Technically he can't sign for anyone else yet, surely?

If he eventually does come to Leigh, I'll be delighted, but I'm sure he will give absolutely everything to 'Fax in your last game/2 games/3 games. That's the way he's always played.

Hey up Alan.

Do you know if coverage of Penky's signing will be on the radio

Attendances!

Yes from 1st July they can when out of contract that year.

No I'm sure Penky did say that to his sponsor but do you not think they (players) will be made to tow the line when it comes to what info they can and can't part with?? - his sponsor or not

The info will all be what / how the club want it presented. He simply will have been told what to say and what not to say. Simple really that the club wants its own spin on things.

Why on earth would the club take the risk of lying to a sponsor? We really have nothing to gain from keeping it quiet if he has signed for Leigh! All we are doing is putting potential replacements off signing up. Do you think Ellis would come here to split time with Penky?

What the chuff has Ellis got to do with it?? Yes I do think players would be instructed to keep things quiet even to sponsors. You live in cuckoo land if you think they spill everything to essentially fans! Do you not think Dane Manning's injury or should I say how he got injured is a lie on a massive scale then?? I think you calling it a lie is a bit too strong. As I've always said its manipulating a situation for their own means to keep Positive spin.

Or as you put it do I think they'd "lie" to a sponsor?? Yes I do if it benefitted club and player. The same as they've withheld information regarding Manning's broken jaw!!! Otherwise it creates negative press.

Oh dear. You ignored my main point because it dosen't fit in with your theory. Why would the club instruct Penky to lie? We have signed and lost many players before the end of the season. Why would Penky be any different? We dont gain anything out of keeping it quiet, whereas another player, for example Ellis, may think "I won't go to Fax as I might be sharing playing time with Penky and that wont be good for my future ambitions". There is a big difference between not "spilling everything" and point blank lying when asked a question by somebody who has put a lot of his/her money into the club.

Has it occurred to you that the Manning jaw incident may be subject to criminal proceedings so the club can't say anything! Once again, difference between not saying anything at all and lying!

Nothing like this thread to create negative press.

Dear me!! Just to pick a few holes in your repost..... Do you think players like Ellis would be approached in the first place Unless the club knows either if a player is leaving or won't be offered a new contract??

Secondly surely the club can say that a player was assaulted and as a result has a broken jaw, no further comment will be made until the police investigation has been completed blah blah blah?? Or do they say..... Manning broke his jaw in the 2nd half v Leigh but he's a tough lad and played on blah blah blah??

They don't have to make up a story just because of a police investigation

For the same reason they lied over what really happened to Manning and I Personally think the word lie that you use is in the wrong context here.

It's in the clubs interest to claim Penky hasn't signed for anyone isn't it?? If it came out he had signed for Leigh and subsequently Penky has a bad game what do you think fans would accuse him of, we could even play Leigh so the various connotations speak for themselves surely??

Penky is probably the highest profile player at the club, he's captain and many peoples favourite, to announce now he's going etc could also be negative for the club in their eyes!! Plus it's news, marketing for the club to keep the story alive!!

Personally I don't see the harm in announcing it but understand the need for spin.

Oh, the Keighley game you mean? OK, so we occasionally give the attendance as being less than it actually is but we are only trying to minimise FCHT's humiliation.

The problem for me in circumstances such as these is compounded by those filthy, lying, scrounging parasites the player's agents. Now I don't know whether Sean uses an agent or represents himself but if a player wishes to not take up a contract offer with his current employer for whatever reason then the offer should be withdrawn and the player left to get on with business dealings elsewhere until it impacts on his performances while he's still contracted. We've all seen players relax after they've signed new terms after they slip into the comfort zone, similarly how individuals can lift themselves when looking to extend their stay.
In one very much publicised contractual tug o war this season involving one of our players, many inflated and life-changing figures, terms & conditions were being bandied around un settling the player in question, much of this i expect is specucaltion mainly because only an agent, player & the club official in charge of such dealings will be privvy to the details. It's the agent who keeps the player hanging on waiting for more coin, hedging his bets upping his own fee in the process.
If I were the bloke in charge of selecting the team I'd be pretty sore with a player if he keeps holding out, we all know how it works with the planning ahead for the following season ( which begins in October/November ) well in advance of the current season finishing.
It's all a bit frustrating for everyone concerned.