TORONTO – Super League is wasting little time finding a replacement for the Toronto Wolfpack, setting a Nov. 30 deadline for applications while hoping to announce its 12th team by Dec. 16.

The top tier of English rugby league released its application timeline Tuesday, eight days after voting to reject the financially troubled Wolfpack’s application for reinstatement in 2021.

Super League says applicants must have been in the Super League or have finished in the top six of the second-tier Betfred Championship, in either 2018 or 2019.

Lord Jonathan Caine, a Conservative peer, will chair a seven-member review panel consisting of three members from each of the Rugby Football League and Super League.

Super League said the Dec. 16 deadline “could be extended in specific circumstances.”

Toulouse Olympique, Featherstone Rovers and London Broncos are among the clubs interested in filling the Wolfpack vacancy.

Toronto stood down July 20, saying it could not afford to play out the remainder of the pandemic-affected Super League season. Wolfpack players and staff have not been paid since June 10 with majority owner David Argyle stepping away.

Super League voted against Toronto’s reinstatement bid, citing issues in its new financial plan. It also said being part of “a fiercely competitive North American sports market was non-strategic and added no material incremental revenue to Super League in the short or medium term.”

The vote reportedly was 8-4 against Toronto with one abstention. Each of the remaining 11 clubs had a vote as did the Rugby Football League and Super League chief executive Robert Elstone.

Carlo LiVolsi, the Toronto businessman who was looking to purchase the team if allowed back into Super League, has not gone quietly.

In an email to Elstone after the Nov. 2 vote, LiVolsi called the decision a “colossal mistake … made by fear and not logic.”

“I heard you were going to resign if we got the votes to rejoin the league,” LiVolsi wrote in the email, which was authenticated by The Canadian Press. “Perhaps you should resign as you clearly don’t see the vision for the future of the sport by stopping the Pack from continuing its run into Super League.”

LiVolsi said the Wolfpack had provided a “solid plan” which included playing in the United Kingdom for the 2021 season because of COVID-19,

“I also provided a great marketing proposition that would have made the league and teams a lot more money and created a new revenue stream for additional partnerships.” added LiVolsi, who had planned to partner the league with his Wolf Grooming line.

“Big mistake in my view and while the past sins of David Argyle were an embarrassment to the league, he was never given a fair chance by levying ridiculous costs and expectations onto the Toronto Wolfpack.

“Those same demands were expected of our bid and we made a very good second proposal which should have been accepted. The new standard is to fail the league and its clubs by playing it safe.”

Wolfpack halfback Joe Mellor, meanwhile, became the latest Toronto player to find a new home when he signed with Leigh Centurions. French international forward Gadwin Springer joined Halifax RLFC on Friday.

At least a dozen Wolfpack players have joined new teams, either on loan or permanently.

The Toronto franchise started life in 2017 in the Betfred League 1, the third tier of English rugby league. It won promotion to Super League after two seasons in the Championship.

With the Ottawa Aces deferring entry into League 1 until 2022, the two lower leagues could be down two teams next year. The RFL said it will “communicate shortly with Betfred League 1 clubs about the implications of the vacancy created in the Betfred Championship.”

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 10, 2020