Personally I think there is alot of sense in what he has put in this particular article. Its certainly echos the opinions of many fans of our once great game

it is the way the championship is run by the RFL that makes teams put all their money into just one team to gain the valuable tick in a box.
so cant blame the teams for doing so.

But surely the lack of any other teams be it reserve/U18/U20, then depreciates any SL application you may make in the future.

Well you have hit the nail on the head there but then you do not tick the youth development criteria.

The franchising idea is really not franchising it is a closed shop a monopoly or a cartel.None are allowed in commerce in the buisness world because it stifles competition drives up prices and destroys ambition.

When it all goes wotsits up they might just get it. But of course we can't start again then.It is like poker you risk all your chips on a pair of Kings and someone has a better hand and all you can do is get your coat and the last bus home.

They may be interesting comments but are they constructive ? Instead of takeing sideswipes at how other clubs run their affairs (which to be fair is a problem created by the RFL as it is them that want the boxes ticking) why doesn`t he get together with the rest of the Championship clubs and try to put pressure on the RFL to give a decent payout for Thursday night games which should be spent on 2nd teams. The first rule in war is to divide and conquer all clubs should stick together on a better deal for the Championship and leave the competition for the field.

You are right there Johnny which is what Millward was on about.

Why is it created by the RFL, dropping reserves/academies counts against you in a franchise application, so you what you gain from ploughing all your money into one team, you lose for having no academy policy. I am sure Fax are not stupid enough to think no young player development will not go against them. The RFL may make the rules, but dropping academies/youth is not the way forward for any club.

The money for Thursday games does not even come from the SKY sponsorship, yet SKY have the rights to the Championship as well as SL. The measly amount is all the RFL deem they can give the clubs. Even if SKY didn't televise the championships, no one else would be allowed to either. SKY = Total Control

I would say it is , at our level an academy is an unnecessary luxury

Especialy in the area you are Leigh have always produced the very best of players from your local teams. Fax too have good teams like Siddal the lads should be progressing through their own home Town club.

I understand what you are saying, however, my point is that it should not be classed as an unnecessary luxury, it should be classed as necessary for the advancement of both players/clubs and the game in general.

Just because I can see and understand why clubs make these decisions, doesn't mean I will ever agree with it.