RFL orders five clubs to upgrade stadiums or face axe 22/07/2009 |
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St Helens, the engage Super League leaders, are among five clubs who have been warned by the RFL that their places in the top flight may be in jeopardy when the next round of three-year licences are awarded in 2011.
Each of the clubs included ambitious stadium development plans in their licence applications last summer. “[They] have been informed that if plans to build new stadiums or significantly improve their home venues are not sufficiently advanced by 2011, they may not satisfy the full criteria for the next period of licensing,” an RFL statement said.
Wakefield Wildcats, Castleford Tigers and Salford City Reds are the clubs thought to be in most danger, but St Helens and Celtic Crusaders are also believed to have received the written correspondence.
The RFL replaced promotion and relegation last season with the radical introduction of three-year licences, which were awarded to 14 clubs from 2009 to 2011.
“We have continued to monitor all 14 clubs to ensure that they are progressing with plans they put in their original Super League licence applications,” Gary Tasker, the RFL's director of development, said. “Five clubs put forward their intention to build new stadiums, with a number creating a lot of publicity.
“Some clubs are at a more advanced stage of the planning process than others so we felt that, a year on from awarding the licences, it was appropriate to remind the clubs concerned of their commitment to upgrade their current facility or move to a new stadium and the potential implications any failure to do so may have on their next application. Clubs need to be aware that we are raising the bar for the next licence period.”
Among the 19 original applicants were Widnes Vikings and Leigh Centurions, who play in newly built stadiums that comfortably exceed the standards of the five endangered clubs. Any club from the Co-operative Championship who wish to submit an application in 2011 must appear in the Grand Final or win the Northern Rail Cup in 2009 or 2010. Widnes won this year's Northern Rail Cup ten days ago and their chances of success have been further boosted by the RFL's confirmation that at least one Championship club will be awarded a licence in two years' time.
(Source: Timesonline.co.uk)
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