Featherstone Rovers chairman Mark Campbell angry with Super League chief Robert Elstone’s stance on relegation

Given the impact of coronavirus on the sport, which has been out of action since mid-March and still shows no sign of starting up again any time soon, many people in the top-flight believe relegation should be abandoned this term.

Indeed, the competition’s chief executive Robert Elstone said last week “if we’re not there yet (agreeing to cancel), it seems very likely to me that we will arrive at that point in the near future”.

However, it is the remit of the Rugby Football League to decide on the mechanics of promotion and relegation, something that was reintroduced last year.

Toronto Wolfpack, of course, came up to replace London Broncos but only having almost come unstuck against Featherstone, the part-timers who enjoyed a stunning surge in the Million Pound Game decider.

Chairman Campbell, who has put more money into his squad to try and go one better in 2020, has been infuriated by Super League’s stance.

“There is an agreement that is in place and it is a contract,” he told The Yorkshire Post.

“For Robert Elstone to blurt that out is really disappointing and shows a lack of thought.

“It’s set in stone as far as I’m concerned; we haven’t all invested heavily in our squads and put all our work into this to give us all a chance for that to then be taken away by someone else.

“Not one of our season ticket holders has asked for their money back during this shutdown but I’m sure if we agreed to no promotion and relegation we’d lose fans hand over fist.

“That’s because they are all standing by the club, they understand we’re going through unprecedented times and for him to say that before anyone has even sat down and discussed it, I thought it was really poor.

“And it’s not even Super League’s call. It is the RFL’s.”

The RFL says its Board has been “discussing for some time the implications of the season suspension, which include the impact on promotion and relegation between the Super League, Championship and League One competitions” and that they are “board decisions, to be taken in the best interests of the sport”.

With the size of the costs involved of playing behind closed doors and – unlike Super League – no significant broadcast money heading their way, there are fears the Championship and League One competitions could be shelved completely this season.

Some clubs may actually welcome that but Campbell, who recruited former England second-row Brett Ferres from Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants’ Scotland international Dale Ferguson and Hull KR’s Craig Hall this term, is adamant it should continue once it is safe.

He said: “At Featherstone, we want to get this season back up and running. Even if we didn’t start until August I still believe we could finish the season and play a Grand Final in early January if needed.

“You could then start the next season in March.

“We have to show a willingness to get it started as we have a duty to our fans.

“The only sticking point, I think, will be testing of players. That will be out of our hands but we have to all show we have an appetite to get this season concluded.”

Featherstone sat third when things were halted having won all four of their opening games.

Leaders Toulouse Olympique and London, both full-time operations, were promotion favourites before the season began while Leigh Centurions, who have around 15 full-time players in a hybrid squad, were up to second with four wins from four.

“I’m quite happy for people to not mention us,” insisted Campbell.

“But we’ve a better team this year than last. We’ve invested quite heavily in our squad again as we do every year.

“We want to be challenging every season for promotion. That’s what this club is about and has always been about; our fans don’t want anything less.

“Every club should strive to be the best they can be and that’s what keeps everyone going.”

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor