Super League’s plans for the future of the sport have been met with dismay by lower league clubs.

Championship and League One clubs – who include Workington Town and Whitehaven - are prepared to fight for themselves against the "big boys".

Arguments and counter claims have been going back and forward for weeks with allegations that Super League wanted a bigger share of the money handed out to all the Rugby League’s 58 clubs.

In the latest announcement, Super League declared their intention of dropping the Super 8s and replacing them with a more conventional promotion and relegation structure of one-up and one-down.

Clubs in the lower two leagues have been angered by what the Super League clubs have been proposing, with some of them believing it was an attempt to bully them into giving into their needs.

Now the Championship and League One’s advisory group have claimed they have yet to receive revised proposals that were promised from Super League.

That pledge came after their initial proposal for the structure, which featured £1 million of funding being cut to the lower leagues, was rejected.

The lower Leagues Advisory Group issued a statement stressing “their view has consistently been one whereby the best interests of rugby league must rank ahead of the needs of a few wealthy club owners.”

It went on to say: “Importantly, a competition structure and format, with associated funding is in place until the end of 2021, and that any changes prior to 2021 would require the agreement of the Championship and League One Clubs, in consultation with the RFL and its broadcast partners.

“Otherwise, no changes could be contemplated or sanctioned to the competition or funding structure prior to the expiry of the existing agreements which run until the end of 2021.

“Championship and League One clubs will continue to engage in respectful and appropriate discussion about the future of our sport, in accordance with the RFL constitution, which all UK clubs are bound by.

“Decisions about the leagues competition structure, which have profound implications for all clubs and all divisions are whole of game issues and require dialogue and consultation with, if necessary, votes at the games supreme chamber, The RFL Council when all RFL members can express their view.

“It is not for a private company or a newly-appointed executive who has not sought the views of the sport to simply state what the future structure and funding arrangements of the sport will be.

“Championship and League One clubs regret very much the current tactics and behaviour of some fellow RFL members which we believe is immensely damaging and undermining to all stakeholders, and puts at risk valuable assets and broadcast contracts both now and in the future.”

Workington Town and Whitehaven both back the “united front” policy of the Advisory Group and will be attending another key meeting which is set to be held very soon.