Just seen this tweet from JS:

"been an up and down season but 1 that I'll always remember...was great to be part of such a great bunch of blokes n a great team. Thank you."

He also tweeted:

"HUGE shout out to the 4eva loyal and passionate bulls fans that continued to get behind the team n club this season. I can't thank you enough."

All very past tense. I assume his announcement will be next.

No surprise but IMO a real loss. His creativity alongside Gale's control will be hard to replace.

Think he's occ now, so to be expected that he's been looking. Daft if he'd not been, especially considering he's on the overseas reg so wouldn't have been guaranteed anything even in 'normal' circumstances.

I don't think it's any secret that we need to make some savings on player salaries. I would guess he will be up there among the higher earners of the players out of contract. Would like to think that we could hold onto Gale though, he is the key halfback to hold onto IMO.

I thought your friends down in Huddersfield had been claiming on their Site that he had signed for them with Kopczak ages ago? At least he hasn't jumped ship on you so maybe he hasn't signed, or is he one of your OOC players and doesn't have to jump ship!

He's non federation trained and with Purtell, Lulia, L'Estrange, Manoakafoa, Kearney and him at the club one had to leave for next season to be within the rules. As has been said I reckon he's one of our bigger earners.

He's been entertaining to watch, though often it's either been "penthouse or ehouse" and little in between. He's had a lot of upheaval this past couple of years so I hope he finds a more stable club!

As for Gale, I hope he stays with us though a few Shudders fans think he's signed for them. Losing all our halfbacks along with 3 props so would leave us severely weakened.

Given the loss of Kopczak, I'd imagine the spare overseas spot would be held open for Manoakafoa which would mean Sammut would be leaving us. Shame, because he has been entertaining player just not very consistent.

But what if Purtell cant carry on playing?

Platt seems to have done very well most games at centre, would we gain anything if Purtell returns but will never be again at his best due his health concerns.

So if we could negotiate a better deal for sammut, we need abit of flair in some of the games, pity he is the smalllest guy on the pitch he gets targeted a lot.

And? Burrow is small. Lowes was small. Both tackle like machines.

Until that's confirmed we have a moral duty to stick by him.

Indeed, the club, players and fans need to stick together through tough times, and hopefully Purtell can carry on with our support. Platt was in the paper only today talking about being hopeful of developing a partnership with Purtell when/if he gets back on the pitch.

I can see Sammut going, I'd hope to keep Lulia and Nas (if we're still in SL), but I wouldn't be surprised to see any overseas player released or sold.

I'd prioritise the youngsters we want to keep in the U18's and U20's and the first team squad first...thats the future of the club, not Sammut as much as I like him as a player.

given Gale stays and at SHalf, have we an u20/18s player that is an elusive runner that could partner Gale at SO?

Liam Darville in the U18's was looking first class at SO, and is one for the future, but I lost touch with his progress once they stopped sending me the DVD's to edit for Bullbuilder so I have no idea how he's gone since midseason or if he's ready to step up. I suggest its too soon but he's one for the future and would be one of the players I'd be looking to secure if I was the new owner.

Does anyone know how Cain Southenwood has been going in the 2nd half of the season? He's 20 now (I think)so the time and circumstance might be right for cain to get a shot at a first team spot?

I concur with Duckman: Darville has been class all year for the 18s, however he's about 2 stone away from first grade.

Think comment from those who watch that level regularly is that he doesnt look like stepping up. Hasn't Bateman played standoff in the past?. Could that be a stop gap measure for next year?. Then move him back into loose/2nd row following year and sign a S/O or promote darville if ready.

That's a shame about Cain if true, I always thought there was potential there. I guess Bateman and a couple others could step into 6, but I think if we are in sl and short of a 6 I'd try and secure an actual 6 at the expense of other signings, even if it's via a loan rather than trying to make do.

What about that Curtisd into first grade squad and BK to 6? Or Platt to 1 and BK to 6? Might be best we can do.

Or Kear to FB seem to recall that is his preferred position

Problem is we're also likely to be looking for a 7 (assuming hudds fans were accurate about signing both koppy and gale)and at least 2 props. 6 is a position we can fill from within squad so 7 and props are priorities for me as we cant shuffle round to cover those positions.

Omar Khan said in France to supporters that when our league status is sorted we will be running at full salary cap level for either competion.

having full salary cap available isnt going to help us if there's no one left worth signing by time RFL finally get round to deciding on which league we're competing in. Next years signings could end up being similar to 2011's i.e. stop gaps for a year.

There will always be people to sign, may be bottom of barrel but still.

Holdsworth would have been a good signing but Hull snapped him up, how can they still be under the cap haven't really read about any players being released as of yet

Galea come out of retirement, we'll need somebody like him.

and would be someone with a bit of experience to help the young ones out.

Really? They lost McKinnon half way through this season who was one of their biggest earners. Manu and Turner are going to Saints, Sam Moa is off back to Aus and it looks like O Meley will be leaving too with Wakey being his most likely destination.

Additionally, we could not have signed Holdsworth as he is an overseas player and our 5 spots are already taken.

If Omar's statement has merit then this is the most significant announcement for months.
It assures us that funds will be in place to spend to the cap despite possible restrictions on contributions from central funding (including SKY money)
What players are available & who we sign is for others to decide - at least we now seem to have the money to start the rebuilding process in earnest.;