Well I'm sure he and the board are trying to secure players, but really we're coming up to the middle of November, and most clubs have their team for the following year in place by this time.

I think that in 2013 we should just go and try and enjoy the day out at Odsal because we were always going to struggle.

What is happening with McAvoy and Donaldson? I'm concerned that we're going to lose both of them, and it will be a big shame if we do.
I can see why James might be considered a bit of a risk due to his past injury record, but Liam should have been one of the first names on FCs list, right next to Bateman. He toured with the Lions and from what I heard he played well.

I hope we're still in negotiations with both of them, but the longer it goes on the less likely it looks like we'll retain them.
I keep asking Ross on twitter if he has heard anything, but you can never get a response out of the guy. At least Connor Murphy always responded to your tweets, even when he had no new info to tell you.

McAvoy should be resigned. Young, shows lots of promise, and he's a prop forward.

As for Donno, again very promising, but very injury prone. Not sure what will happen.

When I have seen him playing I always thought Donaldson looked a smart inventive and versatile player but guess if we are working with a small squad his recent history of injuries will be make FC think twice. But think at the very least we should be giving him another year to try to prove himself and hopefully avoid anymore injuries. A example of how tough the game can be when someone who clearly has a natural talent is seeing his career threatened by injury before it really started.

Well I guess Ross must check these forums every now and then, because after my last post about him not replying on twitter, I got a response this morning

Thanks again Ross if you're reading this!

Basically he spoke to Paul Medley on Friday, and Liam's future is still 'up in the air'. Make what you want out of that, but I would guess he's either asking for too much £, or we're offering less than he was on last season and they've hit a stumbling block in negotiations. I'm amazed nobody else has come in and met his demands to be honest, and I'll be annoyed if we lose out on his signature.

On the plus side, Ross said there would be some good news in tomorrow's paper, so perhaps another signing announcement is imminent

Donaldson has agreed a new deal so I have been told and it should be announced very soon.

Confirmed in the T&A this morning that Donaldson signs 1 year deal.

Im glad he has resigned defo deserves another chance hope he has a good year

Notice that Ross refers to donno as last remaining OOC player. Is that an oversight or does it mean a decisions been made about mcavoy?

I suspect he means the last one out of the 2012 first team squad

It can't be an oversight because Ross specifically mentioned Liam to me in his reply on twitter.
So it either means he was only referring to 2011 squad players who were OOC, or Liam won't be a Bull next season

Yeah that's why I thought it was odd that Ross overlooked him. Pretty certain mcavoy was a member of the 2012 squad.

Great news Donaldson's signed up. Still think he is going to be one of the best

wouldnt surprise me if McAvoys deal is being held up by the frontline prop, thats why its up in the air. and if that as posted earlier involves a px for one of our players then theres a bit more work and time involved. previous comments have been along the lines of at least two more props, one frontline, we would be daft to be looking anywhere else than McAvoy for the reserve/squad player. and not a good signal to major new sponsors that are keen to support the youth development side to ignore an England Academy player.

Agree I think Mcavoy will sign back on

I have no particular problem about James Donaldson being signed, albeit he does have something still to prove after all his injury setbacks.

However, my concern is about the unbalanced nature of the squad. The three back row positions are now to be contested between Bateman, Whitehead, Olbison, Addy, Langley, Donaldson, Blythe and Walker. Granted Blythe and (at a push) Walker can play in the Centre, and Langley might be used as a prop

But we now have 8 players who can realistically play SL level in the back row, yet we have pretty well no cover if one of our two half backs gets injured, and - as people keep saying - we don't have enough props to field a foursome (awesome or otherwise)

Wen fit and on form we have scruton, langley and nas who are capable of long minutes at prop. covering with ben evans, maybe mcavoy and one other it is not that bad at prop.
Also feel there will be room for manouvre with cap during season for emergency loans /impromptu signings who become available during the year, as I don't think cummins is spending the full amount maybe for this reason. I guess I would rather not fill the deck for sake of it but there may not be people becoming available or interested in joining us.
I see Keith mason is continually being linked with a move and Jon Molloy has been released As well as Sidlow being mentioned.
If as being rumoured but not seen it confirmed anywhere that Cain is going permanently I am more worried about the halves as neither sammut or gale endured injury free years.

Also quickly looking at the dewsbury squad and noted three players who we may borrow at some point as I suppose a quick loan between us may be possible and advantageous for both clubs... Dario esposito front or back rower with skill and pace italy international and experience of queensland cup. Aaron Brown stand off or Loose forward from leeds academy who was not really likely to unsurp mcguire, sinfield, ward, hardaker etc. And they have signed Tom lilycrop who left our academy to go to wakey but his reputation is still good.

Would rather have Morro than any of that lot, even at his age.

The difference between SL and the Championship is massive, it's rare that you get players stepping up and proving a great aquisition. Royston looked good for us in patches, but he struggled fitness wise. Briggs was the main man at Fev till he came to us and he was erratic at best.

OK, Hill at Wire has been great, but I doubt he'd have looked as good playing for the Broncos.

Brown could be one we get first dabs on if he turns out to be any good, but if he had much about him, there are enough Yorkshire clubs in SL around that could have taken a punt on him once he was known to be leaving Leeds.

We are light in the front row and halfback. I'd be surprised if we rely on Cain to supply back up in the halves. I don't recall him doing much when not injured while at Dewsbury. Cummins can only go with what's available though, so we may see L'Estrange and Addy backing up the halves with O'Brien getting more game time at hooker if we lose either of Jarrod or Gale.

Props are a worry as they lay the platform. Would be concerned if we are relying Scrutes and Langers for a full season as they regularly miss a fair share of games, Langers seeming to get those "he'll be back next week" injuries that last a month, while Scrutes goes the whole hog and does his injuries for the season.

Props will pick up injuries as they generally take the heavier collisions, so it makes sense that we need more than we currently have. Resigning McEvoy, plus getting hold of an experienced prop such as Mason (even though he has injury history) will at least boost the numbers. You'd hope we don't get the same level of injuries we experienced last year too.....meaning even though we might have a few guys with bad records in that regards, you'd hope for rub of the green and a few players keeping clear of the bad ones.

Langley played 23 games last year so recent injury record is good. going to prop might mean less work for him and therefore even less injury.

New prop and Langley starting, with Big Nas as impact off the bench with Scruton (however, he would have less of an impact than Nas), with Evans and McAvoy (if he is re-signed) as back up.

Bateman
Whitehead
Addy - Donno

There can't be too many spaces left in the 25 man squad can there?

For me the starting XIII is looking strong but its what happens when we get the injuries. Teams like Wigan, Warrington and Saints can call upon youngsters who inevitably do ok backed up by players on form and high on confidence... we can't.

As it stands, we are still short of one prop and one half back.

Full strength I'd go for:

1. Kearney
2. Foster
3. Lulia
4. Blyth
5. Kear/Purtell
6. Sammut
7. Gale
8. Scruton
9. Diskin
10. Langley
11. Whitehead
12. Olbison
13. Bateman
14. Nas
15. New Prop???
16. Addy
17. Walker

Squad Players
18. Kear /Purtell
19. Donno
20. Evans
21. O Brien
22. Southernwood
23. New Half Back???
24. McAvoy???
25. ???

Think Keith Mason would do a job for us. It wasn't that long ago he was as Melbourne and St Helens. You don't end up at either being a mug, regardless of what anyone may say.

For me, full Strength would be:
1 Kearney
2 Purtell
3 Blythe
4 Lulia
5 Foster
6 Sammut
7 Gale
8 Scruton
9 L'Estrange
10 Langley
11 Bateman
12 Whitehead
13 Donno/Addy

14 Diskin
15 New Prop
16 Manuokafoa
17 Olbison

Much prefer Lulia on the left side due to his amazing right arm fend.

Think southernwoods gone to Whitehaven and obrien was due to go on season long loan.

The thing i'm most looking forward to next season is the development of our back row. I think they'll find it tough at times, but they will become better players for it.

Hopefully Olbison, Addy, Donno can push on with Bateman and Whitehead and really establish themselves as SL players.

Think Walker may play a few for experience, but I really hope Langley is moved to prop, think it's the time considering the talent we have in the BR and the shortage of props.