Well you'd think that this state of affairs (if true) would scupper the thought of any incremental improvement in 2020. People won't wait forever and will sign elsewhere. We'd have gone backwards in terms of squad. Certainly we've seen no evidence of it being improved as yet.

The season ticket publicity doesn't sounds quite as catchy with "Destination 9th in the championship" though somehow.

That's my understanding too. I also understand that Hallas is waiting to sign a new deal.

Not sure what the reason is for the RFL sanction. It is probably linked to the CCJ issue but there may be something else we don't know. It would be nice to know officially what's going on. I guess us fans will always be treated like mushrooms.

It doesn't help that the Dewsbury/Odsal business is going on as well since that also relies on the RFL.

Seems like two sides are making lives difficult for each other. Happy days

Particularly with it featuring players that might not actually be playign for us next year

If that happens and we lose 2 more youngsters for nothing, I'm done with the sport. The RFL have a massive conflict of interest here, which after we lost our Super League place and with no rich owner emerging, our funding and income streams would never support Odsal, so it was always going to come to this.

The RFL specifically selected the new owners less than 3 years ago, so they should respect them trying to deliver a sustainable business. The RFL knew the lease ran out in 2019, so this mess is totally down to a lack of preparation and planning by them, but that's no surprise is it

On the website the club is "seeking a video analyst for the academy", so hopefully that job doesn't need an RFL sanction. It does suggest business as usual at the club though.

Didn't someone put on here all players had been signed for next season and players already resigned who we wanted to keep only 2 refused

I wonder if the contracts not being ratified are to do with this sending the RFL our budget rule.

I don't know if it's just ourselves who have to do it or all of the championship. Chalmers did say in LE that we had submitted 2020s budget to the RFL this week and were waiting for it to be signed off. So hopefully it's just a case of that.

Actually quite impressed if that's what the RFL are doing, as others have said they will be no 4th chance regarding admin, so it's good they're not letting us spend on players we've not budgeted for unless we can prove we can fund it.

Going to Newcastle Thunder according to yesterdays League Express

Just need to sit tight and hope all turns out ok. There's precious little else we can do.

Wouldn't be a particularly interesting forum if we did that!!

Are we sure this isn't just people getting their wires crossed?

The news about the RFL blocking our signings was for THIS year, not for 2020.
John Kear mentioned in a recent article that the uncertainty over the stadium meant that the 2020 budget couldn't be finalised and so contracts couldn't be offered/renewed etc.

I think somehow people have got these two stories twisted and think that the RFL are blocking us from signing anyone up for next season. Unless someone can give me some serious proof otherwise, I don't think this is the case.

Presumably the budget can't be OK'ed then until the decision on the ground has been finalised. Also interesting that AC has gone back to NZ. Wonder if his return is conditional on the RFL ratifying our move.

I was under the impression that Chalmers regularly travels back and forth to NZ so that isn’t anything out of the ordinary?

Interesting that the RFL are in control of checking budgets... are they currently running at a surplus themselves?

It is an enigma isn't it. Why would our owner who is from New Zealand, and has friends, family and business interests in New Zealand, EVER need to go over to New Zealand? I think it is incredibly sinister.

You would expect him to be here in person when we make announcements like when we leave the ground we've been at for 80 odd years or when staff are potentially being laid off. It's not a good look for him to be away IMO. I've no idea why he needs to be away or where he is. He may have perfectly good reasons. Just hope he's not doing what Green did who was holed up in Ibiza like Ray Winstone in Sexy Beast.

Mind you he left the head coach interviews to other so I suppose he has a track record in this area.