Quite agree about DR but clubs will continue to use (abuse ?) the system as long as it's within the rules. DR should, if at all be used as it was previously intended and that is for the 'bludgeoining' (can't think of the correct word !) of youngsters who are unable to get a place in the first team. Playing someone like Lineham and/or Penny is not in the spirit of the rule IMO.I'm all for season-long loans though i'm sure there are people about who don't like that either. Obviously one way forward is to encourage academies, like the one at Toulouse for example though this costs money which is in short supply nowadays within the RL world.

All DR has done. Is to allow SL clubs to save money.

Well, let's go back to the beginning .... well not quite: Just 'Superleague'.

Question: What do we have? The Cougars are denied rightful access to Superleague (and by which organisation?)

Answer: The RFL (with Murdoch and SKY in the background).

Question: What happened then?

Answer: Terrestrial television broadcasting rights to league games were denied and all rights to broadcast league games in the lower division (and now 'divisions') were denied (unless SKY approved).

Result: If you don't freely-broadcast a brilliant game, at whatever level, then you lose the support (wherever it might be).

Question: What happens next?

Answer: Concentrate on: 'Summer Rugby' (and this is where I have always disagreed with Mike Smith). Summer Rugby (for Murdoch) is OK for Superleague but, when access to Superleague is denied, Mike's vision of BBQ's etc (which were Mike's dream) are denied because the number of supporters in the Championship and now League 1 simply cannot (unfortunately) support Mike's dream.

Question: What is my solution?

Answer: It is obvious to a blind man that the lower divisions need to return to playing in winter (assuming that we still have a winter as a result of 'climate change').

Question: How can either 'Rach' of 'Guess Who' continue to support a failed organisation (by which I mean the RFL)? You ask me for reasons so I believe that you should also provide reasons for your comments.

Question: How can, with reduced central funding from the RFL, combined with ever-reducing so-called 'crowds' (was it 293 last week?) can any semi-professional club continue to exist?

Question: How can you justify the RFL's 'expansion programme' when a level playing-field does not exist? (Check the funding for Toulouse and Toronto and compare that with the funding for Championship 1 Clubs)

Answer: I'll await yours!

Question: What happens next?

Answer: 'Liquidation' with more Clubs to follow. Check York and now Sheffield.

Question: So what do the RFL do?

Answer: S** all!

Question: 'Dual Registration': Like it or not, it is yet another reason why the RFL is allowing a 'sloping' as opposed to a 'level' playing field. Look at what happened to us against Doncaster. We were hammered by two Superleague players who simply walked through our so-called 'defence'. What will happen tomorrow?

Answer: The RFL don't care. Just as they didn't when ineligible players played against us and no action was taken. They are simply interested in their expenses-paid trips to France and Canada and getting fatter by the day instead of looking after the founding Clubs in the north.

I rest my case but look forward to your comprehensive responses to my questions and answers.

Well Doncaster only have Feka today in their 19 today.

So, you don't count Iafeta Palea'aesina as a Dual Registered player? Or, have I misunderstood your 'post'?

When will March march?

How much more evidence is required for the 'Non-Believers'?

The RFL make the Rules but they never abide by them!

Hoping to achieve the goal of playing in Superleague, how many more Clubs will fall by the wayside whilst the Executives of the RFL sail into the sunset safe from the ravages which they have released on the clubs in the nether regions of the league?

Sheffield Eagles

The Eagles, a part-time side since 2000, went full-time this season in a bid to win promotion to the Super League but missed out on a place in the qualifiers.
A club spokesman said: "The club was totally committed to achieving the goal of playing Super League football once again this year, but due to a complex set of reasons including the strong competition in the league we have seen our best efforts fall short.

Source: BBC Sport


York City Knights

Ford signed an extended two-year deal with the Minster city outfit earlier this season but, amid continued uncertainty surrounding next season given ongoing takeover talks and the latest ground issues, he has recently been linked to coaching jobs at several teams in all three tiers of professional rugby league – among them Wakefield, Featherstone, Sheffield and Keighley.


Source: 'The Press', York.


Bradford Bulls


It is shaping up as one of the biggest exoduses at Odsal in living memory.
Of the 2016 Bulls squad, well over 20 players will not be here next season.
Several have secured deals elsewhere and plenty of others are surplus to requirements.
Lee Gaskell, Dale Ferguson and Paul Clough have agreed moves to Huddersfield, while Mitch Clark and Danny Addy are off to Hull KR.
All five face a nervous wait to discover if the club they have agreed to join retain their Super League status in the coming weeks. ........
The Bulls are working hard behind the scenes to significantly reduce the wage bill after spending over £1million on players during the past season.
Smith admits that some players were let go with financial considerations in mind and he will have a severely trimmed-down squad next term.
The mass exodus is not dissimilar to the end of the 2012 campaign, when the Bulls went into administration and over a dozen players jumped ship. ......
But if they could not make the top four with a large and expensive squad, what hope do they have with a far smaller group?

Source: Telegraph & Argus

[quote="666"

Question: How can either 'Rach' of 'Guess Who' continue to support a failed organisation (by which I mean the RFL)? You ask me for reasons so I believe that you should also provide reasons for your comments.

[/quote]

In no way did I show support for the RFL in my post , who IMHO at times have made a complete and utter testicles up of running the game in this country..

I meerly took you to task over the quote you made regarding the usual clap trap around percieved bias towards the expansion clubs by the RFL and its effect on the struggling 'established' clubs .. 'Is this a cunning plan by the RFL to ensure the demise of long-established Clubs for the benefit of EXPANSION?'


As i said repeating myself yet I can't speak for Toronto or Toulouse regarding RFL but the other 'expansion' teams , the Southern Clubs , South Wales and Newcastle receive exactly the same 'support' from the RFL as any another M62 league 1 club...

For a lot of these clubs whilst the success on the field will take time to establish and in many case not having a steady pool of players on their doorsteps will always hinder that , Ive seen this season some cracking initiatives off the field by these clubs looking to strengthen their position. Skolars adding to their successful season the field have worked with the local authority to see new community facilities built at the New River , Newcastle and Coventry continue to build stronger links ups with the local RU sides (Cougars game at the Ricoh and Thunder 4000 attendence Friday Night before Magic Weekend great examples) .All Golds through the hard work of the visionary Lionel Hirst have the tie up with the University producing players , access to quality media and performance facilities.I don't doubt they will have received help and advice from the RFL along the way , but the initiatives have to come from the clubs themselves ,If you don't ask you don't don't get .

Even my 'adopted' club this season Hemel despite their lowly league position , are in a stronger position than most,owning and creating revenue from their 'community owned ' club and ground (shares available if anyones interested ). bar open seven nights a week with regular events on , two open age sides and juniors from under 7s to 17s playing out of there, darts teams , five a side football using the MUGA , community groups using it as a meeting room , weddings, funeral , bar mitzvahs etc etc . The league 1 side is only a small part of all that ...

Even going back to the 'Heartlands Clubs ' , Hunslet , Barrow and Rochdale , when things have got tough the supporters got off their arses stepped up and did something to save their clubs (with the help of Supporters Direct) and now all seem to be doing nicely thank you ...

If you are that concerned step away from behind the keyboard and go do something about it ,go personally ask the directors what they are doing to up the crowds ,spread the word, put up match posters ,encourage your mates down to Cougar Park... whatever ....(the Fev faithful built two whole stands for God sake !!) .....

If you are that concerned step away from behind the keyboard and go do something about it ,go personally ask the directors what they are doing to up the crowds ,spread the word, put up match posters ,encourage your mates down to Cougar Park... whatever ....(the Fev faithful built two whole stands for God sake !!) .....[/quote

Great post Rach but with all due respect a number of supportes tried
To start a Community Trust for the club within Sport Direct a few years ago Called 'Pride in the Red & Green' . This was all done above board and within sport directs rules and guidelines .
It was a total fail in the end up as it was constantly met with total Apathy .

I like to think that I have 'done my bit' in the 50 years that I have supported Keighley and the Cougars whilst living in and around Keighley.

However, since 2012, I have lived on the south coast but we have always watched the Cougars whenever we have been in and around Keighley during the season but even a 600 mile round-trip is asking a little too much. However, we have supported the Cougars at the Skolars and Hemel.

Today's result must surely beg the question: 'When will Paul March admit that he simply isn't good enough to be our coach?'

Should have happened at least 18 month
ago 666 me owd love , we're stuck in the league of doom
For yet another season ........ but at least there is Canada to
Look forward to eh ? ......
What a blaady farce.