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Huddersfield: looking good

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Huddersfield Giants were the latest Super League side 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.

All the bids are now in and the Rugby Football League has received 19 applications, including one from the Giants which we think might not be as straightforward as some might have expected.

Angela reckons the Giants would pick up six of the 10 points on offer and would collect a 'B' licence, which will probably see them accepted into Super League.

Their Galpharm Stadium is a modern ground with great facilities and easily meets the RFL's requirements for size and standard.

But historically the team have struggled to put bums on seats and despite their success in recent years, they fall short of the league's demand to see an average gate of more than 10,000 - and that means they do not operate at 40% capacity.

The club also do not satisfy the criteria of having a turnover above £4million and they do not pick up a point for location as many other clubs are situated nearby.

However, they tick the box for contributing to the competition following their success in Super League in recent years and they earn a point for junior development. They also make the grade in terms of being solvent and having never broken the salary cap.

Boots 'n' All reckons the Giants will miss out on an 'A' licence, but managing director Richard Thewlis is in no doubt that the club belong in Super League.

He said: "Huddersfield has an extremely strong and robust licence franchise application and we're extremely confident.

"We're a vibrant thriving club, which is a massive part of the community in Huddersfield and of course with the stadium and the team we've assembled, we're extremely excited about licensing and our part in it going forward."