All smokescreens and mirrors. The SL Licence system has failed on and off the pitch. The game is in a mess both at SL and Championship level. But the RFL and especially SL clubs refuse to admit this. They then offer this token gesture to us Championship clubs which is not properly thought through at all. As a fan of the game how does this 3rd Option they want, improve the game on and off the field?
Where are the 24 clubs? we have 14 SL clubs then 5 Championship clubs plus Toulouse who realistically I feel could possibly make up the SL 1 and 2. But wheres the other 4?
Are all the 24 clubs expected to run academy teams? I feel they should at U18s and U20s/Reserves if not U16s.
What happens to the Dual regs? You cant have Batley for example in if they want to run a Dual regs with Huddersfield.
Wheres the money to run this all when SL cant even get a sponsor now? Crowds are down and money is tight for many.
Personally we should either go with a 4 Leagues of 10 with one up/ One Down with Top 5/Bottom 5 playoff with a pre season Cup alongside the Challenge Cup. With minimum standards set for SL 1 & 2 and Championship and Championship 1. Bring in Toulouse and maybe another French team depending on things.
Another option that I thought is better than option 2 and 3 is any team wanting to play in SL has to pay a bond and agree to run Reserves plus U20, U18s and U16s plus have a Development Officer and Marketing Officer in place. The SL ticket costs x amaont is runs for 3 years. Any team can appy 18 months before the end of the 3 year period. A team that fails to fulfil the minimum standards loses some of its bond. If it goes bust the money is used to help pay off the players and debts. Any directors are then not allowed to be involved at any club in SL for the next 6 years. The Championship levels would then have similar standards and also run for 3 years.
The game needs to see improvements both on and off the field and a better distribution of TV Money etc. But that is not going to happen. I cant see a positive future for the game as too many have their own agendas and only care about them and their friends not what is best for the game.
