THE Rugby Football League have, as expected, highlighted the Shay's unfinished East Stand as a major factor in their rejection of Halifax's Super League application.
Fax bosses had always feared the eight-year eyesore would kill their hopes of a top flight return.
And that opinion was confirmed in the RFL's official assessment, issued in the wake of yesterday's licencing verdict: "Halifax has previously made a g
ood contribution to Super League but is significantly restrained by the incomplete nature of their stadium.
"This makes financial projections and marketing plans difficult to produce with any degree of certainty."
That prompted an appeal from Fax chief Graham Clay, who urged Calderdale Council to press ahead with their plans to finally finish the job.
"It is imperative for the future of the club that the stand is finished," said Clay.
"But for that, we could have been celebrating a Super League place today.
"It is absolutely vital that the situation is resolved as soon as possible."
Leigh have hit out over the decision to award Celtic Crusaders a Super League licence, claiming the game's governing body should "hang their heads in shame".
Leigh chief executive Allan Rowley said: "May we take this opportunity to wish Salfordkckhg and Celtic all the best but we also have to say we are thoroughly disgusted with the Celtic decision.
"We now have a team that fielded 10 overseas players against us because they are classed as a development team and are now in our elite competition."The full article contains 254 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
