So his point was what exactly or am I missing some subtle sarcasm?

Matt,

Please explain the 'no restriction' bit. Reading the terms of the agreement, there appears to be a numeric restriction, equivalent to the one that the so called 'Big Four' agreed, and that was in use last season. The current 'restriction', as I see it is that Wigan can't afford to offer anyone, not even Tom Spencer, because of injuries!

There's also a quality restriction, in that many of their youngsters aren't good enough to play in the Championship.

And, while we are on the topic of Wigan players in our Under 20's, wasn't young Bullock a Leigh Player before he went to Wigan.

Also, by my reckoning, we are currently using less D/C's or loan players than since this type of arrangement came in.

The no restriction bit will kick in when, as Radlinski has been quoted on, Wigan have got a 27 year old player coming back from injury so they send him to us for a week or two to regain his match fitness. I know that you will rightly point to the agreement that has been signed etc etc, but it's also been quoted that we would "never enter in to a partnership with Wigan or any other club" and look how that turned out!

Having slated Swinton and Hunslet for abusing the the system. I will walk away from following Leyth and go back to watching the Miners if we sell our soul.

Having also done exactly that... Same here !!

Alan , as you seem in close contact with the club on this arrangement would it be possible to ask Trevor why he changed his stance on it (or if indeed he did change his stance on this - did he know what was going on as it seems strange for a opinion to alter so quickly at CEO level at Leigh ? ), its clear Trevor knew any 'partnership' would damage Leigh's SL chances when he wrote his piece in the programme in January stating we won't be forming a partnership with Wigan as we beLeighve etc, but 8 weeks later Leigh have entered into a partnership.

I read and appreciate all supporters comments on this subject within this thread. My view is that I am unsure at the moment if we have "sold our soul".

I am confused that we issue statements that we wont enter into any partnerships and then this is issued. I truly believe people at the club are doing their utmost to keep the club alive however feel in the long term this will not be good enough. Do I want Leigh Centurions to survive? Of course I do after 40 years of loyal support, but do I want the club to survive by becoming Wigans reserve team? No, I certainly do not.

For now I will reserve judgement and stay loyal.

I hope and currently believe that nothing is different than that we have previously had in place with Warrington in particular but we have just made it official with the humbles.

For now I give the club the benefit of the doubt and will continue to follow and support the club of my birth which runs through my blood and one which I cherish from the bottom of my heart.

Leigh Centurions, please do not let me down and your truly loyal, unique and amazing supporters otherwise we end.

Watch this space closely, I don't want to leave.

I have tried to avoid reading/thinking abou this today, because I knew I would get wound up. Just got in and read through the board, I really don't know what to think. If the main motive was to cooperate and help improve rl across the borough, surely this could have been achieved without a formal 'partnership'? I think we need to give the dust some time to settle before reaching any conclusions- it is imperative that the club holds a meeting within the next five days. All in all, a very sad moment.

Don't know if you've seen a different quote, but the quote from the website appears to makes no mention of any such thing:

“I see this as a real chance for both clubs to work together for the benefit of rugby league across the Borough of Wigan, as a Club we can benefit in a number of ways which includes the opportunity for some of our players to gain vital first team football at Championship level. For Leigh this provides an enhanced squad for them to choose from with up to 5 players at any one time available via the dual registration or through the loan system format. Leigh has a great position within the game and both parties are keen to ensure each Club still retains its individual structures and identity.”

It looks clear to me that he is talking about the same type of players we've been getting on DC in the past - young, talented and on the fringe of the first team squad, but in need of some time playing senior rugby. We're not going to be providing Wigan with an arena to get first team players fit.

It seems to me that we've got what we've been getting in previous seasons - but because of RFL policies, we've had to sign-up to the partnership system, but we're operating a long way inside of what the system allows.

It feels like we may be on a slippery slope - and I hope not - but the club have currently announced nothing that goes beyond what we've done in recent seasons.

I'll be keeping a close eye on this situation, and if the agreement starts to 'spread' then I'll be done with the club. But we're not there yet.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Humble pie for demonuk bartholomew smythe and the like please

Ha ha ha ha ha ha

What a shower. ....

At this moment in time nothing at all is different to what we have done in past 2/3 seasons, in fact yes it is we have a lot LESS wigan players in our 1st team squad than WIRE players over the last 3 seasons. The big 4 got together and drew up a document on how the D/C should be used and that is exactly what we have done, ok we are tied into one club ( Wigan ) but that has been forced upon us by the RFL.

Now having said that the moment we see any senior Wigan squad players in to regain fitness that will also be me done with the club for good, but at this moment in time my stance is nothing as changed at OUR club from last 3 years.

Just looked at Wigans first team.
21 of their squad are under 23 out of 37 , two of those are on season long loans .
Wigan will have a 19 man squad every week . So half of their first team could in effect be eligible to play for us.
The only two of the 21 first teamers under 23 I can't see playing for us are Farrell and Charnley..

That seems to be the case. Dual registration has been in place for a few years and each year Championship clubs have been registering a handful of players from just one club. I don't see how it's going to be that much different to when Leigh were getting several Wire player on dual reg.

Someone said earlier in the thread that there are many young Wigan players who aren't good enough to play in the Championship, which is true, but there are also many who are and would offer a lot to Leigh. Given that Leigh fans seem to be quite happy with Tom Spencer, 9th in the pecking order for a place in the front row - I'd say there are likely to be several players who aren't getting in the Wigan first team who have something to offer.

I would also guess that there's a good opportunity for Leigh to get quick cover in case of any injuries, which would benefit any club.

People have been going on about Wigan sending established players to Leigh to regain match fitness but why would Wigan need to? Players needing match fitness or recovering from injury already get sent to South Wales.

There doesn't seem to be a major difference to what has already been happening in terms of personnel.

I can't see any established players being sent to Leigh. There may well be some players who have got game time due to current injuries who go to Leigh but they aren't experienced players but they are of a high standard. Players like Dom Crosby, Greg Burke and Sam Powell for example.

I understand people's reservations but I see the only major issue with what we're doing is because we're doing it with Wigan.

Had this been Wire or Saints I don't think there would have been half as much negativity on this board. There have been some good points made but I dont see this as us not having any ambition to get into SL. If I do ever see that this is the case then I to will stop attending games.

I do however believe the board should have called a fans forum to explain this prior to making the announcement via the internet. At least all the questions could have been dealt with in an suitable environment with representatives of both clubs being present.

People are asking where the benefits are to Leigh but we may end up with players that Wigan deem not at the level to participate in their first team. Is that such a bad thing currently? We dont have any players good enough to play for Wigan's first 17 now anyway, but that doesnt make them bad players does it?

I for one am not going to stop supporting "MY" town and "MY" club unless I am given irrefutable evidence that we no longer have any "ambition".

People will make up their own mind but I think they'd be daft to not continue supporting our club. If it's identity people are concerned about for me we lost a hell of alot of that when we left Hilton Park and didn't negotiate a good enough deal with the council for use of the facilities and money being generated through LSV.

Good post

we have to keep the faith, despite the very poor way this has been handled,

There was no negotiation, we were told " sign up or we shut Hilton Park " , by the council, so look to them , and the people who got the LSV built

Quite right Kevster.

It is an agreement with Wigan and that is essentially the problem for a lot of those who are angry about this.

Our club WILL NOT and CANNOT play any Wigan first teamer over 23 years of age.

We will take the odd player on loan for sure but the main thrust of the agreement is developing younger players in the Leigh and Wigan area.

This is no different than what our club did last season with Warrington but now it is Wigan there are those who cannot agree with that.

Then there will be those who will invent a scenario where this will change. It won't but they just want to believe i will as tbh I think they have just got fed up of watching our team.

Frank out of 37 first teamers they have 21 who are under 23!!!!!!!

How old is Tomkins?

I am well aware of that Lynda but last season we could have 4DC players in our side and noone objected. The change is they will come from Wigan not Wire so it is same as last season but with a different club and that is all.

Just winds me up that the people who are up in arms about this obviously have a pathalogical hatred of anything from Wigan. It's like colour prejudice and that is something that makes no sense to me.

Since Swinton have totally abused the system and Leigh haven't there is no humble pie from me at all

Quite right Frank; 'hatred' of Wigan was ok as a joke for a while, but some are not intelligent enough to know it's a joke between neighbours. Of course, it goes back to the 'take over' of our council by Wigan and the poor treatment the town has had as a result.
The take over was not Wigan's fault and maybe it's time to move on from the attitudes that some have.

It's his birthday today he is 24.

If you're interested, Fax Chairman's statement on this subject: www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article.php?id=10878

If you're interested, Fax Chairman's statement on this subject: www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article.php?id=10878