I'm not sure about the specific qualifications but he definitely doesn't have the same level of experience.

I probably wouldn’t no. There’s a difference between having a boat load of cash and spending it in a crazy fashion. We don’t know how deep this guy is prepared to go (if at all) in putting money in to the club. I simply wondered if we’ve been more spend happy than I thought we may be because this guy is prepared to help cover a percentage of the losses. It may just be a coincidence or Lenagan trying to speculate to accumulate by putting an exciting team on the field to try and bring in more commercial revenue and supporters through the turnstiles (as and when).

If I was a billionaire with a huge interest in the club then I’d keep Hastings. I think you could bring in any halfback in the world and they’re not going to add much more. That’s not to say I think he’s in the top 5 or even 10 halfs in the World but better the devil you know when it comes to performances. We know Hastings can dominate this league and we’ve seen various high profile players come to superleague and flop. Also as good as Cleary may be, he’s not worth four times the salary of Hastings whichever way you look at it. If he’s going to score 40 try’s a season and make 100 assists then maybe. Paying George Burgess up would come in to anyone’s thinking but again I’m not sure where that leaves you on the cap. If it didn’t impact and you’re minted, then yeah pay him off.

Top and bottom of it all is that I’m pretty happy with what’s going on squad wise and pretty surprised.

I think I read Darrell Goulding is taking it. I think it’s a step up isn’t it? Or he was being promoted and others were stepping up. That will leave an opening for somebody down the chain. You’d imagine Lockers will have a full time coaching role next year.

Be a step down for Darrell doing Micks job

Is there really any argument there? They are miles bigger than all SL clubs aren't they on pretty much any metric you choose to select?

Oh I know I'm not saying he's as good as Bitcon. I'm just saying it's not quite the case of just giving the job to any old ex player who needs a job like some might think it is. I was pleasantly surprised to be honest as I was half expecting no qualifications or a basic course.

they have the largest membership in the NRL with 35k members and have 11k ticket holders, thats the highest of any sydney based club, bet Leeds will run that close

When it comes to South's, not many clubs can match them. It's a shame really as both Wigan's and Saints history is just as rich, but they get the bump of the NRL.

Must’ve been somebody else.

Disagree. Head of youth development is one of the biggest and certainly most important jobs at the club. I know that the title may be different but essentially it's the same job.

I think there will be an announcement relating to O’Loughlin quite soon, don’t expect to see him play again.

His time has come now though to be fair. The fans know it, the club probably knows it and he will know it. It's just a massive shame he can't go out in front of the supporters after all he has given this club. Let's hope we send him off with a GF win instead and bring him onto the pitch next season for a show of appreciation.

hes coaching the scholarship aint he? A friend of mine was helping him with it

He might have £1.1bn, but in spite of buying some around 24% of the shares off Lenagan, he has not according to Companies House become a Director of the club and we have heard nothing further about him since.

So exactly what investment has he put into the club since his possible involvement in the attempt by Lenagan to buy the DW Stadium?

Paying for the cost of the new badge and re-branding perhaps!

I'm in the wait and see, Rome wasn't built in a day.

I agree and having someone with that amount of wealth involved with the club can only be a good thing.

Obviously it goes without saying that IL is different, but with what happened with Latics and the transfer of ownership you can understand some people seeking reassurances too.

Please don’t take this the wrong way. Everyone is entitled to an opinion so I won’t begrudge you a platform.

However. By Christ you are boring. I’ve never seen such a constant stream of negative BS spew from a poster in here in a long time.

You are like the offspring of DaveO and Wigan pie man

Again. As a fan you are entitled to your opinion. As am I when I say you are tedious and boring beyond imagination.

Stop looking for negativity mate. Eh?

He looks for an argument in everything. I’ve honestly never come across a poster like him. If it was daylight he’d argue it was night.

Or he'd argue one point on one thread and switch his position on another. One thread he's bagging IL and KR for "substandard" recruitment and on the next thread he's praising Lam for his excellent eye for spotting talent.

Ian Watson has said that he has left Salford because they do not have a academy team as a back up to the first team squad.

I seemed to recall that it had been decided that a condition of being in the Super League was that all clubs had to have an Academy team.

Has that decision been dropped as a Super League qualification and if so, when?

I have never said that Wigan have a substandard squad, only that certain players from outside the club like George Burgess and Mitch Clarke for examples should never have been signed as Burgess had a bad injury when signed while Clarke was not up to the normal quality and Standard of a Wigan signing.

In what little games they have played, I have been proved right!

Nor have I ever said that Lam has a excellent eye for spotting players as even I know that many of the signings are made by those who run the club, irrespective of any opinion of the Coach.

In the case of the two players mentioned, IL and KR made a mistake and I was not the only one saying it judging by the many comments on the local social media.

We all make mistakes in life including, it would appear also IL and KR.

Well done, now pick a teddy from the top shelf.

The usual childish reply!

I bet he picks that gang of four teddy

No doubt you and your cronies on here will pick the "IL/KR never make mistakes" teddy wearing the new shirt with the new badge!