I wish I shared your optimism. The club should be focussed on getting Lewis and <centre> <prop> signed and announced so that we can make our own mind up about the short term direction of the team. Given the disgruntled feeling amongst fans, i just have the feeling that its a complete PR disaster IMO.

I know they are trying desperately to offload Burns from the final year of his contract and much will depend on what happens at Leigh. Walsh is definately gone. Wilkin has signed a new one year deal, and the rumour is that LMS has too. Turner has been completely stripped of his confidence and it wouldnt surprise me to see him leave, as for Vea, KC seems to have a bit of a love in with him and he can do no wrong, so a new deal wouldnt be a shock either, although I would prefer it if he werent retained. Of the others, SMD, Dawson and Charnock are hardly big earners, the biggest being Savelio, who no doubt will go on to be a world beater at Warrington, Leeds or Wigan who are better equipped to manage him.

I agree, Lee shouldn't be our lead off signing, and if he is it's a PR disaster, but let's not forget he isn't - neither club has confirmed this, and the paper said exactly the same thing about Brown last week - so either way it's not the first - I suspect/ hope the last few names are being much more guarded because they are higher quality players and the announcements a bigger deal.

Burns is gone, Walsh is gone, Turner is gone, SMD is gone (don't underestimate how much he was earning), and Savelio is gone (as a part of the Brown deal, and I don't blame the club all told). The rest I don't know.

That was a quick change of mind.

He has 2 years worth of injuries there. He is joining a club that is almost constantly devastated by injuries...

Is he going to widnes part ex?

Haha of all the words to miss off my post, I chose the most important one!

So I'm lead to believe.

It's quickly becoming a Hampshire situation though, we don't want him, but we don't want anyone else to have him either

Savelio and money for Brown? Get f*cked Saints.

I think Brown and Smith would compliment each other quite nicely, with Browns passing ad kicking near to the line along with Smiths long kicking game they'd do fine.

They'd just need a decent fullback to make up for their lack of pace so Matty Russell would also work out well, I can't see him being on mega bucks at Wire so you may stand a chance.

Also you'd need to get rid of Wilkin, Vea, Savelio, Richards and the other young pudding. Sign Akuma Ta'ai, Ollie Roberts, Ben Murdoch Masila and you wouldn't go far wrong.

If Wigan then sign him from Widnes, it'll be a reverse Sean Long situation!

I've just had some Saints chap on the phone and unfortunately I've had to turn the 3 year contract offer down.