The only explanation I can think of is that he might well have meant the old salary cap where your salary spend is capped at 50% of turnover, rather than the new model where it is a flat £1.6m for the senior 25 players, plus a bit extra for occasionals and juniors? Given we rely on shareholder support each season as it is ('cos our income isn't high enough to break even), that seems sensible to me - to spend any more is Gordon Brown economics... or would you rather have one season with a top 4 or 5 finish, followed by no elite RL in London?

The worst coach at the worst club?

That would make no sense. 50% of our 2007 turnover meant we could still afford Hill/McLinden/Paul. How much different was the 2008 turnover?

Your last question is irrelevent.

Lister, you'd argue black was white so I'm not entirely sure why I bother given our commercial situation is blindingly obvious to anyone who can see the empty seats, exec boxes and sponsor slots, but guess I'm a sucker for punishment so here goes...

Since Ian Leneghan took over our major sponsors have been Sports Cafe and Workplace Systems. Owner subsidies are not allowed to count towards turnover for salary cap purposes. Sponsorship income is. Ian had a large shareholding in both Sports Cafe and Workplace Systems. Now thinking back, why do you think those two particular companies sponsored us? My money would be on us having a significantly larger official turnover in previous years than we expect to have in 2009.

Those sponsorships no longer exist in the same form, ie we don't have the same amount of owner subsidy, ie we probably can't afford the same player budget - not "legally", as the salary cap isn't linked to turnover anymore, but in practice because the people running the club aren't either (a) totally loaded, or (b) completely nuts.

Also, my last point that you refer to was not irrelevant, it described the only possible consequence to your alternative plan. You want the club to perform better, and think the coach is questionable because they don't. They need to have a better squad to have a realistic chance of doing that. Without spending more money than we can afford, we can't have a better squad. QED - your expectations are that we blow our future to give you what you want this season.

PS: Have you been a Government economic advisor for the last 10 years by any chance?

All fair points. I've never had any unrealistic expectations and said the club should be spending money it doesn't have. Last years quality hasn't been replaced with the same calibre yet we are still apparently up to the cap, and you have given a reasonable explanation. But then it was also stated that not having a sponsor would not affect the spending on players...

I think the cap may be somewhat of a moot point as I doubt we have the funds to spend it.

A fact borne out by our signings this winter I'd suggest.

Basic maths would point to the following income expectations for this year.
Average gate of 4,500 x 13 at say, £10 a pop = £585,000
Sky cash £750,000
Shop revenue (guessing here) £100,000
Bar revenue £596,700 takings
Food concessions x 3 @£500 each £20,000
So, I estimate the club has an income of approximately £2,000,000 a year....pretty healthy. This is without the amount of money that David Hughes "donates" to the club.
Now, with the added bonus of not having to pay salaries to a CEO or Marketing person

it's no wonder Mr Hogg wasn't worried about a shirt sponsor.
I would have thought that the club will turn a profit in 2009.

Its a wonder more companies haven't pursued this option.

The only thing unsecure about macs position, is our status in superleague. He will be a coach in 2011, but will we be a club?

Don't forget the SKY money this year has increased by £400,000 per club to £1.2million. Only £400K shy of the £1.6 million "cap".


Therefore you could say SKY pay 75% of each clubs player wage bill. It don't take a genius or Lister to work out the club can afford to spend the cap and get by.

2009 promises to be a belter on this message board, and what great news shifting the mManly game to a Sunday! finally some common sense has prevailed.

I suspect that Mac's future would be tied in with that of certain coaches at Northern clubs - it might not just be Bulls fans with cause to worry if they have a bad run this season!

I feel better already

Mac is "London through and through" as somebody told me, except if Macnamara continues to perform poorly, or McLennan returns to the NRL. IMHO replacing Ian Lenagan is the biggest and most relevant challenge facing the club.

Isn't that statement rather contradictory?



If McLennan were to leave Leeds they'd go for a bigger name, with the greatest respect to McDermott.

as do I!!!!
I really think that we will be knocking on the door of a home play-off game over the next 2 to 3 years and on the pitch, all is well. I have my concerns (

no 5h1t sherlock

) regarding the back office/management infastructure, but if we can get some measure of success on the pitch, all the better.
Like the new strip, think we will compete this season and as long as we can improve on last year, I for one will be happy.

Played 27, Won 11, Drew 0, Lost 16, For 569, Against 763 PD-194, Points 22
Placed 9th.
As for Brian......if he does have an ambition to manage a "bigger" club, then what better way than sticking to the job in London and getting a result down here first.

I agree the Lenagan quote, will we see out the season?

I think BM will go if the Bradford job comes up. The type of player and style of play at Bradford is something he understands very well and his emphasis on defense will be more appreciated there.His chance of success are more assured in the short term there whereas for us we are more restricted financially and are also waiting for young players to develop to really challenge which is more long term.
I'm trying to stay positive about the current team but a lot depends on how Luke Gale performs (if picked) and whether the injuries hit us badly again. As they say in cricket "im a bit worried about the tail enders"

By the way has anyone looked at the QRL companies house returns for the past few years i.e. since we went bust. Also might be interesting to check the QRL credit rating.

Hope the QRL 'bean counter' does not take the 'offer' by the Brown/Darling shower of delaying NI and VAT payments........

As for Mac's chances of being sacked, doubt this will ever come to pass unless we go winless thru a season, though if we do well in the next two/three seasons expect that a stronger outfit might come up with 'an offer he could not refuse'........

That's bothering me a bit as, if I remember correctly, IL took over Wigan during the season which will be when the two year rule will come into effect and there's no apparent sign of anyone being prepared to take over his shareholding.

Company No. 05322378

Last Accounts Made Up To: 30/11/2007 (FULL)
Next Accounts Due: 30/09/2009
Last Return Made Up To: 30/12/2007
Next Return Due: 27/01/2009

It will only cost you a couple of quid to get copies of the return and accounts.

Whats funny Stooper? I'm not laughing.

"The best caach in Super Leaguer", Brian McDermott? Are you being serious?

If you really believe this to be true, hopefully lots of other teams will now be seeking to snap him up for next season, and Quins RL can move forward.