Promoting nous

It was revealed on Thursday that the Rugby Football League were to do away with automatic promotion and relegation between Super League and the National League by 2009 in a bid to help new Super League clubs make a successful transition from part-time to full-time.

The fact they are also increasing the size of Super League to 14 teams by 2009 is undoubtedly a good thing. It allows them to do away with the ridiculous system of playing certain teams twice and other teams thrice, and gives a window of opportunity for more representative games.

But eradicating promotion/ relegation is more controversial. There are indeed inherent problems in the current system, which gives clubs only a few months to effect a change from part-time to full-time after winning promotion, thus meaning they begin the top flight campaign at a huge disadvantage.

There is a similar, increasingly sorry, scenario in football, whereby clubs promoted to the Premiership invariably struggle when they start out in the elite league - only here it is much more enhanced.

But moving towards a franchise-based system has its own ramifications, potentially worse ones, particularly for National League clubs.

The RFL have denied this new system is a half-way house between promotion/relegation and franchising. I agree.

Basically, it involves rolling assessments of clubs who have top-flight ambitions, and every so often allowing one in if they have been successful in the National League and would "contribute to Super League", while every so often demoting a Super League club which is effectively failing.

To me, that's pretty much a franchise system - especially when they encourage applications from places that don't even have clubs yet - with all the drawbacks of such.

Granted, franchise sport might work in Australia and the US, but it goes completely against the British sporting psyche. "It (promotion/relegation) is the British way but that is not to say it's the right way," says RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis, who used to think otherwise.

Okay, but try explaining to a football fan that little Wigan Athletic shouldn't be allowed their Premiership place because their fan base is too small, there are already enough clubs from the North West and they might struggle.

The problem is the RFL now have to sell that to a rugby fan. "We can make the National League a viable competition in its own right," says Lewis. Maybe so, but it will be hard when you're telling fans they'll remain second-rate until someone in a suit decides otherwise.

"There is a better way (for rugby league) than promotion/relegation," says Lewis. Again he might be right, but the failings of franchise sports in England suggest this way might not be it.

As for York City Knights, we can only hope they are one of the lucky clubs whose fan base, location and potential doesn't mean their dreams of Super League are ended - at least until the RFL has yet another rethink and reintroduces promotion/relegation again.

The good thing is none of this appears to have affected the goals of the forward-thinking people in charge, whose ambitions of Super League remain steadfast.

Knights teaching lessons of family fun

THE Knights will be aiming for another huge crowd when they entertain Hunslet tomorrow.

The club will stage a Schools Family Fun Day at Huntington Stadium with a host of attractions taking place throughout the afternoon to give families and youngsters a good day out, even before the rugby action takes place.

The club will also be running "bring a friend for free" offer, which is exclusive to 2005 Knights season ticket holders. Basically, as the wording suggests, they can get a mate into the match for free, the idea being that these friends are new to rugby league and will be stirred into coming again.

The gates will open tomorrow at 12.45pm with all the fun of the fair beginning at 1pm.

The attraction - are you ready for this kids? - will include bouncy castles, face painting, school tag rugby, performances by the Boogie Knights, a performance by singer Ami Rose and a display by the Parachute Regiment.

What's more, free baseball caps, donated by newitts.com will by given to youngsters, while Norris the Knight - arguably the most popular character on the Knights staff - will be giving away autographed photos.

And the school that brings the most kids will win a full sports kit - thanks to sponsorship from Northern Rail - and a signed Knights shirt.

There is free entry for under-16s on completion of a Family Fun Day flyer/ticket, which have been given out to schools.

As for the 'bring a friend for free' offer, simply enter through the season ticket turnstile as normal presenting your ticket and bring your buddy in by using ticket 'D' at the back of your ticket book.

Chairman Roger Dixon said: "This is a great way to introduce someone who may not have been to a game before to the Knights match-day experience."

Time for monthly awards

AS tomorrow's game is the last game of May, fans are reminded to get their votes in for Knights Player of the Month as soon as possible next week.

Whoever tops the poll wins the award, while everyone who enters goes into the hat to win two free match tickets and the chance to present the winning player with his award on the pitchside.

Email your votes to peter.martini@ycp.co.uk or send them on a postcard marked Player of the Month to Sportsdesk, Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.

As tomorrow's match is also the first home game of the month, the winner of last month's accolade, Adam Sullivan, will be presented with his award before the game. The lucky fan handing it over will be Dave Barton, of Tang Hall.

ADAM Sullivan stretched his lead at the top of the Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire player of the year table this week.

The prop claimed one point for being deemed the Knights' third-best player in the win at Gateshead last week. Neil Law was the big winner with three points from his man of the match display, while Dan Potter picked up the other two points.

Latest standings: Sullivan 17pts, Smith 9, Kirke 8, Fox 7, Blaymire 7, Potter 5, Rhodes 5, Jackson 5, Buckenham 5, Law 4, Elston 4, Paterson 3, Ross 3, Friend 2, Liddell 2, McDowell 2, Cain 2, Watson 2, Callaghan 1, Sozi 1.

IT wasn't wishful thinking that put the Knights top of the NL2 table as published in the Evening Press after last week's round of games.

Unfortunately the figures we were supplied were slightly awry, with Swinton having scored four more points than we published. They are thus just above the Knights on points difference rather than just below.

OLDHAM Roughyeds have little over three weeks in which to come up with a business plan to keep them from going bust.

As this column reported several weeks ago in the run-up to the Knights' Challenge Cup win at Boundary Park, the National League One strugglers owe £180,000 to the Inland Revenue, who could invoke a winding-up order if they deem the payment plan unacceptable.

Oldham's date of destiny is Wednesday, June 15. Let's wish them well.

KNIGHTS Supporters Club will be taking advantage of the free weekend in mid-June by staging a big gala day to raise funds for the club's Scholarship scheme. It will be held on Sunday, June 19. Full details will be carried in this column next week.

Updated: 09:13 Saturday, May 21, 2005