Not quite sure if you understand what Mike's role is. Mike has been speaking to players on a list of preferences compiled by Chris Chester, and if any other names crop up the final decision is Chester's. So, you will need to take it up with the coach if your not happy.

Correct I'm not quite sure I know his role as I'm not in it and I'm quite sure you don't either though I'm not naive enough to think the head coach picks all our signings? Tho maybe a bit harsh blaming Smith totally as I'm sure NH has a bigger say than anyone in who we do or don't say just like I suspect the doctor does at Salford. Can u genuinely say Chester wanted Josh to go if he for 1 second thought his replacement could be a 2nd grade journeyman from oz? I know it's sounding like I'm slagging the board off and I don't really mean to I'm just baffled at the letting go of 2 of our best players who were under contract with seemingly no back up plan?

ERR forget the contract if a player wants to go and you get a sum of money for him, then you let him go if not you have a player that will not give 100% no matter about the contract, the good thing about contracts is if he is a good player you get some money for him if he goes

Weyman leaving.

I am sure NH (& RC) do cross that line but it does seem to be policy to let the head coach select who he wants and the Board deliver within reason. The only instance of Board room interference I know of is the Mason signing under Justins tenure.

When Josh was given permission to fulfil his ambition of playing in NRL the spine of the team hadn't been ripped out, there wasn't a quota spot available so a replacement was sourced from the Home market - I am assured this has been done and waiting TBA.

Travis's departure was agreed with a replacement in mind, the reason for Smithy's trip down-under.

Keating's departure was a decision pending with Smithy sourcing availability as part of his trip down-under, the player CC preferred is available so the club released Keating.

So, whilst it may seem baffling - as if these decisions where made spur of the moment - there is method in the madness, it just looks far worse now than it did when Josh started the ball rolling.

If you think the board only played a part in the Mason signing then you are certifiably insane...

Carlos is nearer the mark than yourself.

Unfortunately , the last few years of the boards poor attempts at Rugby League Manager on the back of beer mats , has left us more or less cast iron certainties to finish outside the 8 and be fighting to retain a spot in SL...some "method" that...

So unless the "method" was to guarantee lower crowds and income and a fall off in season tickets at the end of next season then i suggest it needs to be revamped...

You certainly like your soundbites. Your observations would carry more weight if you provided some actual evidence to support them.

If you read Voltaire posts he is the legion of doom none us really know what goes on behind the scenes and it's a bit stupid to think that the board just sell the best players and then say to Mike Smith just go to aus and sign a few players I guess it's been planned a bit better we all knew Travis was leaving months ago so I guess the coach and board knew even longer people are making out the season starts on Sunday and we don't have a team

Perhaps only you know what you are responding to because it bears no relation to the debate between myself and Carlos. For the record, I will stick to my certifiable insanity, thank you very much

Voltaire is a bitter old man.

Anyone seen Larry Billey around here lately? Maybe he forgot his password.

I don't for 1 minute think that these decisions were made on a whim and a lot of me commends the board for allowing josh to follow his dream but as a Hull Kr fan I'm worried we would let him go without a replacement? We maybe have 1 I don't know but were getting linked to every half back and hooker in world at moment so don't look likely. And if we had someone lined up to replace Burns why did(as reported) we make an offer to Carney? Surely we didn't agree the burns deal on the hope we had a player? Maybe we have all 3 positions covered but all the evidence points the other way. Don't for 1 minute think I don't appreciate all NH and the board have done for the club I do but at the moment I'm thinking next year could be a long year?!

Looking from the outside in I think the club have dropped a huge bxxxxxk by hoping they were going to get players to fill the gaps, when you look at the names being bandied about. For example did they honestly believe they were going to get the following
Burns. Either Carney or Sandow
Hodgson. Lunt was supposed to be a done deal with Carlisle as number two
Keating . Are they happy to let him go with no replacement lined up or is Beharrell the answer

How can Mike Smith have enough knowledge on players credentials to be able to negotiate deals when his past experience was a pub landlord. As far as I know anyway
Surely Phil Lowe should have been involved although his name is never mentioned isn't he director of rugby anymore?

I would imagine our recruitment is well on track, the only thing that gets my goat is good news should be announced quickly, for pass sales, optimism and for the peice of mind for us fans.

don't worry hessle rover i had a argument with a bloke on red army, due to the fact he seems the players we lost hated neil hudgell and the way he runs kr, and he said he should keep his nose out of everything.. but like i say without these guys there would be no kr. so we owe them a lot of respect yes he made some mistakes but he must know what he is doing.. but i agree if we were about to sign big names i.e brough,lunt, sandow. we would be shouting about it now to sell season passes.. and to reassure fans all is in hand.. and i just wondered who is saints hooker or replacement hooker... just thought if people are saying it is one who are with a team in playoffs and it maybe a deal with burns due to we was getting 100k but ended up with 60k, maybe the 40k a miss was a payoff for there hooker just wondered..

The players you name as replacements for Josh and Travis haven't come from the club - I recall the Lunt one in the HDM and League Express linking Rovers with Carney (and more recently Campese) but Sandow is rumour mill. TBH it is par for the course to be linked with all and sundry especially when there's a transfer kitty. It all adds to the drama and frustration of the situation.

As for Smithy's competence in these matters, he is highly regarded amongst his peers and more importantly trusted by the Board. He shares the same values as NH and RC when it comes to Rovers and has done a pretty good job as CEO and negotiator, bringing a host of top players to the club. I am sure once all of the deals are done and dusted the club will make the announcements, and if Chester's comment in the HDM today is anything to go by there might be some 'positive' news sooner rather than later.

Rovers have had conversations with Penani Manumalealii and Daniel Holdsworth, at what point I am unsure and whether or not they are in the frame is also unknown.

However, Chester was big mates with Holdsworth during his ill-fated period at our noisy neighbours, and Poching has been involved in the career of Penani.

I am a big fan of Holdsworth, always seemed to slaughter us when he played us (in his Salford days), and I think his period at the KC (like many half backs in recent years) was so uncharacteristic it can be dismissed.

I don't know much about Penani, 20yrs old, except for the four or so mins I have seen of him on YouTube as a former Kiwi Junior (versus Australia).

Underwhelming to say the least. Can't see many rushing out to buy a pass on the strength of those signings.

I genuinely don't understand what level of signing people expect us to bring in. The standards of carneys etc are special circumstances and not the norm, we don't need need to be pinning our hopes on some individual to come in and win us every single game, because mavericks although look nice and flashy do nothing for game and team management,the area we struggle on. Two composed half backs who create opportunities for the back line and manage games effectively and allow us to win more games will have more beenfits on footfall then a star name who may shift a few passes but alienate the full team and then the supporters into the season. We have tried that, didn't work.

Some on here won't but a pass until we've signed Cameron Smith and Jonathan Thurston

I always really rated holdsworth, thought he got a brunt of a lot of unfair criticism at fc, they wanted him to be something he wasn't.

That's the trouble its all "as far as I know". You obviously know diddly-squat.

Oh dear.

How does this news support the much-publicised phrase [i"Travis will not be allowed to leave unless a better replacement is found?"[/i

We are scratting around for crumbs falling off the table, and quite frankly, it's not good enough.

I could not agree more. I despair when people keep posting that pass sales are dependent on marque signings. Some on here need a reality check.

Paul T yesterday you said we had signed a 9 and it was waiting to be confirmed also that MS was going to oz to finalise some deals with targets already confirmed? Now were in talks with 2 others but just talks. Talk about idle gossip.

Won't sell mant shirts with his name on, it will double the price