10,061 is quite a good crowd really considering it was a Tuesday night and it was on Sky.

Here comes another PY/ISTBI debate ....

Anyway, just pointing it out as it is relative. Though PadWire does border on idiot territory, can't disagree with you there.

Try reading the statement properly then & you will see why Widnes & Leigh were felt not yet ready. For what it's worth, my own belief is that it was between those two teams & Salford for who got the franchise alongside Celtic who with their location provide far better opportunities to expand & strengthen SL/RL than any of the M62 applicants.

I have said I will watch Warrington in SL, in a pan-European SL, in a World SL or in National Leagues/Conferance. Yes I want my club to be at the top table & no I wouldn't be happy if we weren't, but they are my club regardless of their league. We are about 5 years ahead of Widnes/Leigh in our off the field situation for being in own stadium/financially viable/community programmes etc & for those reasons we are into the next generation of SL 3 years ahead of those two.

I have no doubt that the next issue of franchises will see Leigh, Widnes & Halifax providing stronger applications than this time around - maybe Bradford, HKR, Wakey, Cas will be the teams on edge next time round?

Still waiting on your proof of corruption - or are you going to forward that evidence onto the police for investigation?

Ah well thanks for all the messages from some of the wire folk but it wasnt to be.

Bearing in mind neither Salford nor Leigh are picking up the tabs for building their respective stadiums. They may have to chip-in for the fit-out element of the stadiums, which, I would imagine, is comfortably offset against the maintenance costs of The Willows and Hilton Park respectively.

Leigh have survived, comfortably, being outside SL, having visited only once in eleven years.

Don't lose sight of the fact it is only three years. Twelve months ago, it was debatable whether Widnes Vikings would exist, full stop.

IF I had 25k to invest in one yes but I haven't . there are no issues licence wise as I already have my own operators licence it is just the set up costs tbh or I would have done that by now .
Nice to hear off someone with a sensible view though

Just been reading the Widnes board.

Look's like Dalton is about to slit his wrists.............

Yes I got the impression he was a little bit upset by the decision!

I feel for them and wanted them to make a return. Nonetheless, the topic that 'kindly requests no posts from Celtic fans' is the best. What a topic name that is!

I think this is a sad day in that Widnes were not admitted.

They have a good stadium and a strong fan base (OK current team is gash). Financially it would be better for us, Saints and Wigan as we all would have big crowd derbies. We do not with Salford or CC.

I do not expect CC to be around in 3 years time.