If we got promoted, with the extra SL cash i could live with that.

I would be disappointed to see Gaskell go when we get into SL but as you say thankful he chose to stay with us this season. However lets not forget he has come on leaps and bounds at our club and not been as effective before that. Not totally convinced about Sammut. Sure he has great days and can play some good stuff. The downside is he runs hot and cold.

I think the club needs to be prudent here and assume we won't be promoted. You always have to prepare for the worst case scenario.
If we end up playing in the championship again next season, you could argue that a halfback pairing of GoB and Sammut is actually better than what we have now.

Well, it's a combination of two actual halves, so yes, I think that's probably correct.

:
I would prefer a combination of Gaskell and O'Brien. If we do not achieve promotion Lee would be daft not to seek a bigger challenge. However if we go up it's likely he would be one of the first names on our team sheet .
I can understand any players wish to test himself. Whatever he decides all Bulls fans will wish him well

[url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/13312557.You_read_it_here_first____Star_man_Gaskell_vows__I_ll_be_at_Bradford_Bulls_next_season_regardless_of_division/Says he's staying next season regardless of division[/url

Superb news. What a shot in the arm! He's been awesome this season and to have him confirmed for next year is brilliant.

BTW I heard last night that the Sammut rumours were started in the Sammut household and there's nothing in them.

Absolutely fantastic news. Could have a domino effect too, if he stays then others may decide to as well.

Yeah I was thinking that. Let's hope so. A bit may depend on budgets given that if we don't go up I think we get a cut in the central distribution from what we got this year.

Sammut is allegedly on £90k and won't consider a pay cut. He's going nowhere.

If it turns out to be true and he does start for us next season then that is great news. As regards budgets for next season then the middle eight fixtures could provide a decent uplift in income and If crowds stay at similar levels we shouldn't be much out on budget predictions. Looking at the squad we are paying for now I can see quite a lot of potential for savings just by releasing a few that we haven't really needed, and we have added 3 players during the season.

Can someone change the title of this thread please.

So it's more a case of shaking the tree and seeing what nuts fall out then?

But it's very good news that Gaskell is staying put next year. It should be capped off, IMO, by giving him the captaincy.

I can't see why people are so surprised at today's announcement.

The clue was in the OP

Well spotted.

Well Parky is known for his duff scoops but I thought it was worthy of discussion. Absolutely fantastic news that he is so committed and loyal to our cause though. Let's hope we can reward him with that SL contract.

That'll be a no, then.

Great news! Hopefully AOB will be here next year regardless.

Right, that's our 6 sorted. Time to get a proper 7 signed up. GoB anyone?

Gaskell contract is big this season and even bigger next season so it ok him saying I am stopping but can we afford to pay over 100 grand if we don't go up

Reading the article it states that he has a Championship contract and a Super League contract - one would assume that if we are not successful then he would remain on the Championship contract which I am sure our current board will have ensured is within their "championship means" for 2016........if we are successful then he would revert to the SL contract with, I am sure, a significant (well earned) increase in salary.......

How do you know how much he's earning, you can't know that unless you are Lee Gaskell, his agent, Marc Green or Steve Ferres or Lee Gaskells wife

Which one are you

He might be more than one of those.

I'd be very surprised if we have committed 1/10th of our salary cap to Gaskell, especially with Jimmy's preference of a big squad.

Well, G O'B would be nice it must be said, though Siejka is signed until the end of 2016. Whether that includes the SL option I don't know - maybe all players signed on longer than single year deals have both versions?