at this moment in time i dont work, i go as many games as i can but if there is continually going to be nothing to play for then it gets a bit pointless

Tis not necessarily the end for the lad. I've seen people go through periods early on where they're not interested but they regain it later on when they realise there is more to life than Ricicles and Going Live!

Actually during the 80s there wasn't much more to life than that thinking about it.

You guys are hilarious, even if there WAS auto P and R then you guys wouldnt have got promoted, you didnt win the league last year. Before you go moaning about how your being wronged by not being in the big league maybe you should win the comp underneath that first. Sure you have "ticked the box" but wouldnt it be nice to cap your (almost certain IMO) return to SL in 2012 by winning the competition.

P.S dont see this as a dig at your club or take the usual RLfans practice of slagging me off, I have a lot of time for your club and the people who are involved with the organisation, not to mention your superb fans.

P.P.S as a Barrow lad I can only give my opinion on it: Since my local side got promoted from Champ 1, I feel very fortunate that Barrow now get to rub shoulders against sides like yourselves and Halifax (both former SL clubs), and while it feels odd having won the competition and now having to repeat the process I know that as Barrow Raiders stand it would have been almost impossible for us to compete in SL.

You are 100% correct, good post. Not only did we not win it last year, we've never won it since we got relegated and have just 2 Northern Rail Cups to show for it. The reason for the opinion we should go up is the criteria that's been laid down and the likes of Salford were given the nod on the promise of a new stadium that won't be ready before next round of licences anyway.

And I pretty much agree with that opinion, the reason given was your finances and I'm not sure it was a good enough reason when you consider Celtic's financial trouble and you cant see Salford raking in the cash on the gates they get, it was all about location and I can understand their reasons for that.

My main point is some people are bemoaning the fact P and R is not in operation, yet if it was Widnes still wouldnt have been promoted.

Seems I opened a bit of a flood gate on this issue viewtopic.php?f=35&t=451999&start=23

Seems I opened a bit of a flood gate on this issue viewtopic.php?f=35&t=451999&start=23

To be fair if there was automatic P+R we might have put a bit more focus on our first team rather than spending money to fulfil the franchise criteria.

Yeah, we're not spending our cash on proven talent any more as much, we're improving the whole club and just getting in that way.

I partly agree with you to be honest, as i think there should always be p and r.But i feel if their was promotion, we would have spent more on experienced players ,and not a youth set up.We are doing what the rfl are telling us.The salary cap has made it easier for all teams in the league.I think if our owner and yours could spend, we both would end up in superleague.Teams in superleague like quins,celtic,salford, would have suffered without help.

Widnes have built a squad around Home Grown Youth, Halifax and Barrow pump all the money they have into the first team.

That is why neither will get a franchise.

I dont think Barrow are even remotely close to a franchise for 2012, I hope Widnes faith in youth pays off for you, Its good to see.

Rubbish.

Halifax won't get a licence because our crowds are woeful.

Finances, Stadiums and attendances are paramount - everything else is a footnote. If you believe Home Grown Youth is at the top of the RFL's list you're an idiot. It's one thing having a youth policy - it's another thing having GOOD youth members of SL quality. Sure, you've made a great start in this area and we haven't but we have other priorities to sort out first - until we get those sorted - we won't get a franchise.