Yep

Although it also looks like we're finally starting to cut our cloth accordingly.... ...

It's Rohan's statement on Bulls site that says Foster is being looked at as a centre, that's where Ross has got it from. Not just idle speculation.

In all seriousness, the 2015 and 2016 squads were too big and ultimately unbalanced and its looking like were way too expensive (certainly for what they achieved at this level).

Going forwards we need a smaller squad that we can afford, but one that offers the most efficient bang for buck. For a smaller squad to work it needs a quality spine with either SL experience or potential (Chisholm, Pryce, Moss, AoB, Sidlow, Welham, Haggerty etc) then the rest of the squad needs to be good quality championship players (with champ level costs) but who have potential to raise their game to SL level (Foster is a good example for next year as Clark was for this), and then an increasing number of academy products year on year to complete the squad. Rohan appears to be thinking on similar lines, and I'm confident enough in his ability to mould a competitive squad for 2017, and one which is hopefully more affordable for the medium term.

If the academy continues to impress, that's where our edge will hopefully come from over some of our rivals for a SL spot, providing potential SL quality, home grown players with a hunger and desire to play for the shirt at a price we can afford - that's the future, that's why its so important Green sorts out the finances, to keep the academy going strong as I believe building on the academy and their on-going integration into the first team alongside a quality established spine is the only way we'll get ourselves back into SL.

I'm quietly confident about the way the 2017 squad is shaping up so far, and I'll assess the squad once we have all the signings in, to look at the whole.

Well I'm pleased with those acquisitions. True, we're a bit light in the forwards, but I would hope that'll be rectified in the coming months.

But personally, I think the main thing we need next season is the right attitude. We came down into this league thinking it'd be a walk in the park and despite a season of that being shown as not the case many players have gone into this season with the same attitude and that has cost us. The attitude shown Sunday against Oldham was hopefully the corner turning the team needed to take

Wasn't having a go, I'd just never even considered he'd be signed as a centre let alone be given the 3 or 4 shirt.

Our backline looks pretty much sorted now, give or take. We do seem very light in the forwards though, which is another reason why I thought Foster would be seen as more of a back rower than a centre.
Hopefully we can get Ben Evans or Joe Philbin, or both!

How are we doing for non-fed quota spots? I can only think of Moss and Chisholm?

Derrell Olpherts from Newcastle Thunder is a name that I've heard mentioned as a possible signing for 2017. Rough diamond type of signing but he's strong as an ox and has pace to burn.

Not sure why anyone feels Rohan has already decided to give him [or anyone else] the no. 3 or 4 shirt. The mail from the club says just that he [iprobably[/i sees him as a centre first, rather than a back rower. I'd be amazed if he were to be allocating shirt numbers [even in his head] to new signings at this point.

Really hope not, struggled to get games wherever he has been so had to go back to Shaw Cross where I assume you are involved. Personally think its too much of a project signing if true and one which wont get us back to where we ultimately want to be

In Smith's latest Interview he said he has two Ausies in his sights. What we need now are two Ausie forwards who are as good a signings and make the impact Chisholm and Moss have made. There will be lots of eager lads down there under the radar and hopefully Smith knows a couple. Can't see any more backs being signed soon so it must be forwards next.

Me too, but I know exactly how dis-heartening it is to drop out of SL and expect to return pretty quickly and then for it not to happen. It must be worse for you Bulls fans after the success you had.

I agree on paper you look like you will have a very good Championship team next season. Barring some miracle form from your players though Id expect you to be in the battle for 3rd-6th again. It could be even harder next season especially if Salford come down with more spending power than Leigh and with London already looking like they could be stronger. Add in to that the RFL's darlings Toulouse and suddenly we have about 4 or 5 clubs that could be going for the last place in the top 4.

Can't speak for anyone else but I never expected us to get back quickly - and still don't.

Apart from the 'promotion' system not being fit for purpose, we simply haven't deserved it. Despite us beating Salford last season and Leigh doing the same this time round, the idea of Championship clubs having to beat SL clubs in a league format is a joke, imo.

It's a joke, full stop. Even Nigel Wood, privately, would surely admit it's a joke.

But, we are now where perhaps we should have been immediately on getting relegated. We have a bright and capable new young coach, some excellent new signings in key positions, and some good young players who want to play for the club coming through. It takes a couple of seasons for a new team to blend together, so on the one hand, given we are still just at the start of a work in progress, this team - if it stays together - will improve a great deal over a couple of years.

But, having seen what the new lads are capable of, we would definitely be in the mix again for the top 2 spot, and indeed despite the rebuilding, I have to say that I would personally approach 2017 with more confidence than I did 2016.

Stop dreaming about Salford getting relegated, it ain't gonna happen, and next year from the back of a good full main season, we would be in with a squeak - if crucial other results involving SL teams go our way and (of course) assuming we ourselves do our end of the business) of the automatic promotion spot. That's the only hope. 50/1 maybe, and sadly not in our own hands, but not impossible.

Then again, with Toronto, Baghdad and Comet Hale-Bopp joining the Championship, there is considerably more chance of some form of automatic P&R than there is of promotion via the MPG faux route. Those teams won't want to leave promotion to the chance of a playoff, they will have sought assurances from the RFL who at this stage at least would badly want a loaded Toronto club in SL by hook or by crook, and they may be the wedge that finally opens the door. Although it would be a move fiercely opposed by SL clubs who won't want any genuine risk of jeopardy and are happy with the faux system as it stands.

If Leigh beat another SL team we will have 2 SL teams in the MPG and at the moment Salford seem to be the team looking least interested. I will however have some of what you are drinking FA if you think anyone is going to challenge Leigh/Insert SL team for top spot next season. Its simply not going to happen, the only other Champ team with money to spend is London and they simply will not get the players to move down there.

With Koukash supposedly moving on; Salford are likely not to have to money to spend on an SL squad next year...