This is probably an unfair -----------------

[Spelly]

 ----------------- question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway!

What are your gut feelings about Widnes being in Super League next year?

On this one, I want you to vote with your head, and not with your heart!

I know you'll all think you deserve to be there (and I agree with you) but that's not what I'm asking!

As I said, it's probably an unfair question!

Spelly.

Swinton till I die!

 

[Roy]

I honestly think that the RFL will push for Celtic, another French team and Pinks with a new ground.  The likes of Widnes, Leigh and other 'traditional' rugby towns will be on the fringe until the French teams are 'booted out' or fail, which I want them to fail so that Widnes etc can get back into Super League.

[Chris B]

Gut feeling is that we won't...

I don't think that we fit in with the RL's idea of SL next year. The only way we would be in is if they kicked out a current SL club and I can't see them doing that.

Salfud will be in there and they have shouted so loudly about Celtic that you can't see them not getting a licence...

If it's all transparent then we have a chance... but I think that the RL will wangle it someway.

[craigies6pack]

Only way I can see us making it for sure is via winning the Grand Final and that IMO would be a long shot.

We seem to have got it right off field but it remains to be seen how we do on field. But you never know how the RFL/Superleague will take us now we are stable off field.

[neilw]

Gut feeling is that we won't...

I don't think that we fit in with the RL's idea of SL next year. The only way we would be in is if they kicked out a current SL club and I can't see them doing that.

Salfud will be in there and they have shouted so loudly about Celtic that you can't see them not getting a licence...

If it's all transparent then we have a chance... but I think that the RL will wangle it someway.

This is the big question and point of the whole franchise application process. I agree if it is fully transparent and the full criteria is made public then Widnes I think will get in at the cost of Salford or maybe Wakefield. If not transparent and no criteria list is in the public domain (officially released by the RFL) then the RFL will do what they want and that will be Celtic and Salford/2nd French team.

If all is done in the open, then Widnes are in a much better position IMO than a few current SL clubs as well as Celtic, Salford and any 2nd French team. Franchise should be given on what structures, grounds, youth set up/ development, finances, crowds etc that you have now or in the case of crowds can show you can get (recent history in SL) and not on what ground or finances you hope to have in place in 1/2yrs time.

Everything should be in place in 8/9 months (end of current season) time. If they are not team loses the licence and another club get it. Must be in place so soon as you need to give clubs time to build a team.



 

[LeedsViking]

Only way I can see us making it for sure is via winning the Grand Final and that IMO would be a long shot.

We seem to have got it right off field but it remains to be seen how we do on field. But you never know how the RFL/Superleague will take us now we are stable off field.

But we didn't win it did we?

Next years Grand Final is after the decision on SL licences will have been made, so winning the final would only be a help towards a 2012 application.

[BEANO]

3 months ago, the RFL were happy to accept us into SuperLeague.

We are in a better position now than we were in October.

I believe we are one of the top 14 clubs, and have just as good a shout as Castleford, Wakefield, Salford and Hull KR.

As well as a better shout than London and Celtic

[Bruce Champion]

My worry is that the RFL have an agenda.

If they don't, we have a great chance thanks to the way the club is being run at the moment.  We will be ran better this year than the majority of SL clubs.  I believe we could bring more to SL than Wakefield, Salford, Harlequins and Celtic with attendances alone.  When we were in SL we regularly got 6,000 plus, games against Wire and Saints bought 8,000 plus.  I dont believe any of those teams mentioned could do that.

The financial position of the club, the stadium and the off the field development work is massive, and I hope it gives us the advantage to get up there next year.

[NAT]

 To totaly blunt no matter how much we deserve a place in super duper league I think the RFL ( or there pay masters at sky ) would rather see the welsh and possibly another frog team than us .

[crowbar]

I don't think you can rule out a 15 team division in 2009 and Widnes should then be a certainty for Super League.

[westbanklad]

Hand on Heart I agree that Celtic will be fast-tracked. If it worked this time round with a Welsh team - and lets be fair they have a great set up there management wise - then it would lead to further expansion into Wales, so that fact can only help their case. I also think a second French team will be plumped for.
Having said that I believe S O'C is the best chance we have, and I'll explain why. the RFL want our sport to be as glamourous and successful as Footie's Premiership (dream on...). If they are really serious about that then Super League should be made up of clubs with good off-field management, great stadia, and exciting rugby which will get the crowds increasing - nothing worse to see half empty grounds on Sky matches.

We have two out of three of those. Some other clubs have none of them, or one at best - witness some of the poorl stadia, and matching rugby.

S O'C and his team are dragging us into the 21st Century with new ideas regarding ticket sales, electronic entry, etc etc. We should embrace these new methods and view them as steps towards being a more professional outfit, worthy of Super League. I feel all too often we can be just a bunch of whingers on here - look at how we have bitched about previous Managements. If we want Super League get over these changes - they are progress and we must move on.

[craigies6pack]

But we didn't win it did we?

Next years Grand Final is after the decision on SL licences will have been made, so winning the final would only be a help towards a 2012 application.

Although I didn't think about the decision on SL licenses, my rationale was that if we did win the GF - no matter how long a shot that is - then there should be no reason as things stand why we should be denied a place.

[Chris B]

I think Toulouse would be a gamble at this stage but need to be properly considered if the RFL were serious about strenghening the game in France. How can it be revived with just one outfit in Sl?? But I think they are more likely to get one in 2012...

Lewis is virtually humping the Celtic Crusaders leg like a dog before the op
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7016532.stm

So it is really down to us and Salfud..

I really can't see Wakefield being binned off as, to be fair, they have survived in the league for a long time up until this point and there would be a real outcry if they were sacked off.

Salfud will continue to beat the same drum that they have a massive opportunity for growth of support once the stadium is complete (talk about believing in the 'if you build it, they will come' theory) and the RFL will swallow this hook line and sinker.

I can't realistically see a 15 team league when there was still a decision until recently where we would expand to 14. Plus the fixture system of a 15 team league wouldn't go down too well.

[LeedsViking]

Lewis is virtually humping the Celtic Crusaders leg like a dog before the op

Nice analogy 

[crowbar]

15 teams means the RFL wont have to face tough decisions like who to leave out!