Let me put this in a way relevant to the Halifax club so it is not locked or deleted.

I have just seen on the League express site this headline.

"Castleford Tigers have pushed back the scheduled completion of their new stadium until the beginning of the 2013 season."

Now that will have implication on the SL status when theyt put their bid in because IIRC it is now one of the franchise stipulations when getting the a/b/c grade license. This will really throw a spanner in the works for them and hopefully allow which ever unsuccesful club doesn't get in next week in, in july.

The future is bright, the future is blue and white.

Castleford? Stadium plans delayed?

There's no way on God's green earth that the RFL will kick out Wakey AND Cas.

You just never know, We replace them and then the championship will have some local derbys with cas and wakey, You know keeping the championship competative. 3 years down the line they can then argue like we have with widnes. Hopefully they will both have stadiums then.

If this was to happen then i would have to eat my words and say that franchising is indeed working as facilities are getting better.

I dont think this is going to happen. Widnes in Wakey out....simples.

Did you see the way sky was bigging up Castlefords franchise bid on bootsnall last night. They did an article on their youth developement (which is excellent) and then went on to explain how important this was for their next bid, Eddie and co then went on about how it shouldnt be all about stadiums etc.....

Cas to remain exactly where they are...

YOU NEVER KNOW!

WAKEY AND CAS OUT...WIDNES AND FAX IN....IF THE RFL WERE ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THEIR OWN RULE BOOK ON FRANCHISES, THIS WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN.

PIGS MAY FLY

I am not sure, the RFL change the rules weekly to suit their plans. I am not sure cas would be out on the original rules, as the franchise is based on more criteria than the stadium and I am sure they do okay in other areas.

however

Didnt it originally have a "no adminstration" rule, which kept Widnes out the last time?? If this is the case then Wakefield and Crusaders, who have both been in administration, should not qualify for a licence.

THINK THEY CHANGED THE ADMIN RULE TO SUIT WELSHIES..

RL IS TURNING SLOWLY INTO A JOKE, RUN BY JOKERS. LOSING INTEREST AND RESPECT RAPIDLY.

Yes and surprise surprise - they changed the Operating Rules again when stating that this now only applies to Non-SL clubs applying for a franchise.

Good innit?

I hope I am wrong but after Widnes have replaced Wakey I simply don't see traditional clubs being allowed into SL. All future entrants will be from "development" areas.

Development areas? They can't even "develop" the game 32 miles south of Widnes.

How about the far away regions of Sheffield?

Or maybe ..................... quite outlandish this one ............maybe ............. Gateshead?


In a galaxy, far far away .............

Cas can almost certainly do whatever they want now that Wakey have been through administration. Problem solved.

As for the heartland question. Let's see whether Salford can actually attract the people of Salford to watch a game? I have a feeling that they will baulk the trend of Warrington and Hull and continue with crowds of 4k - 5k. Then when Sale move in and the the stadium is renamed the Shark Arena we will see Fax take their place in 2015.