Will the franchise system work? : Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:49 pm  

Just half a dozen games in and it appears that the "new additions" are destined for the bottomm two spots already. Worst still I think that soon they will have nothing to play for and instead of making the league stronger they are making it worse. BRING BACK PROMOTION ON MERIT.

To ensure that the league is as competative as possible the bottom SL club should play the top NL club in a three match play off at the end of the season. One at home, one away and if a third is required it should be played at the team who have the best points difference over the previous two games. By doing it this way you are ensuring that the team that plays in SL the following season are the strongest and the team that dips out will get some extra gate/tv money to help strengthen the squad for next season. It also makes the battle to avoid the wooden spoon exciting and relevant.

Re: Will the franchise system work? : Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:01 pm  

The franchises should be judged over the term of them, not a few games into the first year of them. Should Bradford be thrown out as well seeing as they are 'destined' to finish outside the play-offs with nothing to play for?

Re: Will the franchise system work? : Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:10 pm  

worksopwildcat wrote:

Just half a dozen games in and it appears that the "new additions" are destined for the bottomm two spots already. Worst still I think that soon they will have nothing to play for and instead of making the league stronger they are making it worse. BRING BACK PROMOTION ON MERIT.

To ensure that the league is as competative as possible the bottom SL club should play the top NL club in a three match play off at the end of the season. One at home, one away and if a third is required it should be played at the team who have the best points difference over the previous two games. By doing it this way you are ensuring that the team that plays in SL the following season are the strongest and the team that dips out will get some extra gate/tv money to help strengthen the squad for next season. It also makes the battle to avoid the wooden spoon exciting and relevant.

Was the new additions' to S/L ever going to be anything other than the bottom 2. That was the whole idea of a 3 year franchise whether it was good or bad right or wrong. And now imo the inevitable is happening you want to change the rules because you find it boring. Those 2 clubs should be judged after 3 seasons not 6 games' and with our club being involved with relegation far too often in the past I for one did not think it was exciting and neither will CC or Salford.

: Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:38 pm  

Look at Castleford it could well be said that the fact they didn't need to panic buy last season has allowed them to develop youngsters and progress their team by bringing in the right players.

Salford especially were always going to struggle in their first season but so did Castelford last season. Their youngsters should be much improved next season and with shrewd buys they'll be very competitive. Celtic have proven to be a decent outfit without actually winning as yet.

I don't see what a play-off would do, all we'd be encouraging is a boom and bust nature for the promoted team which in the long run would be detrimental for both the relegated and promoted team.

Re: Will the franchise system work? : Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:47 pm  

worksopwildcat wrote:

Just half a dozen games in and it appears that the "new additions" are destined for the bottomm two spots already. Worst still I think that soon they will have nothing to play for and instead of making the league stronger they are making it worse. BRING BACK PROMOTION ON MERIT.

To ensure that the league is as competative as possible the bottom SL club should play the top NL club in a three match play off at the end of the season. One at home, one away and if a third is required it should be played at the team who have the best points difference over the previous two games. By doing it this way you are ensuring that the team that plays in SL the following season are the strongest and the team that dips out will get some extra gate/tv money to help strengthen the squad for next season. It also makes the battle to avoid the wooden spoon exciting and relevant.

How is promoting a team every year going to help? We will still be in a position where the team comes up will finish bottom they will simply then become yo-yo teams whose best players are released to be signed by other clubs in SL the minute they get relegated.

The bottom 2 clubs have much to play for, they have a future to play for and development of the business and systems to build on.

The play off idea would simply never work for a couple of reasons firstly the fact that SL teams are so far ahead of NL1 teams, they may get the odd victory on a very off day but in no way could they compete over 2 or even 3 games.

What is worse is it would ensure the clubs were in limbo for even longer regards trying to recruit SL squads/plan for the future.

The stability offered by a lack of relegation ensures teams can grow and plan ahead, Wakefield, Cas, Huddersfield, Hull Les Cats are all examples of clubs progressing once they managed to consolodate there positions in the League for a year or 2.

Crucially i personally benieve a lack of relegation sees our younger players given a chance as there is less panic buying of overseas crocks.

I think there is much wrong with certain rules of our game regards the way they are administered but for the long term growth of the sport at all levels in the UK relegation had to be scrapped.

Re: Will the franchise system work? : Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:08 pm  

chissitt wrote:

Was the new additions' to S/L ever going to be anything other than the bottom 2. That was the whole idea of a 3 year franchise whether it was good or bad right or wrong. And now imo the inevitable is happening you want to change the rules because you find it boring. Those 2 clubs should be judged after 3 seasons not 6 games' and with our club being involved with relegation far too often in the past I for one did not think it was exciting and neither will CC or Salford.

Well we are at odds over a few things then but perhaps the issue that we are furthest away on is the relegation dog fights we have had in recent years. They were utterly compelling, exciting and dramatic. I cant believe you went to Odsall that glorious evening and found it dull! One of the best nights I have had ever watching sport, take away the ramifications of defeat and i would have stopped at home. If it wasnt exciting then tell me what it was.

: Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:37 pm  

Dont just look at the impact in SL look at NL's, they are being given the last rights at present.

Imagine if you were in the NL's now, no promotion for 3 seasons, no Sky money, no interest from major sponsors and little interest outside the hardcore. Imagine then trying to get the finance in place for a new ground.

A hard job or an impossible one?

Just to emphasise what cloud some SL fans are on we have one advocating a play off between a FT SL club getting £1m of sky funding and a PT NL one to decide who goes up.

The franchise decision only really effected Widnes, and Leigh, Fax/Fev didnt expect anything, so if you really have the good of the game at heart 2 FT divisions of 10 would provide a platform to grow whilst engaging all clubs wanting SL status and providing a route for those further away but with ambition.

Finance, take the pot and slit it 60/40, giving ample to fund a full time SL2 from clubs of a comparable standard and making the transition from NL to SL2, and SL2 to SL1 realistic both ways.

: Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:41 pm  

I fully expect within 2 more franshice "picks" a closed shop at the top with NL clubs becoming feeder clubs, it is the only way to go for me, but only once we have the top division settled.

Re: Will the franchise system work? : Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:19 pm  

worksopwildcat wrote:

Well we are at odds over a few things then but perhaps the issue that we are furthest away on is the relegation dog fights we have had in recent years. They were utterly compelling, exciting and dramatic. I cant believe you went to Odsall that glorious evening and found it dull! One of the best nights I have had ever watching sport, take away the ramifications of defeat and i would have stopped at home. If it wasnt exciting then tell me what it was.

I take your point and if you like throw in both the Cas games. But they are only exciting if we win. It was brilliant comming out of Odsal as it was leaving Wheldon Rd apart from the idiots from Cas what couldnt stomach defeat and started throwing glasses. But would it have been like that if we had lost. And fwiw I bet that Cas didnt think so

Re: Will the franchise system work? : Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:28 pm  

chissitt wrote:

I take your point and if you like throw in both the Cas games. But they are only exciting if we win. It was brilliant comming out of Odsal as it was leaving Wheldon Rd apart from the idiots from Cas what couldnt stomach defeat and started throwing glasses. But would it have been like that if we had lost. And fwiw I bet that Cas didnt think so

Like most rollercoaster rides, they are great fun when you reach the end of the ride safely. I enjoyed 2006, it was all-consuming, but I also remember the away game at Huddersfield and then the home one against Bradford, the one when we had no coach and Stevo saved us by asking JK "the question" (or, at least, that is the version Stevo prefers). Watching a great club fade into history before your very eyes wasn't quite so good, and if we had relegation, that threat would come around again sooner or later.