Dabhand, I think I still have my £25 share issue from the last share issue offered by Hull rlfc, unfortunately as mildrover has alluded to, AP is probably looking for much more substantial investment.

But doesnt the club generally make a profit anyway so running to full cap, having the training base and renting the kc is allowing us to tick over nicely. A few extra grand on a top notch coaching team is all that people want. If and i know its an IF performances improve a few people will return and even a 10% improvement in attendances will boost the clubs coffers and pay for said coaching team/a marquee player - continuing as we are is only going to lose fans as people will not pay big money to watch the half hearted dross we currently serve. I now pick and choose my games due to cost but its hard when you pick a game, take your family then the team get tonked or dont look bothered. Last time we went my kids said it was boring and they didnt want to come anymore and i bet im not the only one

If we are struggling financially, I would hate to think where we would be without the (rumoured) 500k we made from the Australia trip, and the 2 x Challenge Cup wins

I doubt we are having money issues, AP is paying above the cap, with loaning players out and loopholes.

We just haven't been smart with using our cap and recruitment, one down side to success is that players can demand more money, so it's hard to manage, Connor and Sneyd are examples of this, Connor has a great season and impressed for England and he gets a new contract and pay rise to stop him leaving.

The good thing is that we are in a position next season to make some changes and get our squad back on track

I agree Dave, but as in his notes, AP seems to have changed tack, we’re once he seemed to be insistent on being in complete control, does he now want to go with a board system, he has the right to change his thinking of course.

There's always been a board, just nobody willing to spend an extra million or two on players. Money which will probably never produce a return on the "investment", apart from, maybe, a more successful team.

He said our cap was based on around 30 players. We've already used 23 players this season, add on Talanoa, Green and Boden who will already be on the cap as top 25 earners, and you're up to 26. Fash and Logan could well be in the top 25 as well, so that leaves just 2 more players to pick from who've yet to play this season.

Do you remember when Wigan formed that millionaire board with Maurice, no one could compete. AP seems to be looking for someone to share this financial weight, I think the board at present is not for investment purposes as such.

I think the marquee signing rule has shifted the goal posts too much, £170k*2 are already expensive players in terms of cap and real money, but you've then got to add on what these guys actually earn. That's were you need the extra investment. Remember that NRL players earn way more than Super League. The NRL cap is 2.5 times higher at over £5 million. Then you've got the silly money RU can afford.

Sky money + gate money + sponsorship and marketing probably allows a squad up to the full cap of £2 million.

All this makes you wonder, with salary cap rules, how in the long term all teams back off from running a reserve side, it makes fiscal sense, perhaps a short term investment, but the rewards for the clubs from home grown players for the future is a no brainer, yet the majority of clubs are on such tight budgets, any extra costs which can be avoided, will be.

In a salary capped sport, it still seems those with the most dosh, still end up on top.

Like all business, once you have the £, you are in charge. Isn't right, but it is true.

Do you think AP made the right decision as opposed to what you wanted?

Radford played that get out of jail card.

Apparently the Challenge Cup wins are [ithat[/i get out of jail card.
You know, them two we won at Wembley for the first time(s) in our 154 year history.

He’s got to go! Playing Griffin is the last straw!

Whatever happens from here on in this year we've been outstanding in attack and scored some stunning tries. Radford deserves credit for this.

We are definitely producing some champagne rugby of late.
Radford showing what an excellent attack coach he is.

Hope someone is keeping an eye on poor old bumpy. He can't be in a very good place right now

Don't worry, I've got my beady eyes on him. He's now masquerading as Denton on the other forum, and still trotting out the same rubbish. He's already said that even if we win the Grand Final, Radders will not be given any credit. How galling it must be when the object of your hatred is so loved by the rest of the fans.

You can't not like Radford...what would the toffee makers do without him?

Care to have a guess at how many times in the 154 years the CC final has been played at Wembley. No cheating now!

Well I definitely knew it wasn't 154 times Freddie but one has to add a little drama to the drum roll, don't you think?


I stand by my statement with the help of a little poetic license.

Just checked him out.
He's in great form the old bUgger.
His opinion of our coach has sunk to a new low level it seems.

Some of his criticisms of Radford have been and still are completely valid, but it's his steadfast refusal to give him any credit for anything that makes me laugh. It's to be admired in a way, you certainly can't call him fickle!

I've said myself that I didn't think Radford was the man take us where we wanted to go, but he is starting to win me around again. I hope to be eating a big slice of humble pie by the end of the year. But not bumpy, we could beat Saints 50-0 in both finals and then go and beat Melbourne in Australia and he would still refuse to say anything nice about Radford.

Bumby is clueless, has his opinion, but will never change his mind, no matter what happens, spouts the same thing over and over again and once you have him beat ignores your reply. This forum is a better place without him, getting found out of the other forum for what he is.

He's dug a hole for himself that deep he will never ever dare stop shovelling.