players going it, in a sense, marks the cards of the new owners with regard to their ambition - at least in the short term.

Now, I'm in no position to moan, I mean, after what I've said about this season being a waste of time, but I really expected the owners to be a teensy bit more subtle about their surrender. Simply running up the white flag is a downright weird thing to do, well, it is when you're expecting to sell season tickets. Don't get me wrong though, I'm as happy as anyone that we seem to be keeping the more recent academy graduates, or at least, I haven't yet read any reports of them sodding off to pastures new....though, of course, 'yet', could be the operative word there. In any case, in the absence of those senior players it's far from ideal, knowing that that anything achieved this season is going to down to those young players, who, to be honest, have enough on their plate making the grade in open age without feeling that the entire success, or otherwise, of the club's season is pretty much down to them and how they fare.

Still seriously underwhelmed.

Do you think deals are being put on the table,but being declined.

I think the foreign players won't be offered anything as they will be on more than most plus additional costs of housing etc. Other players will have been wanting the same deals they were on. Owners want to negotiate for a smaller wage perhaps. Player says no and goes.

doesnt sound like an offer was made in chisholms case. dunno about burr but I dont think we're in a position to apply for visas for a month or so as new company has to apply for a license. Would expect us to rely on loans early part of season and then some quota reinforcements to arrive 5 or 6 games in (unless RFL can sponsor visas on our behalf?).

Main ones now for me are signing up Ryan, Lumb, Halafihi, Keyes, Magrin and Peltier. Can build a team around these over the next season or two, all young.

As desperate as we are for bodies I hope not

What's the alternative? Play Joe Lumb who made around 7 appearances form the bench last year play 80 gminutes every game?

Exactly this

Besides, although it seems to be de rigour to bag Halafihi on this forum I don't think we've seen enough of the lad to know whether he's any good or not

We obviously need more than one hooker.

Yeah even I'm not gonna be picky.

I'd take Ryan Bailey in a Bulls shirt if necessary.

(But we're not desperate enough for Jordan Tansey though)

We could pay him in beer and fags. He'd be happy with that

The prerogative word being hope

meant hope we dont have to. Campbell at 1 Leon 6 Thomas 7 Keyes/Lumb 9? Joseph to spell if someone is injured

For the sake of one or two seasons, Halafihi will be good enough. Lumb to start, Vila off the bench. Would not put Keyes anywhere near 9. He is the long term halfback for this side so keep him there. Joseph we need in the pack more than ever, otherwise we will be light up front.

In reality this season we are a bottom 4 Championship side. We won't attract big name hookers or halves. Pryce/Keyes with Thomas/Trueman as back up. Lumb/Halafihi as hookers with Joseph there as a last resort.

Do you think possibly,what is happening now is a distraction to hide what is actually going on behind the scenes.

What do you mean?

I mean it's obvious contracts are being either accepted or declined.Do you think something is already in place behind the scenes to cater for the fall-out. Smith wasn't part of the plan thats pretty obvious,are the ones declining contracts being offered something playing on their immediate vulnerabilities.

As in, yes I'm unemployed and will have to take whats on offer.Do you think the new owners are prying on vulnerable personnel? Knowing they have a back-up on stand-by.

I think they're getting all the crappy jobs out of the way now as much as possible. Hence the torrent of bad news (apart from the Pryce and Mendieka re-signings).

My theory is we're being run on shoestring until the ground sale is sorted out. That could take months, years, decades or may never happen.

Ah right I see what you are saying now! In terms of Smith I think the owners already had their coach in mind. Someone to build their club around. If I was a new owner, I'd want my guy in there as well. Looking at the record of Rohan last year it makes sense if they can get a Brian McClennan on board. Personally I would have liked to have seen Rohan in the role but if it turns out be a shrewd appointment tomorrow then I will be excited.

In terms of players declining contracts, no, I don't think the new owners are prying on the players current situation. I think it is just a simple case of evaluating how much a player is worth. For example (figures made up), Kavanagh was on £60,000 a year last year. New owners come in and evaluate that he is a prop who got us to 5th in the Championship. As a new business we can't afford to be paying that and performances last season don't warrant you earning that much in a year so we will offer you £40,000 a year. Kavanagh declines and finds a deal worth more than £40,000. I don't necessarily think it's taking advantage of the situation but rather a genuine cost cutting deal.

Where will you find one of them in Bradford.

We can always steal them from Halifax and Huddersfield. It's what we do. Apparently.

Agree with you about Halafihi. Given so little opportunity that he tried too hard.

We don't know yet how they deal with things. Wait till they have been here a while not just the last few mad days.
How does anyone know if we are in good hands. The last three owners ended in administration.
Again, lets wait and see.
The big difference here is that these owners are clearly far more experienced businessmen and they probably won't mess about letting emotion making decisions.

And yes, I do think players should have been told privately and am disappointed but we may have to get used to decisions now being made that we don't agree with.

And that is all we can do now F.A.

You are clearly a long time Northern / Bulls fan like myself and greatly frustrated and angered at what has gone on. We don't really know what their plan is. He even stated on the radio yesterday that they can't tell fans the detail yet. I would love them to tell all right now but my experience with businessmen and owners of businesses is that they keep things very close to their chest.
All I can do is prey that these two will do things properly from now on even though that means they do it their way without asking us if it is OK. As someone else said. the new coach is key. That will tell us how serious they are this season. Big couple of weeks ahead.
FA, put your feet up, have a drink and hope it all works out - then get yourself up to Odsal and cheer on the lads.

Surely you signed confidentiality clause when you sat in on that recruitment meeting? Are you sure you should be giving away the going rates?

Too true. Let the kids in and bring back the bouncy castle, forget about the responsible adult bit.