Like others I understand the new Boards stand on managing the club on the income they forecast and we all know we are well behind Leigh, Toronto, London and Toulouse who all have money men backing them plus Fev who own their own stadium and are better supported than us at the moment BUT just 1 signing who has come from an NL1 team plus a season long loan player who was out injured for a long time season before last is worrying especially when you look at who Fev have signed also we still need a half back, why is does RM not see this???

I am going to try and see the glass half full, there could be a major signing on the way, but RM wants to wait until after the World Cup to make sure he is not injured. or maybe he believes Cas when they say the dual reg will free up quality players for him on a regular basis. Might also be Cas are looking for a new half back, but want to keep who they have and loan out to us to keep all players match fit,
At present lots of things are hypothetical, until such times as is prudent, the management are keeping a close hand as well they should. Fax have been gazumped before by word getting out.

And after that it may be terminated on very little notice so not exactly season long if the parent club does not want it to be. Thats why I see us having more chance of getting Lo on DR than him going to Sheffield on Loan.



He might see it but if theres no money in the pot then he can do little about it. I think we are going to have a couple of seasons just going with the flow and then see what the RFL comes up with in regards to the format and go from there. Either way I feel RM needs to be more ruthless with the players as IMO he puts too much faith in players in the hope he can improve them when it may be better business getting shut and bringing in replacements. On that note we have also freed up quite a bit of money over the last season with players leaving so you would hope that would be available especially with us making the top 4 but it seems it wont be.

I know I said last season we would still be around the 4 but this season with Leigh and Toronto topping the division and Toulouse, London, and Fev massively outspending us and apart from London improving their teams its going to take a minor miracle for us to make the 4 this time around.

I have been told that MM had produced a 2018 financial plan and budget that would have allowed RM room to increase spend.

Sadly the Board made a complete hash of the 2017 budget and if it was not for the generosity of Mr Steele a hole would have appeared that would have been very big, perhaps to big. But he has not filled all the shortage. If you look at Companies House it looks like has swapped his loans for shares in the club and is now, despite not being on the Board, the major shareholder. I have been told that Mr Croad has provided funds for the club in the past but is now requiring all past debt to be repaid in "kind" and cash - not a help when cash is short. Other people who loaned money to the club have agreed to wait for their money back.

Despite Mr Steele giving the club some of the money it needs there will still be a big shortfall, having a cash flow problem is not unusual for Fax but the numbers this time are very large as in 2017 as expenses far exceed income, the negative balance will be carried forward which will impact what is available in 2018. The cash issue may have caused MM to step down as a director, although remain as Manger. This means that our Board is now made up of people who have never run a rugby club before.

Based upon the dire financial position in 2018 the Club could not even afford Will Maher and it looks like that the only way we could sign him was with financial help from Howard Posner, who as we know like Mr Steele and others has given the club large sums in the past.

I would therefore think that whilst we may pick up the odd player on the cheap, unless we can get others to "sponsor" players with big donations our 2018 squad will be much as now plus DR.

Hope the current budget doesn't expect a top 4 finish,dodged a real bullet last season.

I’m actually quite optimistic for next year. We have players coming through and improving, these can have a new positive impact, just like signing a new player.
Featherstone have a new coach, they could go either way, London may have peaked and a couple of their key players are on the hill. The Leigh side coming down is not as strong as the one that went up, and while Toronto blew away the opposition last year, we know about their players and there’s a reason why they are at Toronto and not at SL Clubs.
We have some players on the up in Moore etc a decent big mobile pack is forming, we just need a bit of guile and pace and we wont be far off. Like Morris, Butler, Moore and JWH have shown this season, the step up to Championship level is achievable for these lads, we only need to find another 1 or 2 nuggets and were in decent shape.
P.s I wouldn’t be against a call being made to Dane.

I thought it was one of your mates that helped with the budget for 2017 hence why Stuart Ramsey had to be brought in to sort the mess out?

On another note aren't most boards made up of people that have never run a rugby club before? Luckily we have a good mix of people on our board or our past boards recently and not just day dream believers who's only motivation is the stature it would bring.

In addition on the positive, in retaining the bulk of the squad the lads know each others game inside out so should be able to work out how to improve. They are a tight bunch of players who really want to be here and want play together.
Whether it will be enough time will tell but if not it won't be for the lack of trying.

Well that's not what RM is saying.
Under the Headline. "Fax Look For More" League Express says in part.
Halifax coach Richard Marshall says the club is "actively seeking" further signings after bringing in Castleford forward Will Maher on a season long loan.
And Marshal is hoping he won't be the only new addition in the coming weeks.
He said: :We are actively seeking further recruits and this is being helped by buoyant season ticket sales."
"I am told we have surpassed what we sold in the whole of last year and we have only just started November."

On other news. Rob "The Warrior" joins Dewsbury for 2017/2018 season.

I think on money for potential signings , the bottom line is that everything in the club has to be geared to getting new money in the front door and letting as little as possible out the back door. There are loads of positives around eg the lottery, regaining merchandise control, new directors, season ticket sales and the Castleford deal . So for me its jettison old problems and baggage and quickly move forward.

Castleford deal positive? You couldn't be more wrong.☹

Hudd -Shay be positive : half full

Every one is entitled to their opinion but give the guys a chance.

I could take the rise again 're fax fans changing opinions of dual reg.
#faxtigers etc etc
But as I share your view on the system it dulls such activity, particularly as fax are maintaining a reserve team.
Never reight.

Robyn I don't think opinions have changed most of us detest d/r but have accepted the reality of the situation why put yourself at a disadvantage against your rivals.