League One: 14 teams in 2018

[langpark]

So, Oxford and Gloucestershire All Golds are pulling out of the 2018 competition, and will re-enter in 2019 as a Bristol-based joint-venture. Interesting move this one. I hope it will be successful.

I wonder if this will make it easier for RFL now to accept other bids in 2019, like Manchester Rangers, so as to get it back to 16 teams again, rather than 15.

http://www.rugby-league.com/article/51296/oxford-and-gloucester-to-join-forces

 

[Evil Homer]

Manchester Rangers won't be accepted, for 2019 they will probably add Bristol and another North American team (not New York) to take it back up to 16 teams. Although there is a lot of talk of changing the entire league structure anyway so we'll have to wait and see.

 

[langpark]

Why won't Rangers be accepted? Is their something wrong with their bid or they just prefer the North American team?

Also, I feel sorry for the approx. 50 players that have suddenly been left without a club now for next season.

 

[Evil Homer]

Why won't Rangers be accepted? Is their something wrong with their bid or they just prefer the North American team?

Also, I feel sorry for the approx. 50 players that have suddenly been left without a club now for next season.

Their bid is not credible, they don't have a realistic business plan or any means to progress, it's fantasy internet expansion. Just a guy with a low-level amateur team who started making a lot of noise about wanting to turn pro and got the dorks on TotalRL excited. Same as New York which literally is just a fan from England saying he wants to start a team. Eric Perez has said he's looking at a second Canadian team for 2019 so I expect that would be the most likely addition along with Bristol if they get their act together and can be run better than Oxford/All Golds were.

 

[langpark]

Ok, because on the surface they looked like a great set-up. Good stadium, good crowds etc. Plus it would be great if Manchester were to get a semi-pro team finally.

 

[Evil Homer]

Ok, because on the surface they looked like a great set-up. Good stadium, good crowds etc. Plus it would be great if Manchester were to get a semi-pro team finally.

Yeah it's a myth unfortunately. Their stadium isn't even good, it's a community athletics facility. Good for the level they're at, not the pro game.

 

[Leigh Howlett]

What other amateur clubs are there that could make the step up to League 1, I remember a few years ago the Bramley Buffaloes wanted to play in League One, do they still exist?.

 

[Evil Homer]

What other amateur clubs are there that could make the step up to League 1, I remember a few years ago the Bramley Buffaloes wanted to play in League One, do they still exist?.

No. No amateur clubs will be moving into League 1 in the short, medium or long term. The RFL don't want to do that anymore and rightly so because most of the time these teams don't have any money, poor facilities, can't run themselves properly and have no hope of ever improving or becoming competitive at pro level. You just get a logjam of shitty clubs going nowhere at the bottom of League 1.

 

[bowes]

What other amateur clubs are there that could make the step up to League 1, I remember a few years ago the Bramley Buffaloes wanted to play in League One, do they still exist?.

Bramley still exist in the Yorkshire Men's League but to my knowledge have no League 1 ambitions anymore. You could make the case for creating a League 2 with NCL clubs and the remaining southern clubs (except Skolars who can stay in League 1) and then allow promotion so we can see for example Siddal against Swinton in the league. This would erase the pro/amateur distinction and bring us in line with other sports but would politically be very difficult

 

[langpark]

Anyone know when the League One fixtures are getting announced?

 

[siv]

Manchester Rangers won't be accepted, for 2019 they will probably add Bristol and another North American team (not New York) to take it back up to 16 teams. Although there is a lot of talk of changing the entire league structure anyway so we'll have to wait and see.

RFL should be working hard with this Manchester group to get a major city presence. They have to potential grow the corporate market more than most of the ither Amateur teams

 

[Evil Homer]

RFL should be working hard with this Manchester group to get a major city presence. They have to potential grow the corporate market more than most of the ither Amateur teams

The RFL's job is not to help out random amateur teams.

 

[deal.with.it]

I think you're downplaying the rangers bid a little. The guys have a solid business plan and have good relationships with key stakeholders. The major negative has always been about junior numbers. They've came back saying they have linked with schools rather than actually having junior teams. Does Toronto have junior teams?

 

[Evil Homer]

I think you're downplaying the rangers bid a little. The guys have a solid business plan and have good relationships with key stakeholders. The major negative has always been about junior numbers. They've came back saying they have linked with schools rather than actually having junior teams. Does Toronto have junior teams?

Lol no, it's nothing to do with juniors. Barely any teams outside Super League have juniors, maybe one or two in League 1 and only London Broncos in the Championship. Not sure where you've got this from but it's way off.

 

[deal.with.it]

The two main lads were interviewed on bbc radio about a month ago. Most of the criticism was about where they will get their players from and whether they are directly competing with Salford.