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Belle Vue: too small

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Wakefield Wildcats were the first Super League wannabes to come under the Boots 'n' All licensing spotlight.

With clubs being asked to put their bids in for a permit to take part in the competition from 2009, every week Angela Powers will be out and about seeing how the candidates meet the necessary criteria.

And the news for Wakey fans is not good. Out of the 10 points on offer, they scored just four, which means a C licence and, as things stand, no place in Super League.

Belle Vue's capacity and therefore average attendance were not enough and the stadium was not deemed fit for premier competition.

They do not have a turnover above the £4million per annum mark and having finished 8th, 10th and 10th in their three seasons in the top flight, they also fail to tick the contribution to the competition box.

Also, with Featherstone and Castleford within the dreaded 20-mile radius they will be the first of many Super League sides to fail in that category.

But it is not all bad news because the Wildcats do operate with a ground above 40 per cent full, their junior development passed the test and they also score a point because they haven't had any salary cap breaches.

And with improvements already made to the club's corporate facilities, the club shop already expanded and a full-tiume dance troupe in place for match days, the Wildcats are convinced they are moving in the right direction.

Not least in the shape of a brand new 12,000 capacity stadium that will meet the Super League criteria - if it gets the go-ahead.

"The council have told us - because it's their build and we're just working on it with them - that they will give rugby league and Super League the necessary gaurantees for that stadium," said Jason Elston, Wakefield Wildcats Community and Marketing Director.

"Whether it's within time for the franchising bid that's planned or whether it is just their workings and what they know, what they're planning and their business plan, the feasibility study is due back. We've got positive results from that; it's feasible that it can be built, so that's ticked the box."

To see how Wakefield shaped up in depth, watch the exclusive video above...