That might explain the downturn in form if we are releasing a large number of players at end of season.

Maybe clubs don't want it announcing while they have something to play for still this year

He's been out of form for most of the season. I get he has come back from off season surgery and is PT so that can't have helped his recovery, but I just don't think he's doing enough to help a team which looks slow and lethargic in both attack and defence.

Yes he might get an extra couple of metres per drive (I've looked for stats but can't see any for Championship so it cannot be verified by us mere mortals) but watch him when the tackle is completed. He loses the battle pretty much every time ending up on his back (rather than elbows and knees) and being a bigger guy this means the play of the ball is far too slow. It allows the opposition defense time to get set and it detracts from any good that he's done in the drive.

Prop forwards are evolving especially with the introduction of fewer subs. He might do long minutes but are they helping us when he is as slow as he is. He's been a great servant to the game but we need forwards who are more mobile, athletic and enthusiastic to speed up the play.

See my previous post for reasons why I'd not offer him a new contract. You may disagree but I think it sets the tone for our slow and lethargic play which needs to change.

Crossley has carried our entire pack for pretty much the whole season. It's a shame nobody takes stats in this division but I'd wager his metres made dwarf any other prop on our books.
If I'm honest I think he's being overworked, which may explain why he's dropping off tackles and losing collisions more and more - the guy is probably knackered.

If you release him then who replaces him? Too easy to just list those that you'd let go but not suggest who comes in in their place.

Can only be a good thing if we've got our business done early. Hopefully means positive news on Milnes and Storton which are the two important ones to get re-signed on FT deals.

How old is Crossley? Would he be getting to the stage of retiring?

I agree he's looked lethargic recently (who hasn't?). I think he's still worth another year IF he is rotated more, and used for less minutes.

id like to keep hold of ricketts and gallagher too. surely ricketts can find himself a game sometime soon

Didn't go yesterday, but if it was as bad as people say, I think the list of departures could be pretty lengthy. After Fev away and now Leigh where we seem to have thrown the towel in towards the end of both games, JK will have a pretty good idea of who has the bottle for the fight and who hasn't. Players who haven't got the heart for when the going gets tough will get short shrift from the coach I suspect.

So you would release 8 players (rising to 9 if you include Pickersgill.
I disagree with your opinions re both Hallas and Crossley. I would definitely keep both - both have shortcomings( which player hasn't) but in quite a few matches have appeared in the man of the match ratings. Neither lack commitment or heart.
Pickersgill might benefit from a loan spell this season . I'm sure another pre season would be of benefit and a better judgement made next year.
I'd suspect at least 3 more Under 19's will progress to next year's first team squad .
Which leaves space for 3 experienced new signings - I favour a half back and a seasoned prop with the other position dependent on who is released.

In the same discussion he mentioned that two players had turned down new offers (presumably Ryan was one he was referring to), and another one was retiring.

Is George Milton actually still here? Have the club released him quietly? Injured? He would have been straight into the recent reserve games if available.

Interesting

Who would that be? We haven't exactly got a lot of older players. Crossley? Webster?

Might be Gibson?

Flanagan?