FORMER Bulls chairman Chris Caisley has branded rugby league's current structure as "ludicrous" and believes it will eventually be changed to ensure a more level playing field.

Twenty years since Super League began, the competition is back tonight with Leeds hosting Warrington and Bradford facing their second year out of the top flight.

Caisley, a key figure in making the Bulls the force they once were, says the financial disparities between Super League and Championship clubs will eventually drive supporters away.

Top-flight clubs can spend over £1.8million on the salary cap, in contrast to £1million for Championship sides, although a new rule was recently introduced whereby second-tier clubs can spend up to 50 per cent of "relevant income".

Yet Caisley said: "This current structure doesn't lend itself to any team actually being promoted from the Championship.

"I do think it will end up being changed because for clubs like the Bulls, it's ludicrous that they are effectively prevented from being in Super League.

"Championship sides are always going to find it very difficult because they are constrained by the cash they have got and Super League clubs are not.

"It's a bit of an unfair playing field, to say the least, so I believe the RFL will end up having to change the structure.

"I think what will change it will be the public perception that it's actually not working. People won't go if the trend continues and that's the perennial problem when you're trying to find a system that works.

"I understand fully why they have done this – to keep the season more interesting from beginning to end – and you have to applaud that as an aim.

"But I guess that if it actually turns out to be unachievable, given the financial constraints, then it will be changed.

"I know the Bulls came pretty close last year but you look at the way Wakefield are strengthening under Brian Smith and you can't imagine they will be in the same position again.

"It would be nice to see the mould being broken and a Championship club beating one of the teams from the higher division and winning promotion. But at the moment, I can't see it happening."

Caisley reckons Super League has proved a success during the past two decades but admitted it still struggles to attract significant sponsorship deals.

He said: "It has certainly kicked on in terms of the Grand Final, which is a full house year on year. To get over 70,000 every season is a great achievement and a lot of the clubs' fans go back again, so people must like that experience of going to Old Trafford.

"The one area that the game has always struggled with, to an extent, is getting sufficient corporate support for the game. This is a problem that pre-dates Super League for whoever has been in charge at the RFL because the game has never been an easy sell.

"Perhaps that's because businesses perceive it to be an M62 corridor sport that is watched by an audience that never increases.

"That's at least the perception of a sport that is played in a limited geographical area – despite the fact we have rugby league teams all over the country.

"I think that perception probably has something to do with it, but finding the 'X-Factor' players is another issue.

"Even when we had the Ellery Hanleys and the Andy Gregorys, we weren't pulling in huge sponsors on a regular basis.

"But nonetheless we did have players who were recognised on the BBC – Ellery and Jason Robinson – but I'm not sure we have that now.

"Most sports-minded people in the UK would instantly recognise Sam Burgess because of what he has achieved and his off-field profile.

"With all due respect to a lot of the current Super League players, you would be hard pushed to name a single player who somebody in Essex would recognise."

Caisley no longer attends Bulls matches but he admitted: "You don't spend 20 years with a club without having that affection towards it.

"I hope they can get back into Super League – and once you're back there, who knows what can happen?"