Last updated at 10:42, Monday, 30 July 2012

FOREVER changing goal posts – that’s the Rugby Football League. But in the eyes of many, myself included, this time it could be for the greater good of the game.

The idea is a return to promotion to Super League and relegation from it.

Not only that but considering whether to cut the number of clubs in the elite division but also a recommendation for all professional clubs to receive the same cash hand-outs rather than on the present 60/30/10 ratio shared between Super League and Champion ship clubs and the community game. Quite a sea of change for which we have to thank a sudden wind of change being blown by RFL’s interim chairman Maurice Watkins, CBE.

You might have seen Richard Lewis parading with the Wimbledon champions recently – well it’s because Lewis has returned to the LTA and Mr Watkins has replaced him on the Red Hall throne temporarily or otherwise.

Besides being one of the country’s top sports lawyers, Mr Watkins was on the Manchester United board for 28 years and the man who drew up the Premier soccer league’s original code of conduct

There’s a raft of recommendations from the Watkins’ Review of Rugby League Governance which it seems to be some common-sense restructuring of the game. But, apart from the RFL’s profits being dispersed evenly putting more clubs on a more level financial playing field, will the proposed scrapping of the present contentious Super League licensing system and a return to good old fashioned promotion/relegation I wonder what it might mean for the Cumbrian clubs.

Would one extended Championship lowering the Super League drawbridge prove a springboard for future hopes of competing at the top level?

Would it encourage the two West Cumbrian clubs to think about combining forces to make a concerted push for the Holy Grail?

It’s not the unthinkable thought it used to be even inside Whitehaven and Workington camps but it is dependent on so many factors.

Like where would you play? Is a super half-way house stadium at Lillyhall really ruled out, something I advocated years ago but is being talked about again.

Would both clubs want to retain their independence especially with Town getting British Energy Coast cash to smarten up Derwent Park for the World Cup games – and Haven still entertaining hopes of the new Pow Beck stadium.

Entry to Super League is the key to it all.

That would have to be prerequiste to make any merger – even sharing matches between the Recre and Derwent Park – stack up financially.

Would ne wrong to rule anything out, all options should be open which is what’s happening at Pow Beck just now – it’s subject to internal review!

First published at 11:10, Thursday, 26 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk