In May 2005 it was announced Super League would be introducing a licensing system, whereby teams would need to fulfil certain criteria to maintain their top-flight status.
Stay of execution
A Super League club was always expected to miss out after it was confirmed Widnes, a club steeped in history with a solid fan base would be re-joining the top-flight in 2012.
Wakefield were the favourites to make way for the Vikings, but at the 11th hour Crusaders pulled the plug on the operation meaning a stay of execution for the Wildcats and leaving many, none more so than Senior, stunned.
The licenses were meant to promote stability and lay the platform for growth and development. The Crusaders, it seems, were just the tip of the iceberg.
In 2012 one of Super League's most successful sides, the Bradford Bulls, entered administration. The warning signs were there in January as the Rugby Football League bought the lease to the club's stadium - Odsal. How could a club with such success in the competition and a healthy fan base possibly run into financial trouble?
The licensing system was designed to reward clubs who were solvent while there were incentives for achieving an annual turnover in excess of £4million. However, were their procedures in place to highlight clubs that were running at a loss? Should the Bulls' financial plight have been spotted sooner?
Should a club with such prestige as the Bulls be dragged through the gutter with many fans wondering if they would even have a team to support in 2013. Thankfully for the Odsal faithful the club were taken over and granted a provisional license for the new Super League campaign.
But did the rot stop there? Sadly no. The Salford City Reds are now under the spotlight. The Greater Manchester club had been close to extinction themselves recently, only to be granted a lifeline after a winding-up petition brought against them was adjourned in court for a second time because of talks with a potential investor.
While the City Reds have nowhere near the track record of a club like the Bulls, it seems inconceivable that Salford were not on the RFL's radar so soon after the Bradford saga.
Surely the point, the aim and the goal of the license system was to stave off such negative publicity for the sport. The loss of promotion and relegation already has many critics, but with cracks appearing in the armour should the system persist beyond 2015?
Can clubs operate on solid foundations and plan for the future irrespective of the fact that they could be relegated, or does the drama of fighting to stay up on the last day overcome the financial loss that would impact a club forced to face up to life in the Co-operative Championship?
Sky Sports' verdict: The RFL should be credited with an innovative system. There have been many benefits and the game has come on leaps and bounds since the decision was taken to move the game from winter to summer. However, safeguards should have been in place to prevent the situations at the Crusaders, Bradford and Salford.
Do you believe the licensing system should continue beyond 2015? Have your say in the comments section below and vote on the attached poll
