Championship rivals Bradford Bulls and Featherstone Rovers among eight teams vying for prized Super League spot – Peter Smith

The Canadian club have been omitted after failing to see out the 2020 season and the search is on for a replacement.

Only clubs who were in Super League or finished among the Championship’s top six in 2018 or 2019 are eligible to apply.

Whoever gets the nod will have a mountain to climb, receiving a smaller allocation of central funds than their rivals.

It would be interesting to see what might happen if Championship clubs got together and agreed not to apply under those terms but, despite the uneven playing field, there will be no shortage of potential candidates.

Four Seasons Total Landscaping have been ruled out - they are on the wrong continent - but who could be in the frame and what might be in their favour and against them, in the eyes of the decision-makers?

Bradford Bulls – Pros: A big-city club, Bulls dominated Super League in the late 1990s and early 2000 and have the potential to draw huge crowds. The top-six criteria makes them eligible, just.

Cons: Memories remain fresh of Bulls’ spectacular fall from grace. They don’t have their own ground, having left Odsal (again) at the end of 2019 and shared with Dewsbury Rams earlier this year. They were mid-table in the 2019 Betfred Championship and are ambitious for a return to the top flight, but next year is probably too soon.

Featherstone Rovers - Pros: A rock-solid heartland club, capable of producing their own youngsters and already boasting one of the best squads outside Super League. Rovers have an impressive, if small, stadium and were Championship Grand Final runners-up last year, as well as unbeaten in 2020 before coronavirus struck.

Cons: They are a small-town club, based in a district which already has two Super League sides. And it’s difficult to see other clubs voting for them. Rovers’ best chance will be through winning the Championship.

Halifax - Pros: Another heartland club, with a long top-flight history - though not for a couple of decades - and a stadium suitable to host Super League.

Cons: Halifax don’t really offer anything different to other Championship clubs.

Leigh Centurions - Pros: Leigh are well supported, have an excellent stadium, recent Super League experience and an owner who is prepared to splash the cash.

Cons: Been there, done that. Leigh have been promoted twice during the Super League era but lasted just one season each time. Off-field issues which marred the end of their season in 2018 will count against them.

London Broncos - Pros: Would give Super League a presence in the capital. London are beginning to produce their own players and punched above their weight in 2019 when they were relegated on for-and-against, with a record points tally.

Cons: London is more than a two-hour bus ride away and not accessible off the M62. They averaged gates of only 2,000 last season and don’t take many supporters to away games.

Toulouse Olympique - Pros: Established, big-city club with good facilities and, possibly, the resources to cope, for a while, with less funding than their rivals.

Cons: No away fans, etc, etc. But mainly, two French clubs in Super League, during a pandemic?

Widnes Vikings - Pros: Big club, well supported, top-class stadium and recent top-flight experience.

Cons: Went into administration, with debuts of £600,000, in 2019. Will be back eventually, but not yet.

York City Knights- Pros: A superb new stadium, if and when it eventually opens, based in an attractive city, off the M62 corridor but not far away.They have a very highly-rated up-and-coming coach, have been successful on the field in recent seasons and have a growing fan base.

Cons: It would be a big step-up at short notice for a club which was in danger of closure only four years ago.