licence system is ‘completely discredited’

The Championship club were seen as the ones likely to benefit when Bradford entered administration in June.

Halifax missed out when the latest round of three-year licences were awarded last July, Widnes Vikings prospering, but were deemed the RFL’s next best option.

However, the governing body yesterday confirmed Bradford would be handed a one-year ‘probationary’ licence to remain for another 12 months at least.

“My view is that they had no other choice but to do this because it had dragged on so long,” Steele told the Yorkshire Post.

“It would have been impossible to constitute a Super League with 14 clubs with anyone other than Bradford because they left it too late. But the whole licence process is now completely discredited.

“We were told a year ago if any C grade clubs failed to honour their licence then Halifax, as the only outstanding applicant, would be in. Bradford weren’t even a C grade – they are a B – which demonstrates again the whole system doesn’t work and it’s time to get rid.

“I think the only answer has to be a return to promotion and relegation but it needs to be thought through carefully.

“There has to be mechanisms put in place so there are no yo-yoing clubs.

“You have to give teams a reasonable chance; you can’t work with being promoted in October and starting Super League in February.

“They now have two years to get the situation right.”

Championship Grand Final winners Featherstone Rovers echoed those views.

Chief executive Craig Poskitt said: “Bradford’s experience has highlighted the inherent weakness of licensing and I’m sure that will be taken on board by the RFL in the strategic review of licensing that is currently taking place.

“Our focus remains on entering Super League in 2015 – or hopefully before –on our merits.”