: Sat May 02, 2009 5:44 pm  

Wires71 wrote:

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.

Surely the ability to be competitive would form part of the criteria, as subjective an a review it could be.

: Mon May 04, 2009 9:09 am  

Wires71 wrote:

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.

Long shot being the operative phrase - every promotion and relegation systems imposes criteria, they're just less distinct and open than the RFLs. For example, there are ground criteria for promotion to the FA Premier League. I don't think the specific period of time point makes any great difference - you're still saying Club A you can come in potentially, Club B, you can't because your ground isn't up to scratch, in the Premier League, all seater with specific facilities. The same as franchising.

=A few RL clubs fired off a few speculative letters to the RFL about the salary cap. I suspect they came to the same conclusion - arguable on paper, little or no chance in reality. Interesting stuff though.