Echo both of the above.

If we are in the Shield then we have to win it, otherwise even more damage could be done plan as we mean to go on, if we finish 5th lets get the clear out started keep the players who want to stay and contracted and lets lose those who we havent seen or rarely make a difference to the team.

As things are I'm comfortable with players leaving, even the better ones - if they don't want to stay then they're better gone imo, so it's thanks and goodbye from me. A bit of freshening up the squad could actually bring benefits anyway as players can be in the same place for too long. Of course, I say that on the assumption that they will be replaced by players of a similar standard and, to be fair, recent recruits like Moss and Chisholm seem to be on the right track.

I was told that the 'money men' behind Toronto, wanted to buy Leigh a few years ago. But I was also told that their finances didn't pass muster with the RFL then.

Well "the money men" behind Toronto is David Argyle of Forbes & Manhattan in Toronto. His investment firm represents a significant proportion of the world's potash market.

If Derek can sell more plastic patios to little Englanders with a back yard than Argyle can sell fertilizer to world agriculture the RFL probably made the right call.

(But I doubt he personally tried to buy Leigh. Perhaps someone else involved over there. There are clearly Leigh connections to RL in Toronto though, hence [url=http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/team/toronto-centurions/this[/url)

Paul Rowley (when he was still head coach of Leigh) was also approached to coach the Canadian National side. When that didn't happen they tried to get Neil Jukes (then assistant coach) instead.

Not sure entirely what the Leigh/Toronto/Canada connection is but there definitely seems to be one somewhere.

All Ontario RL Clubs carry English team nicks..
Scarborough Centurions & York City Reds, merged to form the Toronto Centurions.Does that mean the good Doctor is also in on it?

Doubt it, given that happened in 2011 prior to Koukash ever being involved in the game. Possibly also before Derek in his current iteration, isn't it? I'm not completely familiar with his timeline.

Well done on picking up on this disgraceful attack on your club.

But that is exactly what we are flirting with doing as things stand.

But it only holds 5000 so for example we'd have been turning folk away at a Championship game against Fax.

I think my secret agents have found the evil mastermind's secret lair ...

Sorry to disappoint, but it's not English. You were the latest in a long line of moniker-thievery, but the original moniker was coined by the Roman consul Marius in 107 BC

The comment was speculation about how things might be in the event of us going semi-pro and having to cope with financial pressures caused by losing many fans and looking at how the club could save money and survive.

I'll admit to maybe, being generally at the more positive end when I guess what our gates are likely to be under those circumstances, but I think 5k would probably be enough.

Did he play fullback?

Not certain. I heard hookers were very popular around then, so maybe that

It seems unlikely but not impossible that we'll reach the middle 8's. If we did I would be astonished if we reach the MPG let alone be promoted. The Super League teams wil be 4 from HKR , Salford, Giants Rhinos and Widnes. I think only Leigh have an outside chance of beating an odd one of those teams.
As everyone has remarked, the implications regarding central funding are serious. I am sure Marc Green will do everything he can to keep his promise of retaining a full time squad.
Increased revenue from season tickets is , to my mind , impossible to achieve- whether by increased sales or prices.
There would be a revolt if they decided to slash the budget for the youth structure.
The only ways I can see the management being able to meet expectations are:
1. A smaller full time squad with a liberal sprinkling of U19 products
2. Finalising the purchase of both the freehold and leasehold of the ground

I think the smaller squad is a 'no brainer', but surely, at a time when crowds are likely to fall and income from competition sources is reduced, buying the lease and the ground is going to take away massively from what we have to spend on the team?

Weren't we supposed to have a smaller squad this year? Ferres said something like he expected us to stay full time on a trimmed squad of 30 to 24. What happened there? Has anyone asked about this at a fans forum?

even more than last season. And that was even before the new coach arrived.

I can't recollect the question being asked and even less can I recollect it being answered and unless many were on BOGOF I can't aimagine how it came about.

Perhaps it should be raised? It's a massive change of heart, and likely an expense change of heart too.

I disagree regarding the ground. If they can find or raise the capital it will be seen as an asset - and a substantial asset. Of course there are risks and some will immediately accuse Marc Greeen of merely wanting to recoup his money.
But the prospect of not paying rent and using/ developing the ground as they wish must be a risk worth taking.

Perhaps the statement regarding squad size was based on the number of membership sales? I've noticed that there appears to be far more people paying on the gate this year so perhaps the money generated on match days has resulted in a larger player budget than initially projected?

, then it comes down to being paid from current income, or from future income if we go down the HP route, which is exactly where I see problems.

At a guess, I think many would regard anything which cuts against getting the best possible team to attempt promotion, or lacking ambition as many have already described such a move, would cause even more people to give up on following the club. I definitely wouldn't say it was wrong to pursue buying the ground per se, just that maybe now isn't the best time?

Clearly the club hasn't got money to buy the ground and I suspect would have a less than gold-plated creditworthiness to borrow large sums. So the club isn't going to be the buyer / owner.

If Green buys the ground then Green will own the ground. (If a limited company buys the ground then effectively whoever owns the shares in that company will own the ground). Obviously it would make it much easier to do whatever we - i.e. he - wanted in terms of any development (but for which he would obviously also have to pay).

I would be certain that whoever buys the ground will want rent from the club - otherwise its just dead money.

Well, there's an article in the T&A about finishing places and prize money. There's £300k between 1st and 4th. It then drops by another £200k for 5th place.
I really don't believe that the club can afford to finish below 4th and in fact a 4th place finish might be squeezing the purse strings too

Are we sure the rules have definitely been changed regarding prize money? I haven't seen anything and my understanding has always been that it is based on positions after the middle 8's.