Well its in this mornings T&A that it looks like Francis cummings has no intention of offering James Donaldson a new deal.

I think we need to get him signed up. He has been our best defender since he got back into the team.
Looks hungry for work and looks like he gives his all on game day. He's far better than Tom Olbison. He misses tackles for fun at times

I would not like to see him playing for anouther club. He deserves another deal with us.

That's hardly "no intention" is it?

Got to admit its strange he hasn't been offered a new deal if FC wants him to stay

Olbison got a new deal and his contract didn't run out till end of next season,I couldn't work that one out

Said it before, I'll say it again. Donaldson is a keeper. I don't understand why you wouldn't want a hard working lad like that at the club. Especially considering off the field, he also falls in perfectly with this "lifestyle" and attitude that Franny and the club keep banging on about.

It'll be a real shame to see him move on if that happens.

It's a tough situation for Donaldson. He's had some serious injuries that have stopped his progress. Now he's had a bit of a run he's improved a bit. Is he worth a shot? Is he good enough? We've a few young uns coming into contention like Mellor and Roberts.

Personally I'd keep him at the right price but if he can get more dosh elsewhere I wouldn't lose too much sleep. With Ferguson now signed up we have a proven defender in the backrow.

Addy looks set to leave, Langley is rumoured to be off and even if he stays he is approaching the tail end of his career. Donaldson would be the only natural LF at the club, and we aren't offering him a new deal?
I just hope FC knows what he is doing. Who knows, are there any ex-Leeds loose forwards kicking around?

Got to agree with your view re Olbison. He may well improve in the future as he matures but as of now apart from the Hull KR home match he has done very little to suggest he will be a good SL backrower. At the moment IMO Donaldson is the better bet.

Of the two Donaldson has looked better lately but that isn't saying a great deal. Our backrow has lacked impact and quality since Elima left. Ferguson should provide a much needed proven defender and hopefully Bateman will find some fitness and provide the attacking ability.

On one hand I'm thinking Good signings FC, Carvell, Ferguson, Bosc (Maybe). Players wanted by others.

Then other hand, letting Addy, Langley & Donaldson go.
3 in & 3 out is the same size squad!!

t&a makes it sound like ferguson is a replacement for Whitehead aswell.
We need a bigger squad, and Donaldson is the one I would rather keep, for his potential. Injury free for rest of season and a full preseason, I think he'd be looking good into next year.

We do need a bigger squad but I can't see us getting one because we have less money coming in than any other club. It's a case of getting more quality and bringing in the kids next year I reckon. 2015 should see us playing on a more level playing field.

I think we will need to keep Donaldson and Addy. They are both young and versatile players. And I can't see us attracting anything better.

I'd keep them both for squad depth but we shouldn't pay over what they're worth.

Donaldson - good defensively, less good offensively but has improved lately. Not going to prove the difference in games but is fairly solid. Had a lot of injuries but hopefully over them. Would he get in any of the sides above us in the table?

Addy - good cover for halfback but doubts over his best position. Too slow for fulltime halfback, poor defensively for a backrower, good kicker out of the hand, decent football brain. Not sure where he fits in as a regular starter with everyone fit.

Know what your saying about not over paying but at same time we need to keep squad numbers up. If there aren't suitable replacements out there who are prepared to take amount we want to pay then maybe were undervaluing the players.

It's a good question Mat. As you know we're operating at disadvantage in that we have less money than the clubs interested in them. We might not be able to afford their market value if we want to improve quality elsewhere in the side like the front row. Somewhere is going to take a hit I think, and with Mellor and Roberts coming through maybe it's going to be the backrow?

The danger is that Addy and Donaldson leave and go on to become much better players elsewhere as they mature and we end up bringing in younger players who are less experienced now. Hopefully Roberts and Mellor will come through and prove to be good players who make an impact from an earlier age.

Other problem is that its ok saying well get full sky money back in 2015 and can then strengthen team. But if we don't finish in top 12 next year then we get demoted to SL2 if restructuring proposals go through which is rumoured to be only getting around 400k of sky money per club (less than we're on now). Don't think we can afford to take that gamble if amounts being offered to our players to tempt them away are relatively small increases over what were offering.
At moment we have three first team squad members with only a couple of appearances between them. Add obrien who hasn't featured a great deal and the two new lads, and while squad is a similar size there's an increased number of inexperienced players in it.

If we don't have the money now we don't have it.

If they move the goalposts for 2015 on funding it's yet another shafting for the new owners if we finish outside the 12. However, I can't see us finishing outside the 12.

It's started. Destroy the team spirit, ditch all the "Bradford" players in favour "imported" out of contract and not renewed, why? players.
I understand that no player is greater than the team and it is the team that comes first but players need support of the manager, fans etc.. not the fear of perform or your out.
You can't build a team based on fear and it seems to be my way (FC) or on your way.

That's a shame, I will miss those famous Odsal corners.

Bit OTT don't you think?

Heh!

It would be unreal if we got rid of Donaldson. He has had two career threatening injuries, got over both of them at a young age and still come back. In the last two games he has made 71 tackles and missed 1.

He is 21 years old, Jamie Peacock didn't even make his debut until that age. Look at Liam Farrell. He's been given time to develop and now look at him. A few fans wold have wanted rid of him a couple of seasons ago if he played for us.

Just can't see why we would offer Olbison a new deal who offers little in attack and is very dodgy defensively, yet we wouldn't offer a good player like Donaldson a new contract.

That's if it is 12.

There seem to be a few differing ideas, even with the number 10 being mentioned. Some have mentioned "super league" being split into two divisions, though I can't really see that being the case as there aren't sufficient clubs capable of running fulltime teams to make up the numbers, and in any case, any division 2 just isn't going to be 'super' is it.

I agree that the end of next season is going to be the crunch for us and forcing us into penury on only half TV money almost makes it appear some clubs just don't want us to survive.

Back on topic; I can't see Donno not getting a decent offer. He's not developed as quickly as he might have done for the obvious reasons but given a bit of good luck he can make up time and become a real asset. I hope he's given the chance. Maybe he could double up a s defensive coach?

It would be a disaster if we lost Donaldson simply because we didn't offer him anothing. Ok, he's had his injuries, but when he has he's been one of our better players this season. Fairly dangerous in attack and tackles pretty much everything that moves. We can't afford to be losing homegrown talent like that, especially not at the moment.

I think it would be a shame to write off Donaldson. The lad had a great deal of potential, he's managed to come back from 2 injuries that could have been career enders and he's still barely old enough to go drinking in pubs.

He's been playing strongly in defence the last few games, a part of the game a lot of more senior players could do with improving. I think he should be given at least 2 years, after all, it's not like there's not a big, Whitehead-sized hole in the salary budget to cover it.

Jeez,you don't off load a young lad with potential.Get rid of the journeymen first.Losing Elliot,for whatever reason,was bad enough.Bad move if true imo.