Des Johnston is an idiot.

He'll have a 14,000 capacity stadium built before Easter



He's certainly larger than life but i'm unsure as to what his ultimate aim is. Does he have enough money (or the will) to get Barrow their stadium? I like him. Yes, he's full of crap and comes across arrogant but he's responsible for getting his club a GF trophy in their season debut.

More to the point--before this season started who knew who Dave Clark was in Rugby League??

He has done a fantastic job with players who, lets face it, many of us wouldnt have wanted in a Widnes shirt. Barrow are ahead of us on the field. Lets not rest on our laurels just because we are ahead off the field.

Dave Clark is stepping down as the barrow coach and i cant say i blame him.

Barrow Herald and Tribune
Monday 5th October 2009

In a move that is set to excite everyone in Barrow, that is called Des Johnston, The Barrow Raiders Board (Des Johnston) have this morning ratified a radical new proposal for the structure of the playing staff.
"We would like to thank Dave whatisname... you know...the guy that wore the tracksuits and that around the training field...errrr.. it'll come to me, for all his assistance in helping me to get the win I deserved yesterday. But I'm not resting on my laurels" an invigorated Johnston stated dressed in full Raiders playing kit and wearing the Grand Final Trophy on a chain around his neck.
"We nearly didn't win and this can't be allowed to happen next season and so in order to increase my influence the next puppet... err coach will be my flash new alter ego Dezzy Johnston."
"I am also awarding myself the shirt numbers 6,7, 9 and 13 for next years squad and will be playing all of the pivotal team positions at the same time." Winking as he continued.. "I obviously don't come cheap boys but we'll find a way of affording me under the salary cap.... if you know what I mean. Now... BOW ALL BEFORE ME!!"

to be honest, your just jealous. we won that title fair n square and youre just looking at ways to slay barrow cos you wish your team had what barrow has

And whats that? a tick in the box to super league? You won't get their. However Barrow have been the best team in the league this season. No doubt about it. Also fairt play to their chairman for ploughing the money in.

Des is a lot of things, but he certainly isn't an idiot.

I wouldn't put it past him

I would.

I've never read such a load of tripe. It's amazing what jealousy can do.

Jealousy? from who? we have a chairman with more money and dignity than disco Des.

Well why didn't you win the GF then and also what happened in the league game at Widnes. We've had so many bad seasons over the years. Why not let us bask in glory just this once.
As far as Des Johnston is concerned how many Widnes fans actually know him.

I reckon bits and pieces was his best record also his first but to be honest I thought he was dead.

To be honest, whatever he said at half-time, it worked!



I really should've been shouting for Barrow yesterday, but I just couldn't. I wanted Halifax to hammer them. I look at their team list and see brown envelopes everywhere.

Toulouse still remain our biggest threat. Barrow won't be ready for a licence in 2012. No chance whatsoever. Then again, I thought the same about Celtic too.

Even better was the Oldham players who took a pay cut to sign for Barrow.

so they added an extra hour and a half journey wise and accepted less money to sign for Barra.

Seems a tad unlikely doesn't it.

And big spending Des wouldn't even give them new shirts!

Definitely something not right going on. We should comfortably be able to buy the best players in this division but they're bringing in rooney.

It's a strange one. I'm being serious here but i do wonder how we are able to sign our quality squad players. OK, they're not all superstars but we have some excellent players. Our crowds are nothing special, we don't seem to have a backer (or one which makes it publicly known) and as a club we're on a par with many others in this league. So how do we sign these quality players? Why do they come to Halifax? Why aren't they all clamouring to join Widnes who surely are SL bound? I guess players have different criteria, eg, Paul Smith signed from Huddersfield because he wanted part time, now he's off to Swinton because it's nearer to his job.

Has it ever occurred to you that apart from the size of a pay packet an employee needs to have the job, prospects etc sold to him.

I felt sorry that Widnes did not get a SL licence but having read the bulk of these messages I'm glad they didn't. Having said that I'm sure they will next time round and I hope they will then realize that life goes on outside SL.You never know but Barrow could be joining you. Who knows?

Give barrow some credit - they have won the competition for god's sake! I would sooner look at our own weaknesses rather than criticize somebody else - as somebody said earlier, we may be ahead off the pitch but as for on the pitch we certainly are'nt! We cant rest on our laurels - I do think if fax / barrow set the pace in future we may not be considered for SL - the RFL would say "you have'nt even been the best team in your division".

Bask in your success Barrow fans - next season will be here before you know it. Winning the title is easy - it's hanging onto it that's hard.

I didn't realise we were going back to P&R???

Weve upset em. www.totalrl.com/index.php?showtopic=191101

Weve upset em. www.totalrl.com/index.php?showtopic=191101

Sorry, what?

We have been an integral part of this division for years, for better or worse. It isn't us who needs to realise there is life down here.