letter I have sent to minister of culture (sport) : Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:11 pm  

This is a copy of the email I sent. I know its probably not going to do anything, if every one sent one then maybe they will act.


I have concerns about the way the Rugby Football League is being run. I think that some one if not all people at the organisation are taking bribes! I have come to this conclusion having witnessed the way it has been run over the last few years. 3 years ago Widnes were refused a licence for super league because they had gone into administration; this is one of the many criteria for gaining a super league licence. Today they awarded a licence to Wakefield who went into administration this year. This is one of many breaches of their own criteria laid down 4 years ago on how super league licences would be awarded. I would list them all but I only have 4000 characters to write this. I would appreciate you to look into the irregularities. I send this as a spokes person for the concerned supporters of rugby league outside of the super league

Re: letter I have sent to minister of culture (sport) : Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:15 pm  

A spokesperson for who????? I dont want you being a spokesperson on my behalf when coming out with ridiculous accusations of bribes.

Re: letter I have sent to minister of culture (sport) : Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:22 pm  

Always Travelling wrote:

...they awarded a licence to Wakefield who went into administration this year. This is one of many breaches of their own criteria laid down 4 years ago on how super league licences would be awarded.

When doing stuff like this, you need to be factually sound.

The "administration" rule was changed some time back, ironically to protect Crusaders, after their second mishap.

Administration was not a barrier to the Wildcats application.

On every criterion apart from the ground, Wakefield beat Halifax.

The decision of the RFL is 100% correct.

Re: letter I have sent to minister of culture (sport) : Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:33 pm  

I have emailed the Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson MP via staintonjamesa@parliament.uk being the email listed on his website As follows: I am very disappointed by the franchise decision announced by the RFL today http://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/23 ... es-awarded The criteria set out 3 years ago as the basis on which the applications will be assessed does not appear to have been followed Halifax RLFC were told in March 2011 that they met all criteria & were eligible for Super League Wakefield Wildcats went into administration earlier this year and do not meet the ground criteria but yet have been awarded a licence ahead of Halifax There is no transparency to the decision making process, the fans and many other involved in Rugby League are astounded I am concerned that it is not an independent process and that there is no scrutiny over the decision making process Please can you let me know what Independent Review currently takes place re the RFL - is there any government review? Is it possible to request that an independent review of the process be undertaken? Probably will just be ignored but I feel so angry that I just want to be heard I have also lobbied Harry Gration via twitter & Nigel Wood has now chickened out of his scheduled interview on Look North but instead will be sending Ralph Rimmer - Harry promises to ask some questions re Halifax decision

I have emailed the Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson MP via staintonjamesa@parliament.uk being the email listed on his website As follows: I am very disappointed by the franchise decision announced by the RFL today http://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/23 ... es-awarded The criteria set out 3 years ago as the basis on which the applications will be assessed does not appear to have been followed Halifax RLFC were told in March 2011 that they met all criteria & were eligible for Super League Wakefield Wildcats went into administration earlier this year and do not meet the ground criteria but yet have been awarded a licence ahead of Halifax There is no transparency to the decision making process, the fans and many other involved in Rugby League are astounded I am concerned that it is not an independent process and that there is no scrutiny over the decision making process Please can you let me know what Independent Review currently takes place re the RFL - is there any government review? Is it possible to request that an independent review of the process be undertaken? Probably will just be ignored but I feel so angry that I just want to be heard I have also lobbied Harry Gration via twitter & Nigel Wood has now chickened out of his scheduled interview on Look North but instead will be sending Ralph Rimmer - Harry promises to ask some questions re Halifax decision

Re: letter I have sent to minister of culture (sport) : Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:43 pm  

could everyone whose argument it suits please stop ignoring the oft stated fact that administration was ruled out as a barrier to a franchise in order to protect Crusaders, this happened some time ago now and was much discussed on these boards.

Re: letter I have sent to minister of culture (sport) : Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:52 pm  

vikingsmurf wrote:

could everyone whose argument it suits please stop ignoring the oft stated fact that administration was ruled out as a barrier to a franchise in order to protect Crusaders, this happened some time ago now and was much discussed on these boards.

Bit pointless as they withdrew their application at such short notice. If they knew this was going to be the case, then perhaps going into administration should have become part of the criteria again? I can't believe that the RFL only knew very recently that this was going to happen.

Re: letter I have sent to minister of culture (sport) : Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:12 pm  

vikingsmurf wrote:

could everyone whose argument it suits please stop ignoring the oft stated fact that administration was ruled out as a barrier to a franchise in order to protect Crusaders, this happened some time ago now and was much discussed on these boards.

Even the Wakefield CEO admitted that the administration would go against them. So maybe you're the only one who didn't.

"The administration is going to count against us," admitted Wakefield chief executive James Elston. "We accept that.

"The licence process looks at history but also the current and the future and it's what we can do in the next three years we would like to focus on.

"We can't change anything, we can only deal with the cards we have been dealt with."

Re: letter I have sent to minister of culture (sport) : Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:14 pm  

Also here is what Andrew Glover the saviour of Wakefield had to say:

"There's a lot of disbelief in all honesty, we didn't expect it," Glover said.

Re: letter I have sent to minister of culture (sport) : Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:30 pm  

Fair play to Harry Gration, he asked the qustions as simply as he could, and suprise suprise got no answers!

Re: letter I have sent to minister of culture (sport) : Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:31 pm  

As a fax fan i am gutted with the news but i just wish that people who keep commenting on the 'administration' of wakefield would stop complaining ......... even if administration was something the RFL would take into consideration with regards to the licensing they would of needed to of been in administration in either 2008, 2009 and 2010 season, unfortunately 2011 would not of been looked at for a rejection.

going back to the 1st comment on this thread, i do not wish to be linked to a person who wishes to make serious allegations of bribery and in no way is this person talking on my behalf.

RANT OVER.