Well I'd like to see super league rugby in Widnes as they deserve it, plain and simple and meet the RFL criteria. They'd have the 7th or 8th best supported team in the comp above/equal the likes of Salford, Wakefield, Harlequins, Huddersfield and Castleford.



Fact is that expansion is great in principle but NOT at the expnse and possibly survival of established well supported clubs in the heartlands.

Look at the track record.



Gateshead - Failed

Paris - Failed

Catalans - success (Rugby league hotbed as people have said)



Is there anything to suggest at all that a team in a non heartland area and with a low density of population in Celtic's case can sustain a SL standard team? No I don't think there is.

There are still many RL Clubs in the heartlands that will never attract big attendances to Super League standards, i doubt Leigh will ever except for one or two Derby matches. But as I said earlier it is pity help us if and when Sky do withdraw if it say became a parochial small time game again. I don't like Murdock and News International but he saved our game, I bet he will never back away from Union!



It just annoys me how still every week in the letters pages of the weekly RL press this debate still goes on about teams who did not make the cut for the first Super League Franchise round, it is over and done, the past now! but I have so much respect and admiration for the Widnes Chairman, what an example to so many others, not one word, her just got down to the job in hand to ensure they make it next time around and I have no doubt they will!

Cheers mate for your kind words.



Whislt I do agree, I try really hard not to come across as bitter and twisted. I think SOC's attitude should be applauded though, like the Quins fan above stated he has knuckled down since hearing of the 'rejection' last July. Although i must be honest, I always had us down as a rank outsider anyway,despite the fact I thought our bid was the most honest and professionally put together.



Was reading through a programme the other day from 2003, we played London at home on Good friday, was a crowd of over 7000. OK that to some may not seem like a lot, but for a town of just about 60000 with a massive influx of 'scouse overspill' I feel it to be quite impressive.



Anyway, I feel providing we win at least one more NRC and possibly a GF, and keep a steady average gate preferably above 4000 we should be a safe bet. But I wouldn't trust the rfl as far as I can throw them

Speaks volumn's when the governing body of the sport is held in such low esteem

we need a cumbrian contingent, drawing from the big 3 professional clubs up there.



Cumbrian is an RL hotbed and could support a franchise

I'd agree but imo it shouldnt be at the expense of a team in Wales ... people need to give the welsh team some time and this little mishap should be looked at along with all the other factors when the licences come up again.

I beg your pardon

, are you now coming round to the fact Im always right?

Fine. And maybe Widnes will get in next time around. That doesn't mean to say Celtic Crusaders will or should not be in Superleague. They have two more years at top flight. If they come through this debacle unscathed and if they recruit wisely (they certainly have more time than last time) then if they meet the criteria they shouldn't be ejected from Superleague just to let Widnes in.





I'm quite sure all clubs in the heartlands would consider themselves justified to take up a Superleague spot, if only because they've been around since the year dot. But that isn't feasible unless we go back to the old system of one league. So there has to be some distinguishing criteria and if there are heartlands clubs - well followed or not - who don't meet that criteria then they cannot be in Superleague.





Gateshead is still going. I could have sworn I sat watching Saints play them just a couple of months ago.





Return to me in two more years and let's see whether what you say is justified.

They have just been re-named



Now known as the North Queensland Thunder

You stalking me?

Do you want to be stalked ?





Just perusing some of the club boards now that things have settled down on the VT and the Celtic boards



The issue with the use of these players is not what has happened in SL this year or wether they should remain in SL next year , the answers to those questions are



Not a lot and yes they should



The issue is that they have had a potential massive effect on clubs in the NL's



They have denied a club promotion to NL 1 in 2007 and they have also denied a NL1 club from qualifying to apply to SL in 2011



Just imagine how the fans of the club finishing 3 rd last year in NL 1 feel at this moment , They would have made the 2007 NL 1 GF which would have allowed them already to be preparing a SL application



The implications of that are huge

Gateshead is a re-formed club, the original Thunder were absorbed by Hull, read your SL history, same as Sheffield with Huddersfield.



Widnes do meet the Criteria, they were denied by their recent financial history and yet Richard Lewis had promised them that it would not go against them. He went back on his word, fact.



Also Celtic were promoted from NL2 to NL1 on false pretenses as they had some of those now deported/banned players in that side that came up in 2007 to play in NL1 in 2008.

In case you didn't know you had to be in NL1 to apply so by definition they should be kicked out the comp as they would not have been in a position in 2008 to even submit a SL licence application, let alone have it accepted.