It was more the enthusiasm and pride in the shirt was my point

original post squad list updated - Foster moved from a suggestion to "in discussions" status.

It sounds to me like Foster is going to get the nod as he'll be the cheaper option. I suppose if he does come in as a loan signing we won't be stuck with him for 2/3 years if he turns out to be a duff (Nick Zisti part 2).

I think we're going to need more than two wingers signed up though. We used 4 last year not counting the odd game there from Purtell. If we need to free up cash to sign some props then fair enough but we need at least 3 wingers. When we've scrimped on fringe players before it's not worked. Anyone remember how we went with Sheriffe and Reardon on the wings under McNamara??

Ainscough has his faults but he's as good as anyone available out there and I think it would be good to reward his loyalty and commitment with a deal at least as good as he got last year.

I realise that, & I will always excuse someone who gives his all, but it only will get you so far at this level. As much as I have slated Foster in the past, including when some muppets were suggesting him for England, he is going to make a better 3/4, possibly centre, than Ainscough. He must be worth an extra 4 points a game for his kicking, is Ainscough guaranteed a try most games that others wouldn't score?

Feel Foster would be a great addition to the squad agree with other posters we will be short still in the wing department come on bulls pull you finger out n give ainscough the contract he deserves

I'd have Pryce over both of them and from his peformance at Odsal Foster would come third.

FC has seen a lot more of him than me at SL and U20s level and if as Tigertot says there's a 3/4 in the making then FC is right to trust his abilities to improve him.

Agree with Bullseye though on numbers. Are we seriously considering going into a SL season with less than 25 players and a back up of under 19s?

Maybe Naughton is seen as an option on the wing on a back-up basis? A lot of clubs blood full backs, and even centres on the wing. I know he's young, but he seems very well thought of by posters on here that know the academy scene better that I do.

FWIW I still think that we'd be one winger short if this was the case, unless Purtell will be playing there provided he's fit, with a centre pairing of Lulia and Blythe.

*edited for typo

I can see Naughton getting a game on the wing but only once in a while.

Needed big powerful strong running forward

michael worrincy where are you when we need you.

only joking folks !!

well you gotta do what you gotta do

But do we have time to wait? Second time he tries to kick I'll be running on the pitch and kicking for him - I really don't have time to sit there for an extra 5 hours whilst he decides where to kick it!!!

I think your right - think the point is that Ainscough has been offered a lot less than last year (maybe others players also). Even though tightening belts is in order, players on high wages have left so to offer a lower paid player less when they've sold shirts, campaigned, given their all to save the Bulls must seem like a complete insult as well as the fact that they can't support their family with the money offered.

It's not like we're talking about a player the team needed to get rid of and most would like him re-signed.

Wasn't their a rule about number of homegrown players in 1st team squad? 8 rings a bell. Can only see Bateman, Langley and whitehead so far. Do players outside 25man squad count? In which case naughton and other two would bring us up to 6. Which surely means we have to retain two out of addy,Donaldson and mcavoy to meet the quota? Does southernwood count and does obrien count if he's put on loan?

Have some forgotten already how much in debt you were? Paying peripheral players salaries based on enthusiasm & sympathy, rather than merit, is a sure fire way of swiftly heading back that way.

Yep 8 in the 25. Add Olbison to your list and we've got 4. The qualifying period is 3 years in the academy structure so we're not exactly spoilt for choice and those with any experience comes down to a list of 2, Donaldson and Addy.
Sykes, Pryce and Kopczak all counted last year.

Or maybe the 100 grand plus players who have long term contracts TUPE'd over and have sat watching from the sidelines and constantly injured put them there in the first place. Maybe if they all put back a thousand/two thousand a year from their 100 grand plus then the 20 grand players might be able to make a living or at least get and offer somewhere near last year - that would make good tv watching the discussions on that! Bulls could get paid for allowing them to film!

Whitehead, Langley, Olbison, Donaldson, Addy, O'Brien and Bateman all would have been in the 25 squad. I think that if an academy player plays 10 games in a season then their wage counts towards the cap? Could be wrong though. We didn't use McAvoy, Murphy or Southernwood last year.

I expect that we will re-sign Donaldson and Addy so plus McAvoy, Murphy, Southernwood, Naughton, Wood and Roberts we will have 13 players from the academy in our playing roster for next season.

Could we 'sponsor' Ainy?

sponsors night tomorrow

Lets have whip round

Disappointed if we get Foster. Most of his tries out from 10m out, although to be fair his finsihing is excellent. He just doesn't work hard enough for me, doesn't take the ball in, dodgy in defence and can't see him making the efforts backs in defence that Ainscough did last year.

Yes we'll have 13 in playing roster but think we need to have eight of those in the 25 man squad which iirc is the 25 highest earners. Not sure if obrien will count if he's on season long loan. Don't think Bateman will have been in 25 man squad last year although he certainly will be this year.

Remind you of anyone?

Seems almost certain that Ainscough is off www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... ord_Bulls/ FWIW I think we're short-sighted to go into a SL season with less than 3 credible wingers. By my reckoning we have Kear (seems to be injury prone), Foster (assuming he comes on loan) and then what?

Seems almost certain that Ainscough is off www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... ord_Bulls/ FWIW I think we're short-sighted to go into a SL season with less than 3 credible wingers. By my reckoning we have Kear (seems to be injury prone), Foster (assuming he comes on loan) and then what?

Presumably you mean Scruton, I can't think of anyone else. If the club was stupid enough to hand him that kind of deal you can hardly blame him for accepting. Why should RL players behave in a more egalitarian way than the rest of the selfish, shallow, greedy society we have created?

Quote ="paulwalker71"Seems almost certain that Ainscough is off www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... ord_Bulls/ FWIW I think we're short-sighted to go into a SL season with less than 3 credible wingers. By my reckoning we have Kear (seems to be injury prone), Foster (assuming he comes on loan) and then what?'" Well hopefully we'll have Purtell available too, and Platt can also cover on the wing if necessary.

Quote ="paulwalker71"Seems almost certain that Ainscough is off www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... ord_Bulls/ FWIW I think we're short-sighted to go into a SL season with less than 3 credible wingers. By my reckoning we have Kear (seems to be injury prone), Foster (assuming he comes on loan) and then what?'" Well hopefully we'll have Purtell available too, and Platt can also cover on the wing if necessary.