: Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:33 am  

DemonUK wrote:

Hopefully it won't happen but if Donny folded altogether and their results expunged from the records we would be sitting 7th in the table below Sheffield on points difference.

And give us another month between home fixtures, if the August 2nd game is cancelled!!!!

May 14th Widnes (H)
June 14th Gateshead (H)
July 19th Sheffield (H)
Aug 15th Toulouse (H)

Whoever at Red Hall came up with this fixture arrangement, shouldn't just be sacked, he/she should be sued for loss of income. I'm not surprised that clubs are in trouble, when they only play at home every Preston Guild!!

[Dick Jones]

: Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:46 am  

Your right Alan its no wonder not enough income for the Championship club the way the format is at present, maybe they should consider bringing in the" John Player "Trophy or something.

: Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:51 pm  

Noooo.

The RFL are doing the Championship Clubs a huge favour in creating such a vibrant competition.

A few glorified friendlies in the Rail Cup, perhaps a couple of CC games against some pig famers from Uzbekistan or a pub team from Barnet, (if you're really lucky you even might get to play a SL reserve team).

Add 10 home league games (where we shall play our biggest rivals on a Thursday night), 4 of which are over the 'summer' months of June, July, and August. Yes, 4 home games in 3 months, you read it right. And one of those is a Saturday night to suit the French.

Then, if we're lucky enough we might get a couple of home games in the plays offs.

Whoo bloody hoo.

That is clearly more than enough income for anyone to grow sustainably and financially strong enough to make the next step up come Franchise Day.

: Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:59 pm  

Can see the stage of it just becoming one division again and the end of the Choo Choo Cup.

But that would be preferable when our extra home games would consist of us putting 70 points past Hunslet, the Skolars etc (no disrespect to those clubs)?

: Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:59 pm  

Alexs Dad wrote:

Noooo.

The RFL are doing the Championship Clubs a huge favour in creating such a vibrant competition.

A few glorified friendlies in the Rail Cup, perhaps a couple of CC games against some pig famers from Uzbekistan or a pub team from Barnet, (if you're really lucky you even might get to play a SL reserve team).

Add 10 home league games (where we shall play our biggest rivals on a Thursday night), 4 of which are over the 'summer' months of June, July, and August. Yes, 4 home games in 3 months, you read it right. And one of those is a Saturday night to suit the French.

Then, if we're lucky enough we might get a couple of home games in the plays offs.

Whoo bloody hoo.

That is clearly more than enough income for anyone to grow sustainably and financially strong enough to make the next step up come Franchise Day.

I'm sure i can see a hint of sarcasm here

: Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:31 pm  

Realistically, can anyone see a big money backer investing his hard earned for 2 or 3 years in a heartland club, when the franchise process is not really a process at all, or at least not one with any discernable fairness.

Of course if that backer is given an assurance he will definitely be in SL and that he can have as many overseas players as he liked to give them a huge advantage in a lower league. They can then justify their flawed decision process by saying the team is successful and ready on the playing field as well. Mr Samuels-he done good.

Come on guys, Gateshead now overflowing with overseas players (how do they pay them on crowds of 400) and Rod Findlay (ex?)RFL employee who headed the franchise committee now working for them too.

Gateshead/Toulouse in. No one out. Closed shop of 16 clubs and only about 14 of the remaining current 19 RFL member clubs left in existence.

...and so my fellow Rugby League fans: ask not what the RFL can do for you - ask what the RFL can do for itself.

Answer: Whatever it likes when the clubs outside Super League are too scared to challenge them. Why won't they, its not as if the RFL can withold funding. What funding there is has so many conditions not many if any will get it.

There will be a few more Donnys and Rochdales over the next 18 months

: Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:53 pm  

Leyther_Matt wrote:

Can see the stage of it just becoming one division again and the end of the Choo Choo Cup.

But that would be preferable when our extra home games would consist of us putting 70 points past Hunslet, the Skolars etc (no disrespect to those clubs)?

In all honesty, I can't see us putting 70 past many teams, at the moment!

From what I hear, the rumblings of discontent are beginning, amongst the Championship clubs, but whether they have the (collective) guts to do anything about it, remains to be seen.

: Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:55 pm  

Dick Jones wrote:

Your right Alan its no wonder not enough income for the Championship club the way the format is at present, maybe they should consider bringing in the" John Player "Trophy or something.

Maybe, but they would doubtless concoct some weird and wonderful league system, to decide who would participate in the k-o stages! Personally, while I admire Northern Rail for their sponsorship, I would rather see more 'proper' (Championship) league games, and less 'artificial' (NRC) ones.

: Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:39 pm  

Alan wrote:

In all honesty, I can't see us putting 70 past many teams, at the moment!

From what I hear, the rumblings of discontent are beginning, amongst the Championship clubs, but whether they have the (collective) guts to do anything about it, remains to be seen.

Unfortunatly its 12 Months too late Alan.
The minute all the clubs agreed to a no appeals process last July was the minute we signed the fate of Many clubs outside of SL.

: Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:21 pm  

Ron Burgundy wrote:

If the announcement is the prop then that is good news for us as he is what we are missing in the front row, its just a shame we would be taking him from Dony, feels like where kicking them why there down.

I seem to remember nobody gave a stuff about us when we were in trouble in the past and didn't waste any time taking our players.