So far we have: Clubb to (Saints), Sargy (Wigan), Bailey (Hudds) and now Channing (Cas). (All rumours of course)

I have heard no rumours of any players signed for next season, so does that mean:

a) No club next season

b) No players next season

c) The club don't know what they are doing?


Given that we have great difficulty attracting players should this not be of some concern.

I do hope someone puts me right and next season we will be challenging for honours.

Rea said something about making decisions during this week when asked about signings for next season. Who knows what that means, nothing probably as it is Rea saying it.

I don't want Rea making any decisions! it needs to be the person replacing him and it needs doing quickly!

It's (c) for me.

Is'nt Clubby of to Widnes
I couldn't care less where Sargy is going he has been terrible. Can't tackle head on, utterly useless.

My theory on things is that David Hughes is repeating what he did about three years ago.

And that is that he has turned round to the RFL again in a Mexican standoff.

Last time he forced their hand in removing a majority shareholder who was bound by RFL rules to neither put any money in nor sell his shares.

This time he is likely to be seeking one or more of a commitment to us remaining in Super League, maybe direct investment into London, or exemptions on players for non Northern clubs etc.

The loss is again in the opportunity to retain and sign players as before.

I am genuinely sad to see Chris Bailey go. Clubby has given us nine years and is still under contract so we will not lose him for free. Sargy can run all day but he has not progressed as expected. The rest I am not bothered about except for Dixon and Cook and Lee.

I am looking for much more from Gus Mackay. He needs to sort things out. I have not really ever mentioned him much as I think he has a hard job and is harshly treated. But he now has to get the job done and that is the case for David.

We cannot afford another fresh start with a rag, tag and bobtail outfit because their failures block Tony

If DH is trying to, in effect, blackmail the RFL, then this could be a very dangerous tactic. Given everything that (hasn't) been happening at the club in recent seasons and rumours that some clubs are quite relaxed about us disappearing, he could just be told to go forth and mutiply.

There is definitely something of the brinkmanship scenario going on IMO. Potential new owner? David playing blind poker? If I was an outsider it would be thrilling and intriguing but I can feel the lifeblood draining out of the old nag.

Well ive nailed my colours to the mast allready and said DH wants out as he cant affford to subsidide the LB when he retires. With a new investor (The RFL?) he may assist financially to a small degree. If there isn't one then the party is over IMO.

Hughes did this before and look where it's left us?

Playing chicken with the RFL is not a good idea...I hear woods is partial to a bit of KFC

Looks like today is the big day - hint on HKR non-rlfans board from a fan who works at Broncos and looks like he needs to leave. The phrase "may be well before the end of the season" was used... Interesting times.

Let's be fair. Stick to what we actually know and not what people summise or guess and make up as to what's happening.

One thing is that London have always incredibly quiet on things like signing players and who they sign. That is the only fact that we all know.

Apart from that, if you think that Tony Rea is not looking round to recruit for next season, you must be barking.

Fair enough RB, I hope the rumour comes to nothing myself

There is certainly some decent talent in the NSW Cup and Queensland Cup, and those guys are affordable as not on a lot of money down here with the 2nd tier cap. Couple of years in SL might give them a 2nd shot at the NRL. Likewise in the U20s if you could strike a deal with an NRL club to become a development pathway (get decent quality game time without taking up their cap space, given concerns here that good U20s are being brought into first grade too early / undercooked). An English club that took a progressive approach at partnership with the genuine global first tier comp, rather than saw the downside of all the extra TV money in the game now, could really gain some competitive advantage in the UK comp I reckon.

I'm sure that's the way Leneghan is looking at it for one (and what he's done with the Wales talent pipeline at Wigan is another example of seeing strategic opportunity where others only saw the negative of Crusaders top tier demise - if only we still had the benefit of that vision...)

I thought with immigration changes we couldn't recruit players who hadn't played NRL in past two seasons or something?

I partly agree with this. Sarginson's 1-on-1 defence is close to embarrassing.

However, his defence is substantially better one in from centre where he does more work but gets some protection. Which begs the question, why have successive coaches exposed his defence at left centre?

He has been handled abysmally. He could make it somewhere else with a bit of TLC.

Fully agree he started well but has faded which for me proves the current coach is no better than the last one! with right coaching and encouragement he can deliver for me!

Does sound like a good idea - and if rules and regs allowed, we should be at least talking to NRL clubs about it.

It does though devalue SL (not that is even close to be honest to the NRL) in that a top tier team (for now anyway!!!) would be taking youngsters from the NRL grade system, giving them experience to then go back and play in a "proper league".

Additionally, it moves away from us trying to produce our own London born-and-bred talent. Something that the club (and RFL) have been piping up about for the last few years.

I'd love to see a creative and rich investor/chairman come in (if and when DH leaves) who can fund and drive us forward. If only we had someone like Gary Hetherington at Leeds.... he is the sort of person we desperately need.

Paul Caddick is the Owner of both Leeds Rugby Clubs, he is the man with the money!

fair point..... Gary Hetherington type for our CEO then.

Let's face it, Buck or Dusty could probably do a better job than the current bloke.

Maybe that's why Gus tried to bin them?

Somebody earlier wrote that a former employee of Surrey CCC said that Gus wanted to do everything himself. So, is he Buck or Dusty?

Accuracy

First ive heard any mention of Clubb to Widnes?

Ignore wire quin, he lost the plot some time ago.