Quote: chris_smith "I actually wholeheartedly agree with the decision that the BOD have taken. Let's be honest, the reserves is a lovely option to have if the competition was valued by the whole of the RFL. The trust has say raised in excess of £250k to fund the team over the last 5+ years. What players has the reserves actually produced from the scholarship, through the reserves and into the first team that are good enough and in the team week in week out.... None!! Rawsthorne was on trial, RM wouldn't sign him and we lost him to Hull, Butler was picked up after losing faith in the game after rejection from several SL clubs, Moore was signed from Cas, JWH was a product of London as he was rekeased to pursue his Education at Leeds Uni... The reserves has never produced a Maguire, Edwards, Murrell for that matter since the club had a proper scouting function in SL when we unearthed and developed the likes of Chris Chester, Danny Tickle etc... The club still has the pathway from Calderdale College and if your good enough, your old enough, just look at Siddal product Morgan Smithies. In all honesty anybody with any promise will be scouted by SL in their early teens....
I think the club needs to get it right both on and off the field but the 1st team must now take priority. I'd rather people come together for a truly fans sponsored player recruitment programme, similar to squad builder in Fax1. If you were to theoretically blend the Trust and Fax1 together you have the perfect Supporters Club as both attract different fans to them.... I know this ad a founder and former Chairman of The Trust. Both do a great job but both can still contribute greatly to the club if communicated with properly.
Well done Fax for taking a tough decision but it's absolutely the right one for the club right now as I think the money spent on the reserves in hindsight couldve been spent better elsewhere.'"
I agree 100% with Chris! Which is a first.
