London Broncos made to sweat as Super League to cut two teams

London Broncos concede a try to Huddersfield Giants' Eorl Crabtree. Photo: Nigel French/EMPICS

Thursday, July 11, 2013
7:57 AM

London Broncos will not be spared relegation if they finished in the bottom two in 2014 after the Super League yesterday confirmed that they are to reduce from 14 to 12 clubs from 2015.

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The club, who are currently bottom of the division, have been offered no assurances despite their special status as the only full-time club in the capital, so the decision is set to spark a mass scramble to avoid relegation at the end of next season.

Super League Clubs are currently protected by the three-year licensing system but the safety net will be removed following yesterday?s decision taken at the clubs? annual meeting.

A decision has still to be made on whether there will be straight-forward promotion and relegation between Super League and a 12-team Championship or whether clubs will back a convoluted proposal by the Rugby Football League?s executive to divide the two leagues into three qualifying divisions of eight two-thirds of the way through the season.

But the clubs finally agreed to ditch a proposal to go down to 10 after earlier rejecting the idea of maintaining the status quo.

Super League began in 1996 with 12 clubs, went briefly to 14 in 1999 before reverting to 12 a year later following two mergers.

It stayed at 12 until 2009 when Crusaders and Salford were admitted as part of a new licensing system.

In taking their decision yesterday, the clubs acknowledged that the absence of regular promotion and relegation removed a significant degree of excitement and drama from the sport.

The news was given a cautious welcome by St Helens? England forward Jon Wilkin, who is chairman of the Super League Players? Association, 1eagu3, which initially rejected the split idea out of hand.

?Some change is required in the competition structure,? he said. ?We were probably overstretching our resources and this is an opportunity to make the competition more intense, commercially viable and sustainable.

?Promotion and relegation is something associated with British sport. Some clubs have a rich history and have been an integral part of the game so it?s good to have access back to the top flight.

?It?s a positive step for the game, if tied up with a strong commercial plan.?

Although the financial detail has still to be ironed out, it is thought Super League clubs would receive distributions in 2015 and 2016 that are broadly similar to what they receive now, which is around ?1.3million a year.

Under the split option, the Championship clubs would receive payments ranging from ?150,000 to ?650,000, depending on league positions.

Super League clubs would also receive additional payments to help fund academy structures and there would be parachute payments to help offset the effects of relegation.

The next step of the RFL?s policy review is for the Championship clubs to discuss the two remaining options at their meeting next Wednesday before the Super League clubs re-convene while an extraordinary general meeting is expected to be called in August to make a final decision.

Source: http://www.london24.com/london_broncos_made_to_sweat_as_super_league_to_cut_two_teams_1_2273507

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