See you at the LSV 2 week on friday

And i would have been one of the 98% ill wait and see what happens over the next month though. Plans are moving in the background and we'll have a 100 times better squad than this year. Culls had a tough year and we cant forget that, Smithy will never be forgotten and i hope he doesnt sign for Leigh as that would be awful.

For him it would be.

As for Cullen. I appreciate he has had the worst year possible in his personal life. I can't tell you how sorry I am for him for that. I was really quite upset when I heard the news which felt strange not knowing the guy. I was quite choked when he walked past us up at Bately in the NR Cup. No-one expected him to be at that game but he was and a lot more then than w would have ever guessed.

However back to club matters and this decision was taken some time ago by him and I think for all the wrong reasons.....

Just

Bollocks to this. Getting rid of Smithy is the wrong thing to do! At this stage in the season we always let go of players and it's usually heartbreaking but this one is not right.

Oh dear, oh dear!




Doran & Smithy! WTF?

Lee Doran has just been picked for the Championship 'Drean Team'.

What a ringing endorsement that is!! I think you have answered the club's decision.

Just as our 2nd rower Richard Fletcher did last year and was shipped out. Gutted for Lee and Mark, Id have kept both without question

As much as the club are looking ahead into a couple years time etc, this is totally the wrong move. I don't know what Smith wanted, nor does any body else, but he loves this club and i highly douby he would have made his demands very unreasonable. Should have been offered another contract. Look when Hull KR took Fisher up into SL, he didn't do too badly and i dont think he was a far better player than Smith himself.
Can understand about strong and Yates though, bit puzzled about the Doran release considering he's just made it into the team of the year.

Look at it from a fans perspective, we still have at least another year left in this competition and we could be losing 3 of our best players, Thacks, Smith and Doran. 2 of them are certains.

How many years ago are we looking at when Smithy was genuinely competing as the best hooker in this division ? Probably four or five when he was up against the likes of Ben Fisher as you have said and Andy Henderson.

If he would have got his crack at SL then I would have agreed with you and said he could have made a similar impact as Fisher had when he originally moved up.

Unfortunately for him though his form whichever way you look at it has gone horribly backwards. He just doesnt cause the problems that he once did in attack when running at defences. From being one of the best in the division he has probably slipped well down that list now and his role in the side is probably one of experience more than anything now.

I dont think Nev and Coyle are going to be the best in this division either but to be fair they do have time on their side and I dont think either will be up there as one of the highest paid players at the club and in all liklihood the division when you add up Smithy's probable contract and community work.

He has given the club some great service over the last few years particularly staying throughout the relegation and administartion era's of the club. Unfortunately for him the coaching staff have made their decision and we await any new arrivals and hopefully blooding more youngsters for next year.

I can understand the Doran move. Realistically he has no ambitions of moving up to SL and again if I remember correctly we got into a bit of a bidding war with Leigh in trying to bring him back to the club. I bet he was on a fair salary for a part time player and with the likes of Haggerty Jnr, Tom Kelly, Grady etc.. all young and of the same position I can see the logic behind letting him go at this point in time.

Good luck to all those players leaving the club mind and I wont be surprised if we see Yacca and Strong pitch up at Rochdale with Stanky and hopefully develop themselves further.

And as everybody knew www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... idnes.html Thacks is going. Widnes will part company with the following players. Good luck aswell mate, probably end up at Hull. This year hasn't been great by any means and the standard of players hasnt been great, but the ones who have been good, seem to be leaving. Maybe theres nothing we could have done about this one though. Young lad, probably getting offered a better deal to play for his home town club, very very hard to compete with. Just gone through the team and with Smith and Doran going, Toa retiring and unsure about Gannon, the oldest player will probably be Heckenburg or Varkulis. Then Gaskell and Gardener and from there they're all early 20's. Very good signs heading into the next couple of years, just wish we could have kept onto one or two of our more experienced guys.

And as everybody knew www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... idnes.html Thacks is going. Widnes will part company with the following players. Good luck aswell mate, probably end up at Hull. This year hasn't been great by any means and the standard of players hasnt been great, but the ones who have been good, seem to be leaving. Maybe theres nothing we could have done about this one though. Young lad, probably getting offered a better deal to play for his home town club, very very hard to compete with. Just gone through the team and with Smith and Doran going, Toa retiring and unsure about Gannon, the oldest player will probably be Heckenburg or Varkulis. Then Gaskell and Gardener and from there they're all early 20's. Very good signs heading into the next couple of years, just wish we could have kept onto one or two of our more experienced guys.

Why are you all surprised? IMO SOC has already been told Widnes are in, like Leighton Samuels at CC was promised he would be in SL in three years time, so be prepared for probably a worse season than this one next season, no need to splash the cash. No doubt now just minimising his losses to date, but theres £3 million worth of SKY money due in the next 3 years, along with lots more via sponsorship and merchandising.

....
Or we could be building a side now for SL that features a number of players willing to step down for a season as they can be given a 3 year contract and a promise of playing in the top league by 2012.

that would give the game away before march announcement.

Smithy God will be welcome in the Halifax Church of Latter Day Seniors.

Vikingman - get yerself a Fax season ticket and follow your loved one to The Shay!

Penkywicz
Gleeson
Beswick


Yeah i can see why Halifax might need Smith




My bet is Leigh or Oldham.

They will when penky signs for you

How come you keep saying that Bugman? Isnt he on a 2 year deal at Fax?

all the top earners at Fax have been asked to accept reduced terms or go elsewhere.

TBH, we did the same last year... When needs must etc. Think Fax just paid big dollar this year and always planned to cut a few for a year when results MAY not matter, no talk of 2015 bids etc!

That doesnt mean he's coming Widnes though.

You have just published a £1million profit for last year, yet you were asking players to take a pay cut



I feel SOC will be stashing as much cash in the bank this year as he can in preperation for next year. All this talk of building a team is poop. You will buy a new team give or take a few that you have. Look at this Tharkeray situation, if Widnes thought he would be an asset in super League they would pull out the stops to keep him. The good news is that I reckon SOC plans putting together a really strong squad for you first year in Super League hence the cloth cutting now.

Also another clue is look at the players Cullen brought to Wire, he is used to getting world class players and will be in SOC ear to this affect. A mixture of home grown talent and world class players will be the order of the day. Now all he has to do is prove he can get the best from them

A number of players signed next year will have the ability to step up to Super league, that overseas quota might also be filled for next year.

And so we begin