Anglian Vipers, Bedford Tigers and Goole Vikings reveal their cases for League One place

[OriginalMrC]

I fully expect it to be Goole as they are the only team likely to be remotely competitive.

[OriginalMrC]

12 hours ago, The Future is League said:

Union clubs perhaps?

Some who might have played at University or in their youth

If you want teams getting beat by 100+ points every single game then maybe. 

[Lowdesert]

38 minutes ago, OriginalMrC said:

I fully expect it to be Goole as they are the only team likely to be remotely competitive.

Yeah, it’s a bit of a strange ‘tender’ with only one realistic option.

If Goole are accepted at this stage is there further due diligence from the RFL?

[JM2010]

I agree that Goole are the only club with the potential to be competitive and if the RFL’s aim is to bulk out League 1 then they’re a good option. Can’t see them ever being more than a lower tier professional club though

[del capo]

18 hours ago, Impartial Observer said:

What assistance would you offer them?

With yet more redundancies in the offing at the RFL I doubt that there will be any financial assistance forthcoming.

At least 5 clubs  some with established  and sustainable history declined to further their initial interest in joining. Does anyone know why ?

[Archie Gordon]

3 minutes ago, del capo said:

With yet more redundancies in the offing at the RFL I doubt that there will be any financial assistance forthcoming.

At least 5 clubs  some with established  and sustainable history declined to further their initial interest in joining. Does anyone know why ?

Perhaps they were shown the RFL review into L1 and it didn't paint an attractive picture. I'm still at a loss as to what purpose L1 is intended to serve.

[Rene_Artois]

7 hours ago, JM2010 said:

I agree that Goole are the only club with the potential to be competitive and if the RFL’s aim is to bulk out League 1 then they’re a good option. Can’t see them ever being more than a lower tier professional club though

True but they've got the most to offer and I'm certain Doncaster will provide any support they need at least for the first few seasons.

[Mathius Hellwege]

9 hours ago, OriginalMrC said:

I fully expect it to be Goole as they are the only team likely to be remotely competitive.

So always continue the shrinking in the M62 corridor?

[Mathius Hellwege]

3 hours ago, del capo said:

With yet more redundancies in the offing at the RFL I doubt that there will be any financial assistance forthcoming.

At least 5 clubs  some with established  and sustainable history declined to further their initial interest in joining. Does anyone know why ?

Because they realised they cannot afford it after their dreams of big financial aid was shattered 

[Archie Gordon]

Presumably, all 3 could be rejected. 

[OriginalMrC]

47 minutes ago, Mathius Hellwege said:

So always continue the shrinking in the M62 corridor?

I'm being realistic based on what I know about the 3 bids and my own experiences. It does no one any good to have a new team get pumped by 100 points every week.

[Pigeon Lofter]

1 hour ago, OriginalMrC said:

I'm being realistic based on what I know about the 3 bids and my own experiences. It does no one any good to have a new team get pumped by 100 points every week.

...but then again, clubs like Newcastle and Cornwall will be competitive against the fledglings, making it more interesting in the lower reaches of League 1. Of course, Anglian Vipers would get destroyed by the like of star-studded Oldham but they would have an occasional  chance of redemption by playing against the lesser lights at the northern and southern extremities of semi-pro RL.

[OriginalMrC]

13 minutes ago, Pigeon Lofter said:

...but then again, clubs like Newcastle and Cornwall will be competitive against the fledglings, making it more interesting in the lower reaches of League 1. Of course, Anglian Vipers would get destroyed by the like of star-studded Oldham but they would have an occasional  chance of redemption by playing against the lesser lights at the northern and southern extremities of semi-pro RL.

I agree but with little to no financial support at all any more a new club getting thumped every week has no chance if making a go of it.

[DoubleD]

6 hours ago, del capo said:

With yet more redundancies in the offing at the RFL I doubt that there will be any financial assistance forthcoming.

At least 5 clubs  some with established  and sustainable history declined to further their initial interest in joining. Does anyone know why ?

Probably because the incredibly tight timescales made it almost impossible to put in a comprehensive submission let alone mobilise to be competitive in time

[DoubleD]

Out of interest, does anyone know what’s been made of what once was West Wales? I know they owned the ground, is any sport played there at all now?

[welshmagpie]

13 minutes ago, DoubleD said:

Out of interest, does anyone know what’s been made of what once was West Wales? I know they owned the ground, is any sport played there at all now?

Football still played there. 

Less said about that (Tiffin & Co) administration the better. 

[JM2010]

7 hours ago, welshmagpie said:

Football still played there. 

Less said about that (Tiffin & Co) administration the better. 

With the junior activity in South Wales starting to produce some good young players is there a possibility of a South Wales club rejoining the pro ranks? Possibly in Cardiff

[Hopping Mad]

16 hours ago, del capo said:

With yet more redundancies in the offing at the RFL I doubt that there will be any financial assistance forthcoming.

At least 5 clubs  some with established  and sustainable history declined to further their initial interest in joining. Does anyone know why ?

A Bramley rep told me Buffaloes pulled out because Farsley Celtic FC showed no interest in opening talks about sharing Throstle Nest. Without Celtic's Throstle Nest, Bramley didn't have any chance of meeting the ground requirements. The rep wasn't too upset. Felt, for the time being, Bramley are better off where they are. Said joining League One would be a huge financial gamble.

According to the same source, Anglian Vipers is the least favoured option amongst League One clubs - because Wymondham isn't easy to get to (as anyone who has visited the town will testify).

Edited August 2 by Hopping Mad

[welshmagpie]

1 hour ago, JM2010 said:

With the junior activity in South Wales starting to produce some good young players is there a possibility of a South Wales club rejoining the pro ranks? Possibly in Cardiff

Cardiff’s unlikely - the arms park ground (logical spot) aren’t the most appreciative people of our sport, they’re an elderly suit and tie RU bunch - you do the math there.

Jets, who have dominated the Welsh league this year, could well step up to southern conference next season for a bigger challenge. They’re coached by Ben Flower and Lloyd White.

[Eddie]

There’s a lot of people on here writing off bids when they have no idea what the clubs have to offer, what financial backing they have, how they’re proposing to source players etc. Why not just wait and see. 

[Impartial Observer]

12 hours ago, DoubleD said:

Out of interest, does anyone know what’s been made of what once was West Wales? I know they owned the ground, is any sport played there at all now?

I think the council owned the ground but the owner of West Wales owned the clubhouse so hoped to generate money from that  which was in the main car park. Llanelli FC still play there.

[Hello]

3 hours ago, Eddie said:

There’s a lot of people on here writing off bids when they have no idea what the clubs have to offer, what financial backing they have, how they’re proposing to source players etc. Why not just wait and see. 

Exactly what I've been thinking.  Yes, it's true that in the past several other clubs have failed and dropped down levels or out of existence altogether, yes it's true that these three clubs may also fail if they are given the chance (it won't be easy), but they're all aware of the situation including how little finance they will receive from the RL but still want to join L1 so they must have reason to believe that they can make a go of it, and who are we to say that they have zero chance.  One thing that is for sure is that if you automatically rule out all clubs who are not geographically close to the majority of the others then you will only serve to stifle further potential interest and development in a sport.  Of course, expansion for expansion's sake is not a good idea but I don't accept that succesful expansion is beyond the realms of possibility.

Edited August 2 by Hello

[JM2010]

14 hours ago, welshmagpie said:

Cardiff’s unlikely - the arms park ground (logical spot) aren’t the most appreciative people of our sport, they’re an elderly suit and tie RU bunch - you do the math there.

Jets, who have dominated the Welsh league this year, could well step up to southern conference next season for a bigger challenge. They’re coached by Ben Flower and Lloyd White.

What about Swansea for a League 1 side? Where are the Jets based? Are they planning on joining the Southern Conference?

[Eddie]

2 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

What about Swansea for a League 1 side? Where are the Jets based? Are they planning on joining the Southern Conference?

Why would there be a league one side in Swansea, has anyone expressed an interest in setting up a club there and getting them into league one? 

[JM2010]

It was in relation to a question I asked earlier