add : Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:56 pm  

add halifax and widnes (widnes because i want our derby bk ) and have 16 tems

: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:35 pm  

foleywire wrote:

put them in and kick celtic out they are a disgrace and should never of made superleague how does a team losing all 27 games(which they will do) boost the game???

And....breath.

: Fri May 01, 2009 7:39 am  

foleywire wrote:

put them in and kick celtic out they are a disgrace and should never of made superleague how does a team losing all 27 games(which they will do) boost the game???

I know what you mean but didn't Celtic and Salford finish in the top 2 last year. So if you were going to promote 2 teams then surely they would merit promotion

: Fri May 01, 2009 9:12 am  

Spoke to my missus about this (she is a corporate lawyer) and she believes they may have an opportunity to challenge the franchise system under Articles 81/85 of the European Convention as they could potentially argue the franchise system operates contrary to competition law. Key to the argument would be classifying Halifax RLFC as a business rather than simply a rugby club. Whether they have the will (and pocket depth) to do it is another thing.

: Fri May 01, 2009 9:48 am  

Wires71 wrote:

Spoke to my missus about this (she is a corporate lawyer) and she believes they may have an opportunity to challenge the franchise system under Articles 81/85 of the European Convention as they could potentially argue the franchise system operates contrary to competition law. Key to the argument would be classifying Halifax RLFC as a business rather than simply a rugby club. Whether they have the will (and pocket depth) to do it is another thing.

If the RFL have writtien the franchise criteria into their bye laws, then they could be on a sticky wicket. I'm pretty sure one of the bye laws is: challenge them; face expulsion.

PS

bye laws should read operational rules.

: Fri May 01, 2009 5:29 pm  

Any legal challenge, whether backed by MPs or otherwise, would be utterly pointless and doomed to failure. Pathetic attempt at points scoring by the MPs in question.

: Fri May 01, 2009 5:47 pm  

Ian [77] wrote:

Any legal challenge, whether backed by MPs or otherwise, would be utterly pointless and doomed to failure. Pathetic attempt at points scoring by the MPs in question.

Apparently on the grapevine of lawyers and counsel that have been party to this now, through the missus, it's created quite a stimulating legal/intellectual debate and by no means black and white. Having said that they are only legal bods specialising in EU corporate law.

Bosman anyone?

: Sat May 02, 2009 10:47 am  

Wires71 wrote:

Apparently on the grapevine of lawyers and counsel that have been party to this now, through the missus, it's created quite a stimulating legal/intellectual debate and by no means black and white. Having said that they are only legal bods specialising in EU corporate law.

Bosman anyone?

I don't see how it restricts competition - the only difference between the old system and the new one is the frequency of promotion and the terms on which promotion is granted. I'd be astounded if anyone thought that the prospects of success were that good that it was worth a challenge, to the EU or otherwise. In any event, as you rightly point out, it would cost a fortune - in the unlikely event that anyone did think it was worth a punt the cost would be prohibitive.

Licence system is here to stay, in one form or another, whether people like it or not.

: Sat May 02, 2009 11:06 am  

They'd just look silly to be honest. Those are the rules and everyone must comply. They didn't tick enough boxes to be accepted in Super League, they know what boxes need to be ticked and they are probably going about rectifying it over the course of the next three years.

What shouldn't be overlooked, IMO, is where were these MPs when Halifax were staring into the Abyss of relegation from NL1, the stadium didn't look like being completed and they faced financial ruin?

: Sat May 02, 2009 12:16 pm  

Ian [77] wrote:

I don't see how it restricts competition - the only difference between the old system and the new one is the frequency of promotion and the terms on which promotion is granted. I'd be astounded if anyone thought that the prospects of success were that good that it was worth a challenge, to the EU or otherwise. In any event, as you rightly point out, it would cost a fortune - in the unlikely event that anyone did think it was worth a punt the cost would be prohibitive.

Licence system is here to stay, in one form or another, whether people like it or not.

The issue is that vertical competition would be restricted in that the businesses incorporating those clubs in the lower leagues are restrained from competing with those businesses in the upper league for a specific period of time where that restriction is set by the RFL and not market forces. Therefore the market is distorted on the basis of competition being restricted. This only applies if it can be argued the clubs are businesses and not purely sporting organisations.

Its a long shot and probably not worth it.