Re: The Official Down to the Wire Franchise Thread : Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:02 am  

Ian*77 wrote:

St Maca - is he gay?*

What do people reckon?

.

I think he just likes to pleasure himself

: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:34 am  

magic piano wrote:

Wire
Leeds
Saints
Wigan
Bulls
Hull
HKR
Cats
Quins
Huddersfield
Wakey
Widnes
Celtic
Salfrod

Cas to miss out on basis of (a) poor ground with no redevlopment plans concrete & (b) what they have brought to the comp in recent years - think Wakey just edge above them in stakes of being competitive in last 5 years.

Didn't Cas get the green light to build a new stadium?

: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:49 am  

Bit of a Catch-22 the applications for mine.

Salford appear to have all the right ingredients for mine, sitting pretty league wise, stadium on the go, a sound business.

Widnes, ditto with one massive difference, two insolvencies in three years. Granted, people will cite different ownership, but I imagine it is the same management team.


The fortunate thing for Widnes is, it has come a little too soon for Celtic, if this was two or three years in the future, it would be the Crusaders making up the fourteen.

St Maca and Frank Lampard are one and the same. Draw your own conclusion.....................................

: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:22 am  

I think it is going to be Salford and Celtic that end up joining the party.

As a few people have eluded to, I think that Widnes' past troubles with insolvency might see them miss out.

I would love to see all three back up in the big time, at the expense of someone like Wakefield, but I can't see the RFL saying to one of the current SL teams, "You're out. Bye."

Whoever doesn't get one, will surely be the front runners to get one in 2012 however.

: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:22 am  

We want our derby back!

I reckon Cas will be dropped, from a selfish point of view I would then like Salford Widnes and Leigh to get the 3 spots, but reckon 1 will lose out to Celtic.

: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:25 am  

Mistah Lee™ wrote:

I think it is going to be Salford and Celtic that end up joining the party.

As a few people have eluded to, I think that Widnes' past troubles with insolvency might see them miss out.

I would love to see all three back up in the big time, at the expense of someone like Wakefield, but I can't see the RFL saying to one of the current SL teams, "You're out. Bye."

Whoever doesn't get one, will surely be the front runners to get one in 2012 however.

Try telling Widnes fans that - it's happened twice to them!!

: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:36 am  

magic piano wrote:

Try telling Widnes fans that - it's happened twice to them!!

Not in a franchise situation though.

Plus I think the RFL are more incompetent now than they were back then.

: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:43 am  

Do we really think that the current superleague clubs are guarenteed a place? That isn't the communication coming from Red Hall. It's 19 into 14 isn't it? Is it possible that Widnes, Leigh and Salford could all get in?

: Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:08 am  

Lefty wrote:

Do we really think that the current super league clubs are guaranteed a place? That isn't the communication coming from Red Hall. It's 19 into 14 isn't it? Is it possible that Widnes, Leigh and Salford could all get in?

It will all hinge on how INDEPENDENT the rfl's independent panel is if you get my drift !

: Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:13 am  

Cas to go out for me, then Salford, Weirdness and Celtic, although i disagree with Celtic getting a franchise, i think the RFL are so keen on expansion, that this will happen. Feel sorry for Leigh though, dont think they will get one and it would be good to more weight to re-addressing the yorkshire-lancashire balance in the league.