STROP OF THE LEAGUE

Club chiefs clash as row over Super 8s escalates

THE RFL insist no decision has been made over the game’s future structure as the controversy threatens to split the sport.

Three representatives of the Super League board claimed on Tuesday that this will be the last season of the Super 8s, with promotion and relegation moving to one-up, one-down.

That drew an angry response from one top-flight dissenter

– Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington

(right) – who has since been supported by a number of Championship and League 1 clubs.

The RFL issued a statement confirming that “no binding decisions have been made” and that discussions between all parties will continue.

Super League clubs queued up with their own press releases to back the appointment of Robert Elstone as the competition’s new chief executive, with Wigan executive director Kris Radlinski dismissing a warning from Championship Batley that the situation could result in “war”.

Radlinski said: “Words like ‘war’ are not relevant with such a clear democratic majority.

“Whilst everyone deserves to be listened to, there is large majority support for the Super League direction.

“It is now up to the strong leadership of the RFL and Super League to resolve the final details and get behind a great future for the top tier of rugby league.”

But Featherstone chairman Mark Campbell blasted: “Those who sat at the top table and smiled for the cameras want the sport’s key stakeholders to believe this is for the ‘good of the game’.

“Don’t make me laugh. This is quite possibly the most pivotal period in rugby league’s history and it would be an out-and-out disgrace for three or four chairpeople to be able to take the sport apart.”