Ah, I see. So you're trying to compare entry from one competition to another with competing in one competition (two completely different things) and trying to pass them off as somehow similar in this argument? OK. Well, let me be the first to say that that doesn't make sense and is a shocking argument!

There is no divine right to move to a higher level if you succeed in a certain competition. For those that seem to think that this HAS to be the case then they need to do their research.

As for your comment about crowds, it's no surprise that the teams that are doing worse this year will get lower crowds, and the teams that are doing better will get higher crowds. That's the fickle nature of sport. Wigan, Warrington, Hull FC and Crusaders are the only teams that have performed better this year than last year, and coincidentally they are also the only teams to have improved their crowds. Two teams have stayed in the same position (Saints and Salford) and have similar crowds to last year. Saints still have a home game to go which will see their crowd average beat last year's. Everyone else has dropped slightly because they're playing worse. It's not rocket science.

Eh? Soccer has a pyramid of promotion and relegation involving about 7000 clubs, *hundreds* of leagues and more than 20 layers.

Likewise, all RU clubs competing in the league system are part of a pyramid of relegation and promotion, ranging from (say) Yorkshire division 5 all the way up to the top league. This season, Exeter have been promoted to the top flight, having worked their way up from division 4 over the last 15 years.

Aren't there minimum standards which need to be met before entry in the Football League, union Premiership? Just a couple of years back, Frickley were deemed unable to gain promotion, should they finish in a place, due to off-field issued, and that was to get into the Conference!

Not just Rugby League then, but ice hockey, cricket, rugby union....probably Netball Super League!

Not liable to either , you either have to already be in it , in which case you don't have to comply to anything or you have to have the correct postcode

Are you suggesting that location is not an issue for a championship clubs potential to enter SL ?

It's a part of the licensing process, but not as big a part as people think. Widnes are near 4 other SL clubs, but they're favourites to get a license.

still waiting , how are the Championship clubs stopping them ?

Is it an issue ?

should it be an issue ?

It isn,t as big a part as some people think , usually those that are in SL

It is THE biggest issue to an organization that has brought in licensing purely to expand it,s premier competition

Location is the sole reason licensing has been brought in

Have you answered my earlier question yet?

Try this one. Can you name me the last team that won the Championship that were denied entry to the premiership? or the last team finishing bottom in the premiership who werent relegated to the championship?

The Flying Pig won the Leigh D&D league 1 this year, next year they are in the Premiership replacing The Winkers Arms who finished bottom.

It is a consideration, but not the only consideration.

regardless of any principle, what you are forgetting is that there are a fair few clubs in SL who arent leading lights, and there is no logic to suggest that if Leigh were a very well run club, with a great merchandising operation, great commercial opportunities. good crowds, good youth development, and a solid financial background that they RFL wouldnt welcome them replacing a club like Wakefield who seem to lurching from crisis to crisis.

Even if your worst conspiracy theories were true, there still isnt enough expansion clubs banging on the door to leave out a club which is capable and well run, we havent yet filled our league with clubs which are capable and well run