surely he would too have required a Visa sorting and probably be less likely to get away with the 'I'm here on a holiday visa ploy....

Good point.

It was a different world back then, though.

All clubs were part time, for a start and it was actually against the rules to use the game as your principal employment. There were no contracts as such, players generally got 'winning money' or 'losing money' and then only if they actually played. Some big name signings may have got over the odds, even signing on fees but I suspect it was pretty rare. Signing on was largely just a matter of being on the players' register at the RFL.

'A team' players basically got peanuts. They weren't in any way considered to be 'first team squad' members, in the sense we have today but were mostly a collection of enthusiastic younger players hoping to get into the first team and players who were a step below the first team and would only rarely be seriously considered unless something was drastically amiss. The A team was a good way to bring first teamers back to match fitness after injury or giving trials to A.N Other or S.O. Else.

From the last few T and A non article's there is small hints that Toovey may be staying, like todays implying he is looking at players for next year.

Isn't it great when you have to be an amateur detective to work out whats happening at the club you support?

A lot of players will be signed up by now at a guess. Slim pickings again

Disagree. We're only in August. We have more than enough time to assmeble a good squad.

You see, getting relegated in the first week in August has a silver lining.

I think we have until the end of August to offer our current squad a contract or tell them they're being released.