadly two clubs going up isn't an option due to TV money unless something unforeseen happens to an existing clubs as per Parksiders runners and riders post. Even then Cumbria doesn't seem to feature on the RFL's radar, mustn't be glamourous enough!

If a Cumbrian club could guarantee 7,000 in a decent stadium then I'd say have them in.

At the moment they can't so they aren't viable.

[Terry Mullaney]

Joking aside, can you honestly tell me Widnes don't have the strongest bid from outside Super League, and stronger than some inside Super League ?

Of course they do, no question about it.