[quote="MjM":to3exs4f]This was something Matt Shaw came up with in a largely nonsensical article. The pre-season training trip will have been booked and paid for a long time ago.[/quote:to3exs4f] I'm sure it was but either way it's surely an unnecessary large expense for a club with particularly shaky finances, having recently stayed afloat by selling off 3 of it'main assets and going cap in hand to their supporters.. seems irresponsible.

[quote="JRhino1":2o79502a]I’ve been really busy with work etc so not had chance to catch up with my source until yesterday. So Blease & Hetherington are really pushing to sign Watkins but it all depends on dispensation on the cap as we have no wriggle room at all apparently which is a bit of a shock considering we’ve released 10 players and only brought in 5 signings however I think this shows that a fair chunk of our squad is on top money and some probably overpaid for what they produce. If Watkins was to resign for Leeds 50k of his wage would be payed by the RFL due to being club trained. The Harvey Livett Signing seems unlikely now as Leeds are fully focusing trying to get the Watkins deal over the line. Finally injury report and it’s the usual case of us been told Jarred O’Connor- likely return between round 3-6 Alfie Edgell- no return date yet from fractured jaw Ned McCormack- knock unknown how serious Ben Littlewood- knock unknown how serious Jake Connor- knock not thought to be serious and should play this week Lachie Miller- return to play round 1-2 We’d have to have some serious rotten luck if we lost all 3 fullback options to injury.[/quote:2o79502a] Thanks for your service, Jr. What will be, will be, with Watkins. If we pull it off, great. If not, just let Littlewood have a go and see how we get on. The S+C has been frustrating for a few years. As it's been said, we've been unfit for years, but we've also picked up knocks and injuries like nobody's business. I know Hunwicks left the club half way through last year (though the impact he had on the team in his second spell doesn't seem too impressive, unless I'm missing something) and he just seems to be replaced internally. The partnership with Leeds Met/Beckett/Poly produces some good sports scientists, but we don't seem to bear the fruits of it. Hopefully this is just down to it being an intense pre-season, and it'll ease off during the season.

Hearing that Salford will be safe and won't need to offload players

I hope that's right. That's the best outcome for the game as a whole.

[quote="Once were Loiners":2ga0puid]I hope that's right. That's the best outcome for the game as a whole.[/quote:2ga0puid] It is if it's a long term solution. If it's merely kicking the can down the road for 6 to 12 months then not so much.

So if rumours are Salford are safe I can’t imagine us still signing Watkins if they don’t need to sell which is a shame but also happy for Salford