Not at all. They are the figures proposed, including the new "parachute" payments. It does not mean that the proposals will not be amended.



I am against the idea unless the finances are leveled out. I would consider it inevitable that the four better funded teams will finish in the top four and the two poorly funded teams will finish in the bottom two. What interest is there in that for spectators ?

The alternative scenario is that clubs will push the financial boat out to attempt to gain promotion. That could easily lead to more financial disasters and more than likely will.

Exactly.



Beating a $uperleague team in a one-off game proves nothing. In a league season, the better teams have bad days and the poorer teams have good ones. Yet, over the season, the better teams finish near the top and the poorer ones at the bottom. Extrapolating an Eagles win to justify promotion would be dangerous.

Do you have a link for that information? The Halifax chairman has said no figures have been agreed yet?

'Cos it's not true if it's not on-line, eh ? No - got them out of our programme - £2.50 from the Eagles' offices.

I didn't say they had been agreed. I said proposed. So Mr Steele and I agree.

Actually, it's not even about the money, is it ?

Suppose the RFL say that the top four clubs in the first phase Div 2 get their money made up to the same level as the $uperleague clubs. Who would you spend it on ? You won't know you're going to get this money until mid season - who's going to be available to sign who's better than you've already got in the squad ?

Yes - I agree with Mr Steele that nothing's been agreed. Except, of course that Mr Steele and I agree.

Look - this isn't as big an issue as you're making it. I'm just saying that it's not a good idea to say "Yay !! these new leagues will be fantastic!! Let's vote yes, yes, yes!!" before finding out what the financial arrangements will be.

If you disagree with that, fine. But don't complain if it turns out to be not as good as you thought.

So, are we any nearer naming & shaming the heckler yet ?

I heard a name yesterday but forgotten it now. No one I knew anyway

So .... would you give up your job for 14 weeks employment at a rugby league club with no guarantee of a full time job beyond that ?

Not being argumentative here - but these are the things players have to consider.

Are not these the things full time players at every club currently and going back as far as you can think have allready considered?

If it was such a problem then there would hardly have been any full time players outside the top earners ever.

The alternative is to ask part timers to play regularly against full timers, how would that work out results wise in the long run.

and what happened to the photo?

Being offered a contract for a couple of years and being offered one for 14 weeks are totally different animals.

Jobs not easy to come by round here. Is Halifax any better ?