Right chaps now we are in safe hands and the dreaded threat of administration gone, what are people's opinions on what the team needs to compete? Right ill post The squad up to date and add what in my opinion we need in the next 2 years to challenge.

1. Murphy. I'd send the lad back to Wigan after his month is up try evalds or the fish if he signs.

2. Williams. Fine where he is dangerous finisher and works hard with his hit ups.

3. Gibson. Unfortunately for him he's just not got what we need. A big strong centre with good hands on the cards in this position.

4. Gleeson. Ill reserve judgement until I see him play but this guy has the experiance and quality for where we are aiming for 2014/15, also will be good for bringing the young lads at the club through.

5. Broughton. With a proper centre beside him one of the best wingers in SL leave him where he is.

6. Liam Foran. Can't wait to see the guy play to see what he's got and how he can carry us around the park.

7. Theo Fages. One for the future this guy I'd leave him in for the full season to get the experiance under his belt, behind a decent pack unlike the Wigan game this lad could go to great heights.

8. Lee Jewitt. This lad tries his heart out every match but if we want to start challenging for trophies he's not the man to lead the pack, too Light weight for me, could stay as fringe player at the most.

9. Wayne Godwin. We need a world class hooker to replace Godwin, This is the position that can make the difference! someone with a quick scoot power and fast hands can make the yards and make that perfect offload.

10. Vic Mauro. From what I've seen of him good solid hard worker experianced exactly what we need.

11.Matty Ashurst. Can see this lad being a fringe player in a couple of years dont get me wrong trys his heart out but again we need power and abit of speed in this position.

12.Shannon Mcphearson. I like Shannon does mess about makes yards and can give abit of biff out like we saw against Wigan. He warrents this position IMO.

13.Stephen Wild. Good lad Stephen but can't see him being here next year he'll probably retire so we'll need a big forward with good hands in this position.

14.Chris Nero. For me this has to be his last season we'll need better cover on the bench someone who good enough to fill in and make a difference if any injuries occur.

15. Andrew Dixon. Solid and would make a good bench player.

16. Marc Sneyd. I think he can continue to develop over the next two years I'd give him a chance.

17. Ryan McGoldrick. I see this guy as abit of an enforcer someone who will come on to shake it up abit can see him being a regular starter after this year.

18. Ben Gledhill. Good lad with bags of potential he'll go well and has a big future infront if him.

19. R. Williams, might prove me wrong but doesn't look like he can cut it for me I'd take him for the rest of the season but that's it.

20. Jordan James. Big lad ok go forward defence abit leaky wouldn't have him no longer that next year.

21. Gareth Owen. Definately keep this guy one for the future, good all round game and fearless!

22. Stewart Howarth. I like this lad is give him a chance couldn't fault him last year a definate keeper.

23.Ryan Boyle. IMO only here because of the financial trouble struggled to get into the team last year, championship player at best. Replacement needed.

24.Connor Higgins. Looks to have good hands on his video on youtube and good ability to spot the gap. Lets see how he goes?

25. Adam Neil. Sorry to say he's just not got it looks like championship is his level.

So wer'e looking at bringing in another 6 quality players over the next year or two if we are to compete. We need IMO the following.
New fullback.
New centre.
New second rower.
Two new props.
New loose foward.

Top priority is to get JB signed to a new long term contract IMO. I have to say I'm puzzled as to why McGoldrick has been given a 2 yr contract, I can see the logic in a 1 yr given our current circumstances but he is 32 & a bit of a journeyman for me. Current squad I'd keep JB, Gleeson, Fages, D.Williams, Ashurst, Dixon, McPherson, Jewitt, Owen & maybe Gledhill. If we are to make the next step the others must be replaced but I'm happy they are here now & have shown tremendous loyalty. I think we need a FB, 2 x centres, a half back, a top class hooker, 2/3 props, 2 back rowers & a loose forward. Murphy had a shocker on Friday & I'd have liked to had seen Evalds but while he is with us I will support him.

I believe we are going to need 18-20 new players of higher quality and three to four years before we are anything close to realistically challenging for trophies. Hopefully with promises of full cap in 2014 the 30+ year old journeymen signings will be a thing of the past.

The first thing that needs addressing is the lack of size and power of our pack, for too long now it’s been second best in terms of meter making, gaining momentum and dominating the opposition. It’s pointless in my opinion signing world class half backs, fullback or centre’s if there’s no platform being laid by the forwards.

Furthermore the club will need more investment in backroom staff, training facilities and youth development. I also think the club needs to make a statement of intent by making a couple of monumental signings to kick start this journey and encourage other quality players to join Salford’s quest in 2014.

1. Murphy. Not the answer at the moment, weak and nervous send him back to Wigan

2. Williams. I wish he would hit the form he had when he first signed, needs to up his game and improve his speed but would keep him.

3. Gibson. To slow and defensively weak, not in the starting 13 for me squad member at most.

4. Gleeson. Hopefully he well come back to RL with a bang and give us a couple of great seasons, fingers crossed.

5. Broughton. Quality winger needs a good centre with him though, one of the first names on the team-sheet

6. Liam Foran. Hopefully he will grasp his chance at 1st grade RL, has the credentials so lets hope he comes good

7. Theo Fages. Class youngster no need to say anything else.

8. Lee Jewitt. Last year of his contract, we need better forwards so I would release Jewitt

9. Wayne Godwin. Injury prone and again in the last year of his contract, we have two good youngsters waiting in the wings in Howarth and Owen, I would let him go.

10. Vic Mauro. Hopefully he will do the business.

11.Matty Ashurst. Small 2nd row, squad player at best, I think we should get a bigger more powerful replacement.

12.Shannon Mcpherson. Good player strong and hard, keep hold of him.

13.Stephen Wild. I cant remember the last tackle bust or break he made, perhaps hes past it. We can get better, release.

14.Chris Nero. Time to retire.

15. Andrew Dixon. Fast and a hard tackler, with a big unit at his side it could be a perfect combination.

16. Marc Sneyd. Been given a hard time on the Turkey recently, he does need to improve and hopefully he will, squad player at this time.

17. Ryan McGoldrick. experienced player who will be ok this year, beyond that I have my doubts.

18. Ben Gledhill. Potential and has the height. Needs to bulk up and not run in such an elevated position which makes him easy to tackle! Keep hold of him he should come good. Squad player at the moment.

19. R. Williams, might prove me wrong but doesn't look like he can cut it for me I'd take him for the rest of the season but that's it.

20. Jordan James. Should be his last year at the Reds, we can get better forwards.

21. Gareth Owen. Class young hooker with great defence and attack. Needs more size but with a good pack he could be a great hooker. Keep hold of him, squad player at present.

22. Stewart Howarth. Good player but unsure about what his best position is. Keep hold of him for the time being.

23.Ryan Boyle. Championship prop im afraid.

24.Connor Higgins. I hope he is a good find but his CV looks like he has only played amateur in Australia.

25. Adam Neil. Championship level.

26. Nial Evalds. keep hold of this youngster, he looks an exciting prospect.

27. Dan Brotherton. 6'5" and fast. A proven try scorer in the reserves needs the chance to prove himself, keep hold of him.

28. Will Hope. U20's player who has been promoted to 1st team squad. A lot to prove, but is a big unit with good hands we will have to see.

29. Jon Ford. A big fella who needs to bulk up, good credentials U18 international, keep hold of him.

30. Jack Holmes. Good young back with power and pace, keep hold of him, could be a class act.

Given that as & when Dr K's cash starts to appear, SCR could turn into one of the more attractive places to be in SL I guess we're now looking at who is out of contract at other clubs at the end of this season.

Who would be in the frame in the UK as targets for us?

Who from our existing squad is out of contract later this year?

Jodie Broughton - 2013
Alex Davidson - 2013
Ashley Gibson - 2013
Wayne Godwin - 2013
Connor Higgins - May 2013 (On 3-month trial)
Stuart Howarth- 2013 ( ?)
Jordan James - 2013
Lee Jewitt - 2013
Adam Neal - (2013) (?)
Chris Nero - 2013
Marc Sneyd - 2013
Stephen Wild - 2013
Not 100% sure on Howarth & Neal , but this makes 11 , over 1/3 of our Squad

The only obvious one to retain would be Broughton.

Which doesn't bode well...

I think it's a massive year for these players. With the exception of Broughton and maybe Jewitt I can't see a future beyond the Championship if these lads fail to earn new deals.

Apart from Broughton and possibly Conner Higgins (depending how he shapes up) that's a big clear out, leaving plenty of space for some big exciting new signings.

Don't think you will see a massive clear-out. We'll probably retain most of the younger ooc players as cover. We're not going to bring in a completely new side...

You don't think so?

Unless there is a pretty large change in personnel I can't see how the Doc's vision of silverware and top 8 finishes are going to be realised in the two to three years he's talked about.

I don't think Dr Koukash has flown Graham Lowe in from New Zealand and appointed him Football Director to just line up a couple of signings for 2014. I think you will see wholesale changes to the playing personnel over the next couple of years.

I agree, I just don't see it happening as soon as some people think. I think it will take time. I'd love to be wrong but I just don't think anyone, including the Dr can snap his fingers and produce a top eight side. Not without ploughing money into it, and he said he wasn't a sugar daddy. Even then, team sports are fickle and results are not always forthcoming as quickly as people like.

I'm sure we'll get there. I'm just not getting as carried away as some.

Totally agree. But it has been quoted that we will be at maximum cap next year for the first time ever so that will give the club a lot more recruitment options.

Yeah, should be interesting. We will have the full cap to play with, but that's half the story. It's about which players we can realistically tempt to us, either ooc players or players we would pay a fee for (That's presuming that a Club would accept) I'm hoping that the likes of Lowe/Vievers/Long/Chalmers have a firm vision of what we need and who can provide it for us then be capable of bringing them in.

I think the gradual approach is the more likely option, but we could still have some bigger names with us next year, names we will need if we are to progress.

Whilst I do not wish to denigrate any members of our current squad, if we are to realise the success that Dr Koukash envisages, then we should be asking, "How many of our current squad would get into the Warrington, Wigan or Leeds teams?"

I fear it's a small number at the moment.

I think it's about working towards getting the right balance in a squad. I think Leeds have an effective system of categorising player pay levels.

Why not both ... keep the younger players and use them judiciously but a top up of older players with 2/4 years left of the standard of Fielden as of three years ago: still big names and still got it to win games.

The time to be discussing the merits of our OOC players maybe is towards August - Sept , Usually performances tend to improve ( See V Anderson ) when a new deal is beckoning.
I tend to agree with Barton Flyer, 10+ of our existing squad OOC may be too big a temptation , especially with the promise of going to 1.65M on wage cap in 2014.
New deals for Broughton - Veivers - Long will probably happen quickly .
for the rest it may be sink or swim time for these players as much as the Young guns.

Middleman - Talking of the Young Guns - I really feel we could break new ground here by approaching old Salford players now involved with Rugby Union. Dai Young & David Watfins for starters.

We should capitalise on those who look the part - Varndell for instance - who would put 2,000 bums on seats from Sale.

Relations between SCR & SS should be improved and if so both clubs would benefit. Powell for instance is out of favour at Sale yet has the makings of a RL player. Cipriani too would be another to put stacks on the attendance. Just feel we should think laterally.

That's you getting shot down in flames, but in effect your right about Powell I think he'd go we'll at prop and Ciprianni is a hugely talented rugby player who'd make a decent centre. Watching the 6 nations the other day and BOD from Ireland playing his last event and if there's RU who'd make the switch instantly its him but think he's a Saints fan and friend of the chairman so think he'd go there.

Looking at how many are out of contract next season I can see us signing some quality players all over the park! Spending full cap and getting rid of the deadwood! Cant wait for next season! Just hope phil and longy get their chance to be in charge next season, to see how they get on with a better quality team!

howarths awful , Nero and wild prob last season. get rid of Boyle id keep the rest on a 1 year deal just to bed the rest of the new players in i would rather play mcgoldrick at 13

also id sign broughton jewitt and sneyd on for longer and neal coz i think given game time could be a good prop/2nd row