THen again, some of those 30 could be down to the issues around that Christmas when Wilkinson left and the Doctor arrived. I would hazard that many players and staff took legal advice once they found themselves out of the club.
That's not to say that things are rosy. If there are rumours being spread by outside agencies, the reply would be simple. Owner and players say the comments are rubbish. The way they were denied at the press "conference" and the silence from the ranks suggest otherwise. As it is, we are not getting confident messages. So it is natural to look into the smoke to find the fire.

I'm neither pro or against the Doctor. I just want a club to support.

The saddest part about the constant rumour mill is that many are started by our own fans on social media, who seemingly can't wait to show how apparently in the know they are. It's disappointing to see them being used by player agents and journos to get the rumours out there on their behalf.

If nothing is amiss with the players then these rumours are easily rubbished. Harrison Hansen as captain talks to his players and gets permission to make a statement on their behalf saying all is well.

I don't believe social media is responsible for the current plight of the club, Salford rugby football club are responsible for the current predicament. You can lie so many times before fans, media & the good sports people we pay to watch question your integrity.

I posted months into MK tenure he was making the biggest mistake possible tweeting on social media, he alone is responsible for the current circus created on social media & him alone.

Well said TS.

I agree with everything you have said there. Everyone knows we are in a mess and everyone knows why. I just find the clamour to start off the latest rumour alarming.

I was saying the same back in the days when people were desperately be the first to announce our next big signing though so maybe it's just me!

Oh come on EB, what's sauce for the goose ..........

If our owner in his infinite wisdom chooses to wash dirty linen in a constant stream of foul mouthed tweets you can hardly expect others to refrain from using the media?

My understanding of the situation at Salford (which you may choose to believe or not, but is the information I have been given and makes sense) is:
The contracts given to some players included very high bonuses for appearances and particularly large bonuses for being named "man if the match". At the time of signing the contracts, the MOM bonus was not counted on the Salary cap. So, when a player won a MOM award (chosen by the club themselves) the player received a large payment not counted on the salary cap.
As more signings have been made, it has become impossible for the club to stay within the cap if paying the appearance bonuses of all the high earning players in the squad (which do count on the cap). Therefore, to remain within the 'live' cap some players had to not be selected. The first of these was Puletua, followed by Locke. Both are now taking legal action as they claim that they were unfairly prevented from earning their appearance bonus through unfair exclusion from the team. It seems that Harris is willing to back this up and state that he was instructed not to select certain players. He is on sick leave as the club don't want to sack him as they might then face a case of unfair dismissal, as he could claim he has been dismissed for being a "witness" in the proceedings that Puletua and Locke are bringing.
Following the non-selection of Puletua and Locke to avoid paying appearance bonuses, Rangi Chase is now not selected for the same reason - his massive appearance bonus will take the club over the salary cap. There is also the risk of him being named as MoM and receiving even more money (although this wouldn't be counted on the cap).

I think this sounds plausible. I just couldn't understand why Tony Puletua never figured when we were so desperate for back rowers and had to take young Greenwood on loan from Wigan. Perhaps these appearance bonuses are tiered like 10 games, 20, 30 etc and with Chase missing 7 games through suspension, he would have potentially hit the next level bonus if he had played in the previous few games plus the remaining games. I personally was bemused why Chase wasn't in the seventeen for Leeds whilst Theo Fages got the nod despite making it abundantly clear he's leaving the club.

This could also explain why we released Hock and were also eager to offload Locke to Scotland earlier in the season. Have the salary cap inspectors unearthed a serious potential problem earlier this year and its forced the club to act? This to me is probably the most believable I've heard of the many rumours because why would the club bring in two new players only a few weeks ago and fly Tim Sheen's over if we we are totally skint?

You might be starting the middle 8's with a minus in the points column if this is true.

We should run a book on which version of the soap opera will turn out to be true.

This is the fifth different reason for perceived troubles I've heard. They can't all be right, although, they could all be wrong.

theredshed - We released Hock because he was a massive bell-end and Locke because he was an expensive water carrier. TP simply wasn't wanted by the coach I think they're more plausible reasons tbh. As for massive bonuses, I find it difficult to believe that the Club wouldn't factor-in the numbers. Even Salford are not that dumb. Surely? Especially seeing as there's lots of easy ways around the cap if Clubs are so inclined.

I can feel myself walking away from SL at the moment...

Not necessarily if the club have acted to prevent this. Don't forget Hock and Locke have gone so no big appearance money there.

Brilliant!! I give in....I'm with the Butcher the way I feel.

I concur with are kyd.

Count me in, I'm ready to f cuk rugby league off after 40 years.

I don't believe this for a moment - you can randomly nominate a player every week to get a payment that doesn't count on the cap? No way that can be true, otherwise clubs would just have a carousel of MOM awards across the squad to pay salaries in excess of the cap. Or pay someone nothing but award him MOM every week and he would be free on the cap!

Quote ="FearTheVee"I don't believe this for a moment - you can randomly nominate a player every week to get a payment that doesn't count on the cap? No way that can be true, otherwise clubs would just have a carousel of MOM awards across the squad to pay salaries in excess of the cap. Or pay someone nothing but award him MOM every week and he would be free on the cap!'" Unfortunately, it is true. Directly from the RFL salary cap regulations: [iC. Items that may be excluded from the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player E1:5:7 The following items may be excluded in the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player: Prize Money 5.7.2 the Gross value of any bonus payments that may Accrue to the Player during the Salary Cap Year if he wins the annual Man-of-Steel award (or any other similar individual award) or any Man-of-the-Match awards in that Salary Cap Year; [/i www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/rules/i ... section=E1 .

Quote ="FearTheVee"I don't believe this for a moment - you can randomly nominate a player every week to get a payment that doesn't count on the cap? No way that can be true, otherwise clubs would just have a carousel of MOM awards across the squad to pay salaries in excess of the cap. Or pay someone nothing but award him MOM every week and he would be free on the cap!'" Unfortunately, it is true. Directly from the RFL salary cap regulations: [iC. Items that may be excluded from the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player E1:5:7 The following items may be excluded in the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player: Prize Money 5.7.2 the Gross value of any bonus payments that may Accrue to the Player during the Salary Cap Year if he wins the annual Man-of-Steel award (or any other similar individual award) or any Man-of-the-Match awards in that Salary Cap Year; [/i www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/rules/i ... section=E1 .

On 24 June 2015 Junior S'au and Carl Forster were confirmed as having signed new 2 year contracts. This is after Kevin Locke left and whilst the Tony Puletua situation has been going on. So what exactly has changed other than the constant attacks from external forces. Let's wait and see how the team perform against Widnes.

It's good to see that Nottingham tiger has progressed from being an expert in visa and employment law to now also being an expert in salary cap issues at Salford.

Quote ="nottinghamtiger"Unfortunately, it is true. Directly from the RFL salary cap regulations: [iC. Items that may be excluded from the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player E1:5:7 The following items may be excluded in the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player: Prize Money 5.7.2 the Gross value of any bonus payments that may Accrue to the Player during the Salary Cap Year if he wins the annual Man-of-Steel award (or any other similar individual award) or any Man-of-the-Match awards in that Salary Cap Year; [/i www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/rules/i ... section=E1 .'" If there is no cap on these payments, surely that clause alone renders the whole cap irrelevant? So for arguments sake Saints can pay Roby £100k for picking up a MOM award and it wouldn't count on the cap?

Quote ="nottinghamtiger"Unfortunately, it is true. Directly from the RFL salary cap regulations: [iC. Items that may be excluded from the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player E1:5:7 The following items may be excluded in the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player: Prize Money 5.7.2 the Gross value of any bonus payments that may Accrue to the Player during the Salary Cap Year if he wins the annual Man-of-Steel award (or any other similar individual award) or any Man-of-the-Match awards in that Salary Cap Year; [/i www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/rules/i ... section=E1 .'" If there is no cap on these payments, surely that clause alone renders the whole cap irrelevant? So for arguments sake Saints can pay Roby £100k for picking up a MOM award and it wouldn't count on the cap?

Correct.
Interesting how many times Chase was named MOM in his first year at Salford, although I didn't attend the games so can't comment on whether it was deserved or not.

I am a man of many talents.
In seriousness, I am not an expert on the salary cap. I am, however, capable of reading the regulations.
My little knowledge of to goings on at Salford comes from an ex-player with no axe to grind (not Locke or Puletua)

Quote ="nottinghamtiger"Unfortunately, it is true. Directly from the RFL salary cap regulations: [iC. Items that may be excluded from the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player E1:5:7 The following items may be excluded in the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player: Prize Money 5.7.2 the Gross value of any bonus payments that may Accrue to the Player during the Salary Cap Year if he wins the annual Man-of-Steel award (or any other similar individual award) or any Man-of-the-Match awards in that Salary Cap Year; [/i www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/rules/i ... section=E1 .'" Is there a limit to these extra incomes? Could a club pay £500,000 to its Player of the Year, £250,000 to Young Player of the Year, £150,000 to Clubman of the Year? Sounds like BS. There'd be no point having a cap. Maybe that's why Marwan cancelled the players awards dinner last year.

Quote ="nottinghamtiger"Unfortunately, it is true. Directly from the RFL salary cap regulations: [iC. Items that may be excluded from the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player E1:5:7 The following items may be excluded in the calculation of the Salary Cap Value of a Player: Prize Money 5.7.2 the Gross value of any bonus payments that may Accrue to the Player during the Salary Cap Year if he wins the annual Man-of-Steel award (or any other similar individual award) or any Man-of-the-Match awards in that Salary Cap Year; [/i www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/rules/i ... section=E1 .'" Is there a limit to these extra incomes? Could a club pay £500,000 to its Player of the Year, £250,000 to Young Player of the Year, £150,000 to Clubman of the Year? Sounds like BS. There'd be no point having a cap. Maybe that's why Marwan cancelled the players awards dinner last year.

Given international appearance bonuses are limited to £5k, I can't imagine there is no guidance for clubs on the permitted extent of Man-Of-The-Match bonuses.

But then this is the RFL I suppose.