It would seem,[url=http://www.totalrl.com/forums/index.php/page/index.html/_/latest-news/agar-blasts-salford-r213reading this[/urlthat a 3rd party agent is to blame.
Although acting on behalf of Salford I don't think that the club can be vicariously blamed for this.
If,as in soccer,the agents are licensed then action should be taken against the agent.
I am one of those who have seen the state of soccer through agents and someone who cannot understand why any person,described as a professional,should require an agent.
But,I accept I must be alone in that.

The entire sport isn't looking good at the moment,is it ?

As far as I'm aware we went through proper channels with regard to BC.

You aren't alone in that - several people on here, myself included, have been saying the same thing for ages; they are parasites who help nobody but themselves.

I understand that to be the case as well.

You may well have.
But offered peanuts.
BC is an England international winger.
If you meet our valuation he's yours we're not a charity.

Much more likely scenario. Agent understands Dr Koukash has money to splash, thinks he can make a few quid or two and starts putting thoughts into his players heads etc. Agents dont act on behalf of rugby clubs (in this case Salford) they represent players, so to blame our club seems a bit daft.

Agreed John & I don't think any proper rugby fan would blame Salford.

Good luck for next year. Really exciting times for your club. I'll defo be showing interest on 5th Sept!

Just hoping we can hang on to our better players for next season.

I'm sure you will, the fact you turned down our bid for Kirmond shows you're not just going to sell recklessly.

It's never nice to see clubs go through times like this, we know how it feels bit look at us now. I'd love nothing more than a few more Dr Koukash's to invest in clubs like Wakefield, Castleford etc.

Lets face it, maybe not Castleford haha.
Next year we will be the only team not spending cap by a way off!

After the way there fans have responded to Salford following the Rangi Chase saga, I agree and withdraw Castleford from the list.

Regarding the salary cap, it would seem that way. Will be a huge achievement if you avoid relegation but I see no reason why you cant, you’ve done it many times before. I just hope we’re not involved in the scrap too. Plus the alternative isn’t really worth thinking about i.e spend big, struggle to pay bills and go bust.

By consolidating at least you’ll become far more attractive to potential investors than them having to pick up a big amount of debt.

That is complete nonsense mate, if Clubs had treated players in a honest and open way in the past, then there would have been no need for them, but Clubs are full of people who are just as ruthless as any agents, that's a fact.

I'm sure that's the case; it doesn't stop an alternative system being put in place though, whereby either RFL employed professionals assist players with their contract negotiations, or the new players union is involved, to keep clubs honest and ensure that young lads don't get shafted.

As it stands now, an agents interests are completely at odds with both the good of the game and the clubs who participate; I'd also argue that in some cases, they're not that concerned with player welfare either.

If nothing changes, everything stays the same.

There are no alternative systems that can be run by a sporting body. The fact that Agents work for themselves lets them look for sponsorship deals from whomever they wish without any restrictions that a governing body would have. I know just how untrustworthy clubs can be, some of the recent press statements from Wakefield have been lie's, it happens, players need protecting from themselves half the time, let alone from their clubs.

I sat in a meeting some 2 years ago, in this meeting were 20 plus 14 year old players, and chairing this meeting was the Wakefield CEO and Head of youth. They stood in front of this group and openly lied about what benefits awaited the players should they sign at Wakefield, i.e. 12 free places at Silcoates school, and that they had in place £250,000 ring fenced to take the whole scholarship to Australia, and did anyone go to Silcoates ? NO, where there any places at Silcoates ? NO, did any player as part of a Wakefield Trinity scholarship team go on tour to Australia ? NO.

If clubs will do this to get players to sign at 14, what do you think they will do when it comes down to money ???? and a lot of them, not all, but a few are the same.

I don't see how that necessitates an agent; there are better ways to safeguard a players welfare than someone who gets paid to encourage them to move around, upsetting the club, the game and often, the player themselves.

Silcoates is a highly-selective school with a very high-level academic entrance exam - they offer places to bright pupils on an individual basis. There is no way they would they simply 'offer places to an organisation to use as they wish!

Silcoates accept all abilities its Queen Elizebeth Grammar School thats done on a test (QEGS, WAKEFIELD GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL).

The PFA runs a system, and it seems to run pretty well for the players who buy into it. It won't get you 300K a week at Real Madrid, but it will take care of most mortal's expectations, in a fair and balanced way. Agents are greedy and exploit greed in others, and clubs are no better most of the time. To say one is greedy doesn't justify the greed of the other. Far better a body that works with the governing body of the sport to ensure fairness and sustainability on both sides.

Quote ="The Dreadnought"Silcoates accept all abilities its Queen Elizebeth Grammar School thats done on a test (QEGS, WAKEFIELD GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL).'" As an ex-pupil I can assure you that Silcoates holds the most highly-academic entrance exam of all these schools (I took both QEGS and Silcoates). www.silcoates.org.uk/admissions/ ... 7861328125 [i"In the Senior School a place is gained by a successful performance in our entrance tests, held at Silcoates in January each year."[/i

Quote ="The Dreadnought"Silcoates accept all abilities its Queen Elizebeth Grammar School thats done on a test (QEGS, WAKEFIELD GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL).'" As an ex-pupil I can assure you that Silcoates holds the most highly-academic entrance exam of all these schools (I took both QEGS and Silcoates). www.silcoates.org.uk/admissions/ ... 7861328125 [i"In the Senior School a place is gained by a successful performance in our entrance tests, held at Silcoates in January each year."[/i

Quote ="nottinghamtiger"As an ex-pupil I can assure you that Silcoates holds the most highly-academic entrance exam of all these schools (I took both QEGS and Silcoates). www.silcoates.org.uk/admissions/ ... 7861328125 [i"In the Senior School a place is gained by a successful performance in our entrance tests, held at Silcoates in January each year."[/i'" always remember the flyer the sent through our letter box how much it cost to send a pupil there entrance exam nar money talks they do have some fantastic rugby fields which we sneakily use for practice kicking

Quote ="nottinghamtiger"As an ex-pupil I can assure you that Silcoates holds the most highly-academic entrance exam of all these schools (I took both QEGS and Silcoates). www.silcoates.org.uk/admissions/ ... 7861328125 [i"In the Senior School a place is gained by a successful performance in our entrance tests, held at Silcoates in January each year."[/i'" always remember the flyer the sent through our letter box how much it cost to send a pupil there entrance exam nar money talks they do have some fantastic rugby fields which we sneakily use for practice kicking

My point is that at least 1 club has played the game properly. AFAIK

Players need agents, end of. Without them, the clubs would exploit and cheat them. What chance has a player got to know his real worth? I have an agent in my own career and I know how invaluable they are, despite the 15% I give over. It's not just the connections they have, it's their knowledge of the fine detail in the contract that is crucial, or else you sign stuff away that you realise much later on is costing you thousands.

Without agents, players would tie themselves into stupidly long contracts, or ones filled with nasty little clauses that come back and bite them. Agents will tout their players around, that is their job, but if the club did their part of the bargain then it wouldn't be a problem. You have to look only to clubs like Leeds, Wigan and Saints to see that successful clubs hang onto their players. Agents aren't perceived as quite the scum there. Our problem isn't agents. It's the fact that all our players see ahead is more uncertainty, financial woes and lack of success.

The only way you could avoid having agents is by having standardised contracts, approved by the RFL and a players union, variable only in terms of length and financial reward, but that won't happen as it restricts clubs from finding creative ways to pay players. Remember the Singapore tax clauses that Aussie players used to exploit, until the taxman got wise?

Errm Silcoates and QEGS also churn out a good production line of Rugby Union players. No point sending them there, they'll end up playing another sport.

QEGS have produced some rugby league players for us in the past. Can't remember the exact details, but "Belly" knows. Also, the headmaster (if it's still the same guy) is very pro rugby league. Certainly far more than his predecessors ever were. However, I digress...

As I mentioned above, I'm sure the PFA had a system in place that allowed players to use their (independent) services at a considerably reduced cost compared with other agents to negotiate deals on their behalf. The benefit of this, apart from the cost, was that players got genuinely independent advice about the best way to develop their careers and protect their earnings, and probably realistic advice too, rather than advice from people who stand to profit from every move the player makes. I'm not saying all agents are like that. Undoubtedly, there will be some who see the need to balance both sides if they want a long term future, and look after their players' real interests rather than go for the fast buck. However, that doesn't always seem to be the case, and the destabilizing effect this has on both players and clubs is not beneficial to anyone other than the middle-man who earns from it. (I don't doubt clubs will exploit players where they can either, btw, but in a sport like ours, there has to be some middle ground that satisfies both requirements.)

I'm not sure you can compare this situation with the world of literary publishing anyway. The advice I've had from every author I've met (and I've met a few in the past) is "get yourself a good agent", but that has a lot to do with the fact that manuscripts that are submitted to publishing houses like job applications to the world's top companies. If the first line doesn't do the business, the rest is in the bin. Rugby league isn't that spoiled for choice when it comes to players and clubs.

Generally (certainly when I was there) it was a case of both - having money AND passing the entrance exam.
Some pupils were awarded scholarships that covered some of the fees, but they had to pass the entrance exam too and have a massive talent, be it musical or sporting.