Why Robert Elstone isn’t keen on the idea of a 13-team Super League
Super League chief executive Robert Elstone has admitted that he would like to scrap promotion and relegation in 2020 given the circumstances regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
The Super League, Championship and League 1 seasons have been suspended since March 16, with a return date yet to be announced.
Some club owners have called on there to be a 13-team Super League next season, with one team from this year’s Championship joining the existing 12 Super League clubs.
But Elstone has explained why he would move away from the idea of having an extended Super League.
He told Sky Sports’ Golden Point Podcast: “My strong belief is that all the conditions, uncertainties and compromise apply to Super League – such that it is unrealistic and unfair to relegate – then for me that has to be mirrored into the Championship.
“To me, it would be unreasonable and unfair to promote a team into Super League in 2021. We have to talk with the RFL about that but with the way this is looking, it would seem in the very near future that those two issues (promotion and relegation) would then fall away, that’s my personal view.
“I think from a relegation perspective, that would be a decision from a Super League board and then you lead into the promotion point because if you don’t relegate then the only way you are going to have promotion is by having a 13-team competition in Super League and I think the clubs are very much aware that that is a very challenging position.
“It creates a lopsided calendar, it means clubs lose home games and it means a smaller share of central revenue so there is a huge logistical, competitive and financial challenge to a 13-team competition which we are very much aware of.
“We would then have to talk with the RFL and seek their approval that promotion isn’t the right thing to do at the end of the 2020 season – but that’s what they retained when Super League broke away from the governing body a couple of years ago. Automatic promotion is enshrined in that agreement so we would need their agreement on that.”
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