Well the IMG proposals have passed. All 11 SL teams voted in favour (shocked at Cas and Wakey there). And only Fev, Batley, Barrow and Keighley voted against it in the Champ.
So the ones who have voted against it wouldn’t survive in SL anyway. Fev’s catchment area is also Wakey, Cas and Leeds. Batley and Keighley can’t really upgrade their facilities or get the crowds needed to survive. And even though Cumbria is a hotbed for talent, there never seems to be a lot of support for the three teams up there.
Everyone else like Newcastle, Halifax, York, Us, Widnes etc all have room to grow. Improve. Have the talent areas. Already have a decent stadium (probably ours is the worst of the those three). And all have potential to increase the crowds (I think we are higher that 2/3 SL teams at the moment). Even now we’d probably average 6-7k inc away support in SL.
What does surprise me is the likes of Swinton, Rochdale and Oldham voting for being in favour. As neither of these clubs will be anywhere near the mid levels of the grading system. To vote against would be in their best interests as they are yo-yo clubs really.
Votes For:
All SL Clubs (minus Catalan who have no vote)
Sheffield
York
Newcastle
Widnes
Bradford
Halifax
Swinton
London Broncos.
Doncaster
Midlands
Cornwall
Rochdale
Workington
Oldham
North Wales
Against:
Featherstone
Batley
Keighley
Barrow
Hunslet
Dewsbury
Abstained:
London Skolars
Whitehaven
West Wales
Make of that what you will.
33 in favour. 6 against. 3 abstains. Vote passes at 88%.