Not sure what Derek is trying to do here, I guess he's frustrated that SL don't come easy.
Im pretty sure all the clubs sign up to the rules of the comp, if they want to play in it.

Derek can pay what he wants, and the RFL can deduct points, but if his club are not playing by the same rules then I cant see how that is a restriction of trade. Can Halifax play with 14 men, not have to touch the ball down and wear NFL gear? No! Not if they want to gain league points.

Can Derek pay Millions of pounds for the Queensland State of Origin players to join Leigh? Yes! If he wants to pay players millions and play Friendlies then that's fine, if he wants to play in the Championship, he knows the rules.

I'm sure Littlerich will be having Barrow flashbacks. Derek would be best served working within the rules to get some reform if he feels that strongly, this may be his goal, and this is just his opening gambit.

Hardly. Gaskell was playing very well until he was elbowed in the face by Matt Groat off the ball against Doncaster and was side-lined with a broken jaw. I think before that his record was something like 17 games played, 17 tries, still very good. I wouldn't have been surprised had Brierley won and wouldn't have been annoyed in the slightest, but it seems harsh to rule Gaskell out 'without doubt' because of his injury. I'm sure he'd have gone on to score more points had he not had the misfortune to be knocked-out by a blatant cheap shot.

If they break the Salary Cap deduct them points as the RFL have done to teams in the past, no good fining Derek he doesn't take any notice and it is not penalising the Club where it hurts, in the League table.

He's obviously prepared to pay a fortune taking this through the courts that's the only place he can hope to have his way.

Salary Cap? You're having a laugh! Leigh can do as they like. Barrow did, "won" the trophy against us and more importantly kept the brass that went with it. Why we didn't go after that legally I'll never know.

Degsy thinks he can do whatever he wants , it's shows Leigh have more than 1 Clown at the club, Charlie has a new mate,Degsy,if they break the Salary Cap surely the must pay the price.

If he is denying Green ground access on Saturday and that is against operational rules then penalise them with a points deduction. That will hurt more than an immediate financial penalty. Also correct me if I'm wrong but don't finishing positions in the Middle 8 impact prize money awarded to each club?

Yes, the higher up the middle 8 table you finish the more money you get from the RFL

The salary cap is there to stop irresponsible club chairmen splashing cash they don't have. Leigh went cap in hand to the RFL three year ago. That'll be fresh in the RFL's memory. Looking forward to their points deduction for breaking the cap. Once again - Derek the Mouth speaks. He's so embarrassing.

Rich you and Derek should book a room together.

Just a rotten club from top to bottom.

No wonder everyone wants them to fail.

Now now there's no need for comments like this.

Rotten club from top to bottom?
Everyone wants them to fail?
Sweeping statements.
So what is the top?
What is the bottom?

I don't want any club to fail.
Brought to account yes, fail no.
We need clubs with the support Leigh have, look at Sunday, swelled our crowd to over 3000.
Best thing to do is wait, see what happens and then form an opinion.

A very true way to react John

it's easy to point the finger at any Club, at Leigh we have many very loyal and great fans, our beloved Club is most Definatly not rotten,it is well run .
Whatever the BOM ,or our Owner says in public or in private should not reflect on the Club or the Fans,Leigh are a good Club, the Club I love ,as you say we swell the crowd everywhere we play , never any crowd trouble,and I personally don't think we have anything to be brought to account for.Most fans don't like Marwan Koukash, myself I find him a very nice guy,it's all about taste.Anyway good luck on Saturday, as you know I hate nobody and don't want anyone to fail, it's not in my nature.Ian.

Pointless even bothering to say the things he has and he will back down. Its this simple, Leigh can choose to flaunt the salary cap and he can claim restriction of trade but a simple reminder by the RFL that the competition is theirs and a threat to thrown them out of it will soon see him shut his mouth.

Feel sorry for the Leigh fans (yes really, think we all can see whats coming here and its not going to be plesant

Openly admiting that they are going to break rules. RL have got to do something about this. Too late for this season. But must start next year on minus points.

Hang on a bit - he has to break the rules first. He's only been reported to be willing to do so. These major signings have to agree to come to Leigh first - if they're that good, maybe they would prefer to ply their trade in SL?

Personally, I belong to the school that believes the Salary Cap rules are there for a purpose - to protect clubs, including mine, from themselves. It's only very recently that my club was in a dire financial position, and I was working as part of a team who were trying to turn around that seemingly hopeless mess. I'm acutely aware of how painful, depressing and worrying that is.

Fortunately, along came a group of generous, committed supporters, who gave up their 'hard-earned', their time, and expertise to put things right. We now appear to have a passionate, committed individual in charge, who is giving his 'hard-earned' and time to try and move the club forward.

However, during my stint at the club, I also became aware of just how low our stock was with the RFL. A lot of time and patience was devoted to building up our reputation with the 'governing body'. I would hate to see us revert to the poor relationship again. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are the governing body for our sport, and we just can't ride roughshod over them - or the other member clubs, for that matter. If change is wanted/required, there has to be a democratic process to achieve it. (all purely in my humble opinion, of course!

)

Quote ="Alan"Hang on a bit - he has to break the rules first. He's only been reported to be willing to do so. These major signings have to agree to come to Leigh first - if they're that good, maybe they would prefer to ply their trade in SL? Personally, I belong to the school that believes the Salary Cap rules are there for a purpose - to protect clubs, including mine, from themselves. It's only very recently that my club was in a dire financial position, and I was working as part of a team who were trying to turn around that seemingly hopeless mess. I'm acutely aware of how painful, depressing and worrying that is. Fortunately, along came a group of generous, committed supporters, who gave up their 'hard-earned', their time, and expertise to put things right. We now appear to have a passionate, committed individual in charge, who is giving his 'hard-earned' and time to try and move the club forward. However, during my stint at the club, I also became aware of just how low our stock was with the RFL. A lot of time and patience was devoted to building up our reputation with the 'governing body'. I would hate to see us revert to the poor relationship again. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are the governing body for our sport, and we just can't ride roughshod over them - or the other member clubs, for that matter. If change is wanted/required, there has to be a democratic process to achieve it. (all purely in my humble opinion, of course! )'" To be fair Alan, this is from January and has been posted elsewhere. Since then hock and high am have been signed and penky gone. You sure your under the cap. www.leighcenturions.com/news/685

Quote ="Alan"Hang on a bit - he has to break the rules first. He's only been reported to be willing to do so. These major signings have to agree to come to Leigh first - if they're that good, maybe they would prefer to ply their trade in SL? Personally, I belong to the school that believes the Salary Cap rules are there for a purpose - to protect clubs, including mine, from themselves. It's only very recently that my club was in a dire financial position, and I was working as part of a team who were trying to turn around that seemingly hopeless mess. I'm acutely aware of how painful, depressing and worrying that is. Fortunately, along came a group of generous, committed supporters, who gave up their 'hard-earned', their time, and expertise to put things right. We now appear to have a passionate, committed individual in charge, who is giving his 'hard-earned' and time to try and move the club forward. However, during my stint at the club, I also became aware of just how low our stock was with the RFL. A lot of time and patience was devoted to building up our reputation with the 'governing body'. I would hate to see us revert to the poor relationship again. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are the governing body for our sport, and we just can't ride roughshod over them - or the other member clubs, for that matter. If change is wanted/required, there has to be a democratic process to achieve it. (all purely in my humble opinion, of course! )'" To be fair Alan, this is from January and has been posted elsewhere. Since then hock and high am have been signed and penky gone. You sure your under the cap. www.leighcenturions.com/news/685

Quote ="Faxhali"To be fair Alan, this is from January and has been posted elsewhere. Since then hock and high am have been signed and penky gone. You sure your under the cap. www.leighcenturions.com/news/685'" If we are over the cap the RFL will know and will rightly punish us

Quote ="Faxhali"To be fair Alan, this is from January and has been posted elsewhere. Since then hock and high am have been signed and penky gone. You sure your under the cap. www.leighcenturions.com/news/685'" If we are over the cap the RFL will know and will rightly punish us

An interesting thought but... what would happen if Derek spent way over the cap, got points deducted but Leigh scraped 4th and still made it to the Qualifiers? They would then have a squad possibly more expensive than SL's bottom sides. So, what kind of points deduction would actually punish a side? and should this effect the Qualifiers also?
Derek is obviously showing frustration that he has the money to spend, and the willingness, but possibly feels Championship sides wont get an even playing field.

We could end up with a 3 tier structure if were not careful, and Derek possibly needs to remember for all the money he has spent, has he got the right players, the right coaches and best Academy set up? He seems in a hurry, I'd echo Alans comments, and add what happens if Derek gets players on 3 year contracts over and above the cap, then gets fed up with the RFL and RL and walks away? hes left Leigh in a right mess, and theres no point saying he wouldn't do that, things can turn sour very quickly in professional sport.

I remember when we lost a load of our better players in SL, and then the Left overs got a points deduction the following season, we got relegated and despite a GF and NRC success, are probably only now recovering fully and re-building bridges with the town, local clubs, businesses and Fans.

If there was a Derek at Fax, as much I would be enjoying the increased crowds, finishing top of the league, getting a couple of SL scalps, I'd also be very nervous that one mans folly can quite quickly turn into a Rugby towns nightmare.

I'm glad we have our BOD's and our Coach, needless to say, wouldn't swap places for all the Pies in Wigan.

My appetite for pies is legendary, however I wholeheartedly agree with you.

IF this were to happen, it'd be the first time a club in this country has purposely set out to break the salary cap rather than fall foul of badly wording or unclear rules. And if Leigh do break the cap on purpose then I would hope the RFL would take a look at how the NRL dealt with a similar case and apply the same sanctions to Leigh or any club that takes this stance

It's obvious Derek is trying to emulate his mate Koukash by thinking he is above the law and to he'll with the rules, only thing is he is a cheap imitation of Koukash not having the financial clout the doctor has , however he can't be allowed to ride roughshod over the RFL and must be told.

Let him flaunt the rules, the deductions for technical breaches have been quite severe so blatantly flaunting the rules would probably see them relegated. I wouldnt worry one little bit, like Mr Jagger says DB is just a wannabe Koukash without the money.