I'm with Turfedout on this, that I don't think we will survive in the Championship playing outside of Wakefield. No Sky money, less support, and to get back into the Super League, we would have to actually win something, which would mean assembling a squad fit to win something.
It all depends on what view the RFL take. They may be delighted to see us playing out of Oakwell, and in which case franchising isn't dead in the water. We are a club that has not gone into administration, that has had a recent top 5 finish, not been relegated, and will be playing out of a good quality stadium. Trying to think positively, on what criteria could the RFL boot us out? Community work - box ticked. Youth development - box ticked. Good stadium - box ticked. It could be argued that the RFL will see it as a win-win solution: if we get Newmarket a year later, we are in a high quality stadium. If we don't, the RFL might see us as a Super League presence in South Yorkshire.
I'm not sure I get the digs at the board. I'm not privvy to the ins and outs, but it was the council who pulled the plug on Thornes Park, and it is Eric Pickles who has pulled the rug out from under our feet on Newmarket. What else could the board have done? And as for keeping Belle Vue, we might as well have starting selling Championship season tickets.
My only personal point of view is that I'm not sure I would watch Wakefield if they stayed in Barnsley as a permanent move, as they would no longer be a Wakefield team. If we do lose the franchise, then 2018 is the likely one if Newmarket comes off eventually, as we would have the chance to build on something there. I would be discounting 2015 though. The crowds would suffer initially, and I don't think we would win anything in the first three years.
Next season has lost its gloss though. Like 2008, the whole year won't be about rugby but about men in suits dishing out gifts to us rugby peasants.
