In fairness Willie went through the selection process and knows the budget for the squad. He didn't have to apply for the job.

I wouldn't rule out some more movement on the signings front.

Can't help thinking this is a mistake that may well come back to haunt us. Thanks Ryan and good luck wherever your career might take you next.

Spot on Cheshirecat to let Hampshire go and bring in Gaskell is bad business, We have weakened the team big time + most players brought in by the X coach Yet if things go pear shaped it will be W P who takes the flack you could not make it up .The only hope is he gets the same amount of work rate that he got from them last year when he took over .Which was far more than the x coach

But you said there was room for both? That's what I didn't understand.

I'm still not sure Gaskell is the reason Hampshire isn't staying.

The bottom line it is a false economy we lose another and I look forward to our next signing because currently we are not exactly igniting the enthusiasm of supporters with the exception of a few on here. I am being negative because we are currently approaching the season with less players plus several who may not be fit for the start. I suppose we could play Gaskell in two positions simultaneously because we are putting a lot on his signature. He is good when on the pitch but that is his problem unfortunately and not something you can predict, all the club could do is have a suitable player to cover his absence.

I'm not sure I get your logic. Why is signing Gaskell so terrible?
Hampshire wasn't starting when everyone was fit. He was great cover but cover all the same.

If Gaskell and Jowitt are both injured which is quite possible who do we play at fullback.

Not having a pop here but over the last 5 years Gaskell has played 97 games for Hudds this season was 11.

Over the same period Rocky has played 91 times this is one season at Leigh and 4 at Wakefield. This season Ryan has played 13 games.

We had 3 full backs this year Jowitt, Walker and Rocky as cover, Walker hardly featured 3 full backs is too much of a luxury

It isn’t.

Some fans need a scapegoat and for reasons based on their own prejudices they have picked Gaskell.

He’s a fine player, versatile and thus useful. He’s knocking on a bit and is thus a bit of a risk but then most of our signings are.

Why people just can’t leave it alone and welcome the lad on board Ian’s just give him a chance is beyond me but it says a lot about them and I’m supposed to be the nasty bully.

Listen to the two experts. Funny how others including men who’ve forgotten more about RL than you two will ever know see things differently.

Like most sane people I’ll go with CC, WP and the BOD’s all day long than with a bunch of keyboard coaches if that’s ok?

Quote ="cheshirecat57"No'" Want to reconsider, I would because I found this in two minutes and way more. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... nk-3366050 This is the bit that matters and it's repeated in other articles, 'The Wakefield-born player left his hometown club under a cloud, claiming he discovered he would not be offered a new contract through social media.' Clearly states he'd left the club after refusing a deal. I clearly remember MC coming on here a month later and stating Hampshire had thought things over and had a change of heart. I'm sure that will be verified at some point. So the answer is clearly YES.

Quote ="cheshirecat57"No'" Want to reconsider, I would because I found this in two minutes and way more. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... nk-3366050 This is the bit that matters and it's repeated in other articles, 'The Wakefield-born player left his hometown club under a cloud, claiming he discovered he would not be offered a new contract through social media.' Clearly states he'd left the club after refusing a deal. I clearly remember MC coming on here a month later and stating Hampshire had thought things over and had a change of heart. I'm sure that will be verified at some point. So the answer is clearly YES.

Well, persona;;y I'd drop Gaskell for the next game after that display! Oh - hang on he hasn't played yet has he, but some are already writing him off! Give the lad a break, he's not the reason Hampshire left!
I suspect the reason is financial and IMO the club are right to offer what they think a player is worth.
We move on and as for Gaskell a player with so many SL appearances can't be that bad. There's also the likes of Connor Bailey to come forward so I'm looking forward to next season with what we've got!

You are just looking for issues where we don't have them.
It's no different to any other team. If you have 2 full backs injured you play a kid if you have one ready or a back out of position like Miller or Kay
And if it's long term, you get a loan player, like we have done every other time it has happened in any particular position.

I also think with Gaskell, because of his age which us most talked about, we get a steady head.
How many times have we complained that Miller, Hampshire and to a small extent Lino panic when we get in a good position.
Gaskell is a solution to that. As was Westerman.

Sorry to see Hampshire leave. As a player, the link between him and Trinity has always seemed to be a very fine thread for some reason. Shame really.

I'm sorry to see Ryan leave as he always gave 100% and can fill in different positions when selected. Over the last couple of year's Ryan has suffered from a broken jaw on two occasions which for a rugby player must be one of the worst breaks you can have. Maybe these injuries will have had something to do with the thought process from the club when deciding how much to offer Ryan .

Terrible decision, Rocky is a highly skilled, immensely talented player. He is just a naturally gifted rugby player. Always gives 100 % , durable and a proven match winner. Exactly the sort of player we should be keeping, indeed he should be the first on the list of players we should have secured. Absolutely gutted as we should not be letting class leave the club. When we are in a battle to maintain our SL status Rocky has proved year in year out that he will put his body on the line, play no matter what for the cause. Never mind the loss of class but that attitude of one of our own cannot be bought, its in his blood. Make no mistake about it we will be favourites to finish 12th especially now that Salford have signed Syend and Akouala plus appointing Rowley. Its a massive shame Rocky going, Salford and Toulouse will have a spring in their steps this morning,

Really terrible decision And very saddened to hear Rocky is leaving

Can not see any possible logic to this decision.

My feelings exactly

Lol Vastman ,I know nothing about RL you have come up with the most ridiculous quote of the season .I have watched Wakefield for 67 year .I have seen the all time greats play from all over the world .You are just a beginner your not out of nappy yet for knowing anything about rugby . Signing Gaskel and letting Hampshire go is a bad move by the club .Hampshire as one thing that you can not teach and that is speed .Though we were getting over the bad signings by Mr Chester but this as pushed us back

I was gonna get a season ticket next year but that’s a no no now. Unless we introduce more quality into this team I think we’ll possibly be favourites to be relegated, all depends on Toulouse I’d imagine.

Goodness me it sounds like we’ve lost our best player according to some people. We haven’t. I don’t want to knock the player but he’s not managed to maintain a position in his previous SL teams and hasn’t been able to hold down a position when everyone is fit at Wakefield. I too am dubious about the Gaskell signing but we have him now and should get behind him. In a squad of our size we cannot have both of those types of players.

That will certainly help with anymore signings

Whilst I agree in relation to pace and Rocky has that Gaskell is no slouch although probably losing pace due to his age.
I think Gaskell has more to his skills in attacking the line with the team, also as I said earlier either on this or another thread Gaskel is perceived to be injury prone however he has played more SL games in the last 5 years than Rocky 97 v 91games.

Both are utility so in the big scheme of things we have lost nothing except some pace

Croft will replace Arundel
Lineham will give more competition to the outside backs and obviously with Kershaw's long term injury that plugs this gap.
Hood replaces the Woods and we have the young hooker coming through and Kaye as back up this is an area that we could possibly suffer we have Walker also who filled in pretty good.

Green has gone and rumour is we have signed Whitbread but nothing announced.

Walker the full back has been released.

Westerman on form is clearly a loss

Senior was never ours and I liked him but I feel we could have developed some of our own instead perhaps Ollie Greensmith who has now left.
9 out and 4 in so far with some young lads coming through the Academy.

As fans we want everything the harsh reality is that cannot happen on the finances that we as a club operate on.

A couple of areas give me a little nervousness but overall with another player or 2 I think we will be more balanced.

It’s not just Hampshire is it, we have allowed 10 others to go from last years first team squad. The problem is that Hampshire was usually one of our better performers but the club do not think he worth what he wants or he is not willing to accept what they offer. If it is the latter he won’t have any trouble finding another club.
I suppose you do realise that supporters other than those on the forum buy season tickets. It is the club’s responsibility to put a squad together that encourages season ticket sales. I guess they rely on support without question which may apply to some but not all. I would suggest that you do not belittle those that have doubts. We should remember that we have endured two seasons of mediocrity bordering on pathetic and currently our plan is to go into the next with a worse squad and this was the same people whose judgment was to give Chester an extended contract.
I have said elsewhere we shall see either the club’s strategy proves to be correct or we face another season of uncertainty.