The idea that a Leigh coach would take instructions from a Wigan coach or indeed any other clubs coach is ridiculous.

Really hope it doesn't happen and i'm sure you know more than me Alan . The team Paul has picked has/will really gel together very nicely and we don't want anything upsetting all the hard work the club and Paul has put into this team ,as for the under 23s I suppose thats a different matter .

If thats the case Alan then surely it should be us sending players to there u23s to help bring them up to the required standard and not bringing sl u23s down to "what is in effect" below amateur level.

Sl clubs now only run one seniorish team below first team and that's U19s. An absolute joke.

I don't think so, j.c. if that U 23 side is competing against similar 'joint' sides.

I think this matter needs clarifying because of Season Ticket sales could be affected over this.

I think doing it the right way is better, and maybe we won't lose the hardcore fans by sticking to this. But if fans are staying away because we can't get the monkey off our backs by winning a playoff game against unfashionable teams already, then they are hardly going to turn up when getting thumped by the Hunslet Rhinos etc.
Its a real pickle. And it kind of highlight the selfishness of some clubs (not just in SL), because if one or 2 clubsgo down this route then you get other clubs getting sweeped away by it as well. Otherwise they will fear missing out.

Also some have said the competition up to now has been relatively untouched and prospered because of this. I disagree. How many threads have we had on here about so and so is in the Warrington Squad meaning not playing for us etc? The DC players wasn't our players, and so we have already had agreements with SL clubs deciding when players they lend us play or not.

That's under the normal loan dc rule of 4. Not 6-10 like you will see at swinton. Plus we never had 4 at all last season (i don't think). And if you think the dropping of 20s and 18s at sl level is good then you know nowt.

They wer already competing against similar sides Alan.

Leigh,swinton ,york,dewsbury etc could have just handed over £50k to a sl club and said please help us to devolope some of our players in your u23s

Everyone who supports Leigh RLFC' plus the board and coaching staff know already we can NEVER ever be Wigan's feeder club.

No statement is needed. We have a club with ambition. Does anyone seriously think that becoming Wigans feeder club is possible ? Be sensible folks.

Having a reserve side is vital and doing so by allowing contracted Wigan youngsters into our reserve side will not effect our first team because our coaching staff are as Leigh daft as I am. This will save our club money and is sensible.

10 contracted Wigan players in our first team forgive me but it will never happen and is not even a possibility.

But that won`t benefit the Super League side then will it?

You and i know this whole senario is to the sole benefit of the sl club.

When the statement does come it better be good.

John you are wrong on this one. Ask PR or anyone connected with Leigh RLFC.

Leigh's first team squad signed already should put your mind at rest And' that squad will see a couple more additions soon. They will be contracted to and paid by Leigh RLFC.

BeLEIGHve.

At this time,This isnt just about the first team, of which paul rowley is the coach.

I'm firmly on the fence with JC here , they have to respect the integrity of the Leigh public who will resent ANY idea of us being the Goons coons .

There's going to be many quality players that have released looking for clubs that we could have signed on on a Leigh contract and playing in our u23's . And what happens to our u23's players when the goons shuffle the team about to fit THEIR players into OUR team ? . do we then twin with the Easts and the Miners to give our players a game ? .

I knew there'd be trouble ahead once the ROFL got their paws on the NCL .

The main reasoning for the SL teams getting shut of the teams was A cost, B the level of competition was not strong enough to bring these players into the first team. So if you want to believe the SL clubs are only sending these players to play in an inferior U23 comp. your deluded. The real reason is to give these players FIRST TEAM game time.

With you here Casandra.
Any merger at 23's needs to be watched closely for migration in numbers to first team. If it wasn't about SL clubs packing out Championship clubs with 6/7 fringe players every week I can see no point in it for the SL club. The benefit for Championship clubs with no fanbase and no income is that they can exist in some form.

Reported today that no more than 5 SL contracted players can be utilized. So is that just a modification of 1 to the old DC system.

Also still can't believe top clubs are cutting u20/18/15 and replacing it with U19s. The U16's are the only retained age group from last season.

Isn't that restriction simply on the matchday squad?

I don't think so, Michael.

The media have reported it as 5 D/C players per Championship club. They compare that to 4 last season.

Think you can play 5 on D/C if you join with a SL club, I beleive that you can have 8 training with you but can only select 5 from the 8 givin you more options.
If you dont link with a SL club you can only have 5 full stop.

Quote ="DemonUK"Reported today that no more than 5 SL contracted players can be utilized. So is that just a modification of 1 to the old DC system. Also still can't believe top clubs are cutting u20/18/15 and replacing it with U19s. The U16's are the only retained age group from last season.'" See the snipet below, from the link on the RFL site, it clearly states FIRST TEAM ACTION. please stop being deluded and thinking they are just going to send you players for a under 23's squad. The aim is to continue to improve the development of players, improve the return on investment by clubs, reduce player ‘stockpiling’ and increase the opportunities available for the game’s young stars to experience competitive first-team action By entering into partnerships, the Super League and Championships clubs can increase standards by creating increased opportunities for all their players to experience the most competitive first-team action possible.” Under current arrangements, the Championships clubs are allowed to field a maximum of four dual-registered or loan players: that will be increased to five under the new partnership So in essence nearly half your first team squad could be wigans fringe players. www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/26 ... ost-player

Quote ="DemonUK"Reported today that no more than 5 SL contracted players can be utilized. So is that just a modification of 1 to the old DC system. Also still can't believe top clubs are cutting u20/18/15 and replacing it with U19s. The U16's are the only retained age group from last season.'" See the snipet below, from the link on the RFL site, it clearly states FIRST TEAM ACTION. please stop being deluded and thinking they are just going to send you players for a under 23's squad. The aim is to continue to improve the development of players, improve the return on investment by clubs, reduce player ‘stockpiling’ and increase the opportunities available for the game’s young stars to experience competitive first-team action By entering into partnerships, the Super League and Championships clubs can increase standards by creating increased opportunities for all their players to experience the most competitive first-team action possible.” Under current arrangements, the Championships clubs are allowed to field a maximum of four dual-registered or loan players: that will be increased to five under the new partnership So in essence nearly half your first team squad could be wigans fringe players. www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/26 ... ost-player

Rochdale's deal with Saints looks like a takeover to me.

I am seriously worried that we will do something stupid with Wigan - for the first time in 28 years I am not automatically renewing my season ticket...

Karl Harrison said in a Fax forum we're becoming a feeder club so it must be true

then me and you are peeing in the same pot at the moment