Isn't the club trained dispensation capped at £100k per year, and we are already at that limit?

I'm also confused about the lack of cap space. Blease has said publicly several times that we are still in the market for another signing, if the right player comes along. Is he wrong, or simply making it up?

We may have some cap space but not enough to sign a player on a large contract such as Watkins.

Thanks for your service, Jr. What will be, will be, with Watkins. If we pull it off, great. If not, just let Littlewood have a go and see how we get on.

The S+C has been frustrating for a few years. As it's been said, we've been unfit for years, but we've also picked up knocks and injuries like nobody's business. I know Hunwicks left the club half way through last year (though the impact he had on the team in his second spell doesn't seem too impressive, unless I'm missing something) and he just seems to be replaced internally. The partnership with Leeds Met/Beckett/Poly produces some good sports scientists, but we don't seem to bear the fruits of it. Hopefully this is just down to it being an intense pre-season, and it'll ease off during the season.

Hearing that Salford will be safe and won't need to offload players

I hope that's right. That's the best outcome for the game as a whole.

It is if it's a long term solution. If it's merely kicking the can down the road for 6 to 12 months then not so much.

So if rumours are Salford are safe I can’t imagine us still signing Watkins if they don’t need to sell which is a shame but also happy for Salford

seems as sivo is out for season can't we get some salary dispensation?

Looks that way, the question would be who is available to sign at this late stage?

Might be one where we go into the season and see if anyone becomes available.

I feel the club will 100% get Sivo dispensed from our 2025 cap he is also one of our marquee players so can’t see Blease & Hetherington just allowing Sivo’s salary and place being wasted.

It’s so unfortunate for Sivo I think he would have been great for us hopefully he can recover as best as possible and his start with us is just delayed a year.

Can’t see us rushing to replace him so late into pre season and don’t think it’ll be like for like as we do have plenty of cover for the wings at the moment.

Handley, Hall, Edgell, Lumb, McCormack & Simpson can all be options on the wing.

I can still see Miller possibly being used there as well this season.

But we now effectively have a 25 man squad for the season and I don’t think it’ll stay that way so can definitely see Leeds putting Sivo’s place to use mid season.

What an absolute shocker. A player I think the whole competition would have enjoyed watching. Given that Sivo is contracted for the next two years it would be unwise to use his quota spot or salary on another marquee player even if one were available. However, I do think we'll now be in a very strong position to land Watkins from Salford if their still unresolved situation does not resolve itself soon.