3 replies to this topic

[Michael Ashton]

I'm surprised that nobody haS REPORTED THE FOLLOWING.

http://www.code13rug...onship-1-entry/

Sounds like a major cock up to me. Will any other teams follow?

[Baaarrow]

Let's hope the RFL still promote 4 clubs to the Championship this year !
It would not surprise me one bit if they move the goalposts to even out the leagues !

[Michael Ashton]

I certainly hope not but I would have thought Whitehaven are the danger club being 4th. I think it's very important to Raiders that Haven and Town go up.

[Jonty]

Shocking news, and something is wrong somewhere. Probably in a certain red bricked house in suburban Leeds.

The governance of the RFL seems to have taken a nosedive (in my opinion) since Richard Lewis took a step back, and more so since his departure, as well as one or two other key RFL people that seem to have moved on. The RFL has had ten years of stability and strong leadership. regardless of what you think of Richard Lewis, he was a strong leader at Red Hall and in my opinion acted in the best interests of the game.

It's catch 22 in CC1 now though. Admit a late entrant, and they probably won't be ready. Don't admit one and there won't be sufficient fixtures in a 9 team league. Four teams have to go up - that is a must.

My prediction:

13 team SL
14 team CC (+ top 4 CC1)
10 team CC1 (+ Coventry, Hemel, Glos and Bradford)

The blessing in disguise here is Bradford. The Bradford fixture would give teams in CC1 a bit of a mini-payday, a little like FC Utd have been doing in the lower reaches of non-league soccer in recent years. That pay day will be crucial for the likes of Rochdale, Skolars, Oldham etc. It will also help stabilise the new clubs. But it is only one fixure of nine at home.

Does the RFL have the balls to relegate Bradford at the season end? I'd hope so, but based on recent history, probably not.