According to a lot of chemics, cullen's contract won't get renewed so he won't be coaching them in super league. Anyway, with his family situation he is probably better off without all the hassle and sticking with his job on sky.

Leigh haven't fulfilled the criteria so they won't get a place.

Correctamundo - nailed on.

Does anyone really believe that either Widnes, Barrow, Batley or Halifax will actually improve the SL competition in any way?

Need so much more than a sexy stadium then dont they?

If George Riley has got this right (and he's the only person who appears to be reporting this so far), then any Championship club wishing to apply has to satisfy all of the following five criteria, and thus far, only Widnes look likely to be able to do this, although confirming the 4th point won't be easy at this stage:



(i) Club has reached a Championship final or won the Northern Rail Cup in 2009 or 2010.



(ii) Club has a stadium with an operational capacity of 10,000.



(iii) No insolvency event has occurred during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons.



(iv) Club has turnover of at least £1,000,000 in financial year ending 2009 or 2010 (turnover of charitable foundation can be included in this figure).



(v) Club has an average attendance of at least 2,500 in 2009 or 2010



Leigh, Toulouse, Fev and Sheffield can't apply unless they make this year's Grand Final, and even if they do, they won't meet the 2,500 average attendance rule. Not even Fax or Barrow will meet the attendance rule (save for bumper crowds in their final matches this season) and Craven Park is way below standard, so that rules Barrow out. As for Batley - erm, I think not!



So only the Chemics currently meet all the criteria which will make all the Widiots very happy. Fax can apply too if they get a crowd of 4,705 or larger in their final home game of the season.



It'll be Widnes though and I'll welcome them back with open arms and closed nostrils.

Which ones that the one due to be finished in 2005, 2008, 2009,2010, or 2011,



all that happens come Franchise time is the clubs with dodgy grounds get their chairman to stand on some field next to a JCB anonucing that work is finally starting...any one of the liars froms Salford Cas or Wakey for me.



I'm torn between Halifax and Widnes though.

Widnes are still a filthy little club but they need to be in superleague whereas Halifax is a club ive always liked decent fans and all that....... its going to be tough for whichever one loses out.

Batley.

They will improve most teams points difference that is it.



Otherwise look forwards to three/four years of these forums constantly analysing their attendances and saying "shocking attendance for a SL club....should give Salford/Wakey a chance"

According the to commentators on the Northern Rail Cup both Widnes and Batley have apparently met the criteria for superleague. In relation to who will go down, my gut reactions was Wakefiled BUT it seems the RFL are bending over backwards to try and assist Cas and Wakefield in a groundshare to "allow them to continue to compete at the highest level". Maybe if anybody goes it will be Salford, not withstanding the promised new stadium.

Feel sorry for the fans of the club that gets the chop wasn't that long ago that we had the same threat.

Idealy Gateshead move in to St. James Park and get a franchise, weekend in Newcastle.