: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:40 pm  

Excuse my ignorance but have the RL actually stated that the SL will be increased from 14 clubs to 16 in 2012?I am not too confident of us getting a place if they do go for 16 but if it remains at 14 then we have no chance because,as they have already demonstrated,the RL will not kick out any existing 'franchises'.

: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:43 pm  

GSF wrote:

Excuse my ignorance but have the RL actually stated that the SL will be increased from 14 clubs to 16 in 2012?I am not too confident of us getting a place if they do go for 16 but if it remains at 14 then we have no chance because,as they have already demonstrated,the RL will not kick out any existing 'franchises'.

No such guarantee.. but they did say that one side from the Championship will be promoted!!

: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:53 pm  

This link might interst you: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south ... -22804169/ Crusaders don't even own their ground.

This link might interst you: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south ... -22804169/ Crusaders don't even own their ground.

: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:00 pm  

fighting irish wrote: This link might interst you: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south ... -22804169/ Crusaders don't even own their ground. Like us?

fighting irish wrote: This link might interst you: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south ... -22804169/ Crusaders don't even own their ground. Like us?

: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:08 pm  

fighting irish wrote: This link might interst you: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south ... -22804169/ Crusaders don't even own their ground. Nope it's a council ' facility ' but Leighton Samuels has a long lease on the place [ which itself is quite valuable ]

fighting irish wrote: This link might interst you: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south ... -22804169/ Crusaders don't even own their ground. Nope it's a council ' facility ' but Leighton Samuels has a long lease on the place [ which itself is quite valuable ]

: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:48 pm  

Starbug wrote:

Nope it's a council ' facility ' but Leighton Samuels has a long lease on the place [ which itself is quite valuable ]

He won't have the lease once it is sold as reported in the paper and I have heard it is a done deal and Crusaders will have to hire the ground from the soccer club and the Ravens.

: Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:17 pm  

In EnemyTerritory wrote:

Jiffy D... it's a good post and like a couple of fans on here I think it's terrific that you don't feel any resentment about what happened..

I for one am still incredibly bitter about the whole thing and will be for some time. For me this was the latest in a long line of offences by the RFL against our club.

It's not about a god given right to have a SL place, it's about how the RFL carry out their agenda.

We were told that it would be a fair and transparent process for all 14 spots... Instead it was all done using a criteria that no-one was told about behind closed doors and all applications were simply summarised in a line or two which only further propagates the bad feeling.

Instead it was a safe opportunity for the RFL to promote an expansion team. Richard Lewis has so much as now admitted this in a quoted email on the TIW site.

It was a process in which cast iron financial guarantees were overlooked in favour of airy fairy promises about new grounds.

This is old ground mate but it's my thoughts on the matter and it won't change. My boycott of everything Superleague related remains in place and I won't miss it again this year. I am bitter but very excited about the championship competition this year and the squad that has been put in place.

I will not however go posting stuff anywhere else on these boards about other clubs unless it is defence of this club and also get a little bit irked when I see it. It only raises the heckles of the 'Richard Lewis Youth' that make up the expansionista on this site.

It was a farce and we will be subjected to it again in 2 years!!

I am incredibly bitter, and in total agreement with this excellent post.

: Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:46 pm  

richardviking wrote:

Neither do you, but for a NL club to significantly increase their average gate by 1500 in 3 years, have significant success on the field and improve every other factor surrounding the franchise decision significantly is a hell of an ask.

I'm sorry but you really are totally underestimating Leigh, why do we have to improve every other factor, we got as many points as Widnes or only 1 less ,I can't rememberr exactly,but Widnes are not miles ahead of Leigh.

You got your fingers burned last time and whose to say it won't happen again.Lots could happen in 3 years and only a fool would believe they or anybody else has or has not a better chance of promotion.

Just enjoy the next 3 years you may have a better squad this year but after what I heard at the match on Sunday,watch this space,Leigh are definately going to be in the fight when the time comes,as will several other clubs.

Anyway its boring and a waste of time to discuss the future live for today and if you must dream about tommorrow,but never bank on it.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:50 am  

Twitch,

I'm sure Leigh will be with us and one or two others when the next round of franchises are debated, agreed upon and then eventually when the application process is undertaken and Toulouse or Gateshead are picked

However neither of us will be promoted unless the RFL change their agenda.
I also think that in this business the way that your club handled the announcement last time will not help. As I understand it from your mboard, your club did not even go and meet with the RFL after the 22nd.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:03 am  

Twitch wrote:

I'm sorry but you really are totally underestimating Leigh, why do we have to improve every other factor, we got as many points as Widnes or only 1 less ,I can't rememberr exactly,but Widnes are not miles ahead of Leigh.

You got your fingers burned last time and whose to say it won't happen again.Lots could happen in 3 years and only a fool would believe they or anybody else has or has not a better chance of promotion.

Just enjoy the next 3 years you may have a better squad this year but after what I heard at the match on Sunday,watch this space,Leigh are definately going to be in the fight when the time comes,as will several other clubs.

Anyway its boring and a waste of time to discuss the future live for today and if you must dream about tommorrow,but never bank on it.

Is it two grand finals that the next franchise winners have to reach?
I'm afraid Leigh are streets behind Widnes and Halifax at the moment and have to improve a lot to counter that.

I'm not underestimating Leigh, there's plenty of potential with the Leigh Sports Village getting under way, but the club has so much to do to be rivalling Steve O'Connor's Widnes.