[quote="Dave K.":34j4kmfc]It's a right mess, can't blame Salford, as they are trying to keep their pla yers as long as possible, hoping for investment. And the players don't really want to leave. Like DSJ says, can't see how this two week window thing would work. .[/quote:34j4kmfc] Fair play if Salford are confident they don’t need to sell absolutely anyone and can get a takeover done in 2 weeks this will work out great for them. On the flip side they’ll not be able move anyone on in this 2 weeks, but once the dispensations are granted it’s open season and they lose everyone. I hope they get a buyer and end all this nonsense, it’s going to be farce if they don’t.

They are just buying time as I said when all this started. The RL is a toothless Tiger we all know that and they have no real control over the Clubs at all, the owners dictate what is happening and Salford have just been buying time and hoping that their new investment comes through. Good for the fans of Salford but more worrying is the bigger picture where we see just about every Super league Club running at a loss (some in a phenomenal amount of debt) and once Salford get sorted every one of our elite division will be dependant on hand outs from their owners to keep going. Whilst London just relegated were on the cusp of extinction only to be saved by NRL investment. That's the real issue with our game, we don't generate enough income and are therefore as a sport living above our means and that can only go on for so long the current model ia in the long term unsustainable. I hoped that IMG would be the answer but that's proving to be all smoke and mirrors with the clubs only doing what is best for them and not the game in general. You can't blame the clubs for running things its their money that's keeping the game going but its about time radicle solutions were sort and that will only happen if the RL grow some.

[quote="DSJ1983":1su4ftue]Realistically though in this 2 weeks even if we agree a deal with Salford the players are either just going to not commit or like Cross just flat out refuse to meet us knowing that in 2 weeks Warrington etc are going to come in and they’ll have loads of offers maybe even a bidding war between clubs. As much as I think we need players in those positions we now know Cross and looks like Sneyd just don’t want the move, Shorrocks might still be an option but you’d think he’d likely also want to stay in the area. I’d just leave it if I was RM now, walk away and make offers for Macdonald, Marsters, Nikorima etc if and when the dispensations open up and at least bump the prices up for anyone else. It’s hard to tell with Salford but reading the noise in the past few days them not responding to other clubs for players I think they think they might have something sorted short term, how long it will last is anyone’s guess.[/quote:1su4ftue] For my thinking if there's truth in that Cross just didn't bother to turn up then as much as he'd have improved us somewhat, we want players than want to be at the club for the right reasons. Whilst I appreciate Salford will want as long as possible to try to resolve this, time is moving on rapidly and action should have been taken weeks ago, instead its allowed to continue becoming more critical with no apparent contingencies in place only faint hope, all Salford have done is buy time. Allowing this circus to continue is just a crazy situation to be in as a sport. Salford, the RFL and IMG have quite honestly made a mockery of the sport with this situation. I don't wish bad on Salford as the sport needs as many pro clubs as possible but they need to face sufficient serious punishment and sanctions including a pts deduction. I hope that the RFL do not go down the road in allowing any dispensations as this will just remove just about any & all integrity of the 2025 league. At a time when the sport really needed to get its act together it has once again done the opposite and I think serious questions need to be asked about the suitability of the RFL & IMG to deliver what is required both short and long term for the future of the game here. It needed serious investment in the sport and a root & branch overhaul of everyone and every aspect of the RFL, not some box ticking gurus as that is ultimately and evidently just papering over cracks.

Doesn't matter if he isn't ready to sign for us, but he should have the manners to turn up for a meeting and explain that face to face, if it's true that is. If quota dispensations come in, I'd target one of the three overseas centres they have.

[quote="Dave K.":7pd256vl]Doesn't matter if he isn't ready to sign for us, but he should have the manners to turn up for a meeting and explain that face to face, if it's true that is. If quota dispensations come in, I'd target one of the three overseas centres they have.[/quote:7pd256vl] I do get this view and I do agree it doesn't show Cross in a good light, however if his employer has told him not to attend a meeting then his hands are tied. Just sounds a mess at the moment, the goalposts seems to be constantly changing, I understand they want to give Salford all the time possible but there has to come a point where a deadline is set in stone no ifs or buts.

[quote="HU8HFC":16toavhg]I do get this view and I do agree it doesn't show Cross in a good light, however if his employer has told him not to attend a meeting then his hands are tied. Just sounds a mess at the moment, the goalposts seems to be constantly changing, I understand they want to give Salford all the time possible but there has to come a point where a deadline is set in stone no ifs or buts.[/quote:16toavhg] Yeah that's a fair point, although I'd be suprised if we didn't ask Salford permission.

[quote="Dave K.":1w8sn4c1]Doesn't matter if he isn't ready to sign for us, but he should have the manners to turn up for a meeting and explain that face to face, if it's true that is. [quote:1w8sn4c1]If quota dispensations come in, I'd target one of the three overseas centres they have[/quote:1w8sn4c1].[/quote:1w8sn4c1] I'd be disappointed if we do not sign one. It looks like there's going to be an auction for McDonald and with our new investment we should be part of it. We are probably unlikely to sign him but I'd like us to show some intent failing that Lafai or Marsters would be a good capture.

What about Ryan Hampshire on a one year contract for cover?

Said it before but what an absolute mess. I have no sympathy for those in charge at Salford but I do hope for the sake of the fans and the staff that they get the investment that they need to keep going but this should have been picked up on during the whole IMG grading and if I was Toulouse, I would be fuming. It might have actually worked out better for Salford if they had been forced to dropped down to the Championship as it would have perhaps forced them to get their house in order financially. As much as I hate what has happened to us over recent years, at least we still have a club and Adam Pearson did what he felt was best to make sure that was the case. Salford's ownership have been completely reckless in my opinion and to be about a month away from the season starting and to have this much uncertainty over a club is unforgivable. Is there really investment on the cards for Salford or are they just pulling off more smoke and mirror tricks? Do the RFL have the courage to actually force a deadline on Salford for sales for their own good? If the clubs voted down the exemptions last week to the cap and quota to help Salford, why is there further talks been had again so soon? It just feels like everything is going around in circles with no one willing to take affirmative action. Really not a good look for the sport.

[quote="DSJ1983":e8h2fhsw]Think the reason why they changed the quota system was to stop this loophole. It’s hard to keep up so not 100% sure but as far as I’m aware playing for England or not he’d still be a quota player. He’s not fed trained and wouldn’t qualify on residency either.[/quote:e8h2fhsw] Another ridiculous scenario for the game then, he's played 4 times for Great Britain! I didn't agree with him and Austin getting capped but it was allowed to happen.

[quote="Dave K.":3o9xh3e4]What about Ryan Hampshire on a one year contract for cover?[/quote:3o9xh3e4] He's worth a one year contract. Can cover multiple positions