I agree. He well worth a 2 year deal.

IMO he the best 2nd row at saints and should still be in the England setup.

He is 10 times better than flannery.

Gilmour is very underated at Saints - you are hard pushed to find games where he has played badly. He always is dangerous and gets through the hard work as well. The problem is that we have waiting in the wings:

Lomax,
Eastmond,
Wheeler,
Frodsham,
Dixon

All of these look like they will make the big time and more. If any one of these youngsters was let go, I am sure there would be a thread about it. Given that all will probably sign up with the club on vastly better terms then what they have at the moment, then it is only logical that we will lose more of the elder heads.

The key is finding balance - who has more left in the tank, what do they offer to the side, and what development/skills can they pass on to the younger players.

at 32/33 I dont think we should be offering any player a 2 year deal.

The potential for long term injury, loss of form/speed are way higher at that age than a 25/26 year old.

We have done the right thing by offering Gilmour/Long/Gidley a one year deal - they obviously show by refusing it that they are not that confident in themselves of keeping up their current standard for another 12 months and earning another 12 month deal after that.

Invest in the future and keep the club at the top.

If his possible departure allows us to sign a monster prop, i'll wave him off.
He's a great player but as has been said we've got bucket loads of backrowers, i count:-
tony p, wilkin, clough, flannery, ashurst, and possibly dixon.
Thats without the possibilty of wello and/or pryce moving there in coming seasons to make way for lomax/wheeler etc, etc. And Soliola coming at centre next year, who could move to back row and wheeler/dixon/lomax to centre if we had massive backrow injuries.
I don't think he is underated, most fans know how good he is, but its time for him and the club to get the best deal, and i think that means going our seperate ways. One of the best signings (for the money) in SL, IMO

edit
you can add magennis to the list as well

FFS Gilmour was 31 last month, not 33 or 34 as some suggest. The best player at the Bulls is 36 soon, age does not count for toffee.

The best two props in the World Petro Civinoceva, and Steve price are 71 yeas old between them

. Menzies 35 , and Forshaw played his best rugby at 34.

Gilmour has pace, a fantastic defence, runs the best lines at Saints, and can create his own space with footwork.

IMHO 2 years is not a problem to retain a fantastic utility player.

Give over. I checked Gilly's passport recently and it seems his photograph was endorsed by Stanley Gene, "I have been a professional associate of Mr Gilmour for 43 years and I hereby...". He's 33 and if says otherwise he's lying.

He is still in fantastic health and looks fit enough. I would have no problem at all with him staying but business is business and if a 2 year deal isn't acceptable to us then its also fine by me for him to take Huddersfield's dollars instead.

Gilmour was 31 last and that old boy is a FACT.

Great player and i'll be sad to see him go, but there's no room for sentimentality.

We always seem to move on our older players at just the right time.

Spot on. I agree with all you say.

I couldn't care if he's 40 as long as he still playing well.

To much is made about how old players are.

Which other of our second rowers have Gillys pace? none Dixon couldn't catch Carvell and Ashurst isnt very pacy from what ive seen

Are saints getting shut of the older players for the sake of the team or to save money?

I don't think we can let so many players go and not bring some in.

Gilly is worth 2 years. I didn't see anyone moan when gidley at 33 signed another deal.

Already we lost gilmour, cayless and maybe KC from our pack.

I've been saying this for years. It's gotta be the money side of things.

I wouldn't like to say because I trust sir mac. He never let us down yet.

If it is money then saints should come out and say so, after all we are in middle of the credit crunch so most would understand.

We must be under the cap now and way under for next year.

this has been rumoured before and will only believe it when i see him in a claret and gold shirt. gotta say though i will welcome him with open arms if true, great line breaker and class player. hoping its true.

Sorry Mrs Gilmour

He is 31. He went to school with a good mate of mine. She made him cry pinching his bum.

last week?

[url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/huddersfield-giants/huddersfield-giants-news/2009/07/14/saint-signed-86081-24144590/Confirmed[/url.

Hmmmm,not at all sure at this one. Long I could understand,but for me we have no strike second rowers.
The lads who have come in are doing a decent job but they dont have Gilly's strike power,a mistake in my opinion.

Unless they have someone fab in mind to replace him, I'd agree with you.

well thats that then. Good luck gilly, thanks for 6 great years

Tony P?

no I am not mrs Gilmour, I am a Wakefield fan, but love the Saints style of play, and Gilmour was and has been a favorite of mine for years.

Exactly. As long we get in enough beef in the front row to allow us to play him in the back row that is.

Correct decision to let him go/offer him only one year.