2 year contract

According to League Express



Saints want there head testing letting him go as he covers so many positions CRAZY

He's gotta be 33 now though hasn't he? Still a good player I feel that by the second year of that contract he wouldn't be worth the money.

We're going to be cashed up to the eyeballs in terms of cap room. It will be very interesting to see if we dare push the boat out this year and sign two players, which would be unprecedented in recent Mac seasons.

Good utility player and has been great for us, but in the days of the cap you can't hold on to everyone - especially with such a large crop of young players playing a lot of games and no doubt triggering (deserved) contract upgrades.

We're strong in the back row and next year we have 2 proper centres and cover there with Wheels.

Next season is the right time to move him on IMO. Sad, but inevitable.

You know there response will be that were committed to bringing through the Academy stars

God forbid we sign someone with experiance

He's still good enough, give him another contract, a very under rated player is Gilmour.

We are rolling into the old old "one year see how you do" scenario with Gilly.

The club are doing right by the club if they have only offered one year, and Gilly will be doing right by himself if he chooses someone offering two years.

I've noticed of late that gilly rarely goes through a game these days without picking up an injury, and to add to that, he's lost his position really.

Gilly although a good utility player who can play second row or centre etc, I think its time to let him move on and so should we.

He's been a great asset to the club though.

He's been like that ever since he joined us.





Lost his position? ? ? From us not buying a centre after Talau left and being able to play in various positions? ? ?

I did clarify that we are playing him as utility......

He's got a bit of a glass jaw but he hardly ever misses games

Yes he is a good utility player, but next year we have 2 proper centres and Wheels as back up and a glut of back rowers.

He'll be on decent cash that can be better spent elsewhere.

We need to be ruthless. If he doesn't want a 1 year deal, we should do a Longy.

Gilly's still a great player and could undoubtedly do a good job for us for a couple more years, but we're up to our eyeballs in quality back rowers and we need to free up some cap space for a couple of props, which is where we are desperately short.

We say 1 year, he says 2 years, lets call the whole thing off.

quite right!
we are in danger of losing our "dad's army" tag! Very worrying that

I guess it depends how you veiw Gilly:

A 32 year old utility player? With a new centre on the way, as well as Wheeler, Lomax, Dixon and Ashurst coming through to cover his position options - don't worry.

or

An England International 2nd row? As good a backrow as anyone on our squad on his day - maybe we should be holding on.

End of the day - he'll want the best final contract of his career and we've got alot more cover in his favoured position than we have elsewhere (prop). I think that will be the deciding factor.

I agree. He well worth a 2 year deal.

IMO he the best 2nd row at saints and should still be in the England setup.

He is 10 times better than flannery.

Gilmour is very underated at Saints - you are hard pushed to find games where he has played badly. He always is dangerous and gets through the hard work as well. The problem is that we have waiting in the wings:

Lomax,
Eastmond,
Wheeler,
Frodsham,
Dixon

All of these look like they will make the big time and more. If any one of these youngsters was let go, I am sure there would be a thread about it. Given that all will probably sign up with the club on vastly better terms then what they have at the moment, then it is only logical that we will lose more of the elder heads.

The key is finding balance - who has more left in the tank, what do they offer to the side, and what development/skills can they pass on to the younger players.

at 32/33 I dont think we should be offering any player a 2 year deal.

The potential for long term injury, loss of form/speed are way higher at that age than a 25/26 year old.

We have done the right thing by offering Gilmour/Long/Gidley a one year deal - they obviously show by refusing it that they are not that confident in themselves of keeping up their current standard for another 12 months and earning another 12 month deal after that.

Invest in the future and keep the club at the top.

If his possible departure allows us to sign a monster prop, i'll wave him off.
He's a great player but as has been said we've got bucket loads of backrowers, i count:-
tony p, wilkin, clough, flannery, ashurst, and possibly dixon.
Thats without the possibilty of wello and/or pryce moving there in coming seasons to make way for lomax/wheeler etc, etc. And Soliola coming at centre next year, who could move to back row and wheeler/dixon/lomax to centre if we had massive backrow injuries.
I don't think he is underated, most fans know how good he is, but its time for him and the club to get the best deal, and i think that means going our seperate ways. One of the best signings (for the money) in SL, IMO

edit
you can add magennis to the list as well

FFS Gilmour was 31 last month, not 33 or 34 as some suggest. The best player at the Bulls is 36 soon, age does not count for toffee.

The best two props in the World Petro Civinoceva, and Steve price are 71 yeas old between them

. Menzies 35 , and Forshaw played his best rugby at 34.

Gilmour has pace, a fantastic defence, runs the best lines at Saints, and can create his own space with footwork.

IMHO 2 years is not a problem to retain a fantastic utility player.

Give over. I checked Gilly's passport recently and it seems his photograph was endorsed by Stanley Gene, "I have been a professional associate of Mr Gilmour for 43 years and I hereby...". He's 33 and if says otherwise he's lying.

He is still in fantastic health and looks fit enough. I would have no problem at all with him staying but business is business and if a 2 year deal isn't acceptable to us then its also fine by me for him to take Huddersfield's dollars instead.

Gilmour was 31 last and that old boy is a FACT.

Great player and i'll be sad to see him go, but there's no room for sentimentality.

We always seem to move on our older players at just the right time.

Spot on. I agree with all you say.

I couldn't care if he's 40 as long as he still playing well.

To much is made about how old players are.

Which other of our second rowers have Gillys pace? none Dixon couldn't catch Carvell and Ashurst isnt very pacy from what ive seen