Only going to be worse next year. Catalans possibly, Toulouse and Toronto some lads only get 20 holidays a year and half could be spent on taking time off to play rugby. Im all for expansion, but with another Canadian team and a New York team in the pipeline, i think its time for a possible seperate French league IMO

He shouldn't have had to make that decision, but it is stupidity because in all likelihood Sheffield are going to get mullered anyway so he's basically quit his job for nothing.

My lad has taken today of unpaid to be able to go to France today, as he did last time they played them in the 8s on August bank holiday Monday night. They had a 5 hour coach journey to the airport on the way home as there was no flights from Toulose, so they all missed work the next day as well.

The danger for Salford now is who picks up all the debt and covers any future loses? (Im assuming they don't make a profit at the mo) Pretty sure the Dr hasn't cleared all the debt, maybe he will as he leaves but I somehow doubt it. And with crowds dipping to 1400 unless there is another money man in the trust that is taking over I'd say Salford are certainties for the middle 8's and might be heading for the championship, at best.

For obvious reasons we've been mentioned in this news story, but do we;
A-think there actually is the possibility of the Dr getting involved at Odsal? (some claimed he already was involved behind the scenes IIRC)
B-would we all welcome the Dr and his money? and the ensuing roller coaster as opposed to the slow and steady rebuild we hope AC is currently on with?

My take on Koukash has always been that he's learned from his mistakes. When he took over Salford, he made a LOT of errors. Thought coming in and throwing money at everything would solve all problems and encourage 60,000 fans to abandon Man Utd and come to watch Salford. He alienated a lot of long time and loyal fans, and he burned bridges with them while shouting his mouth off.

Over the years, I think he's realised those errors and now realises there's more to it. He's done his absolute best to rebuild some of those bridges, whilst using his money more wisely instead of just targeting superstars here for a pay packet only. He's learned that the fanbase won't just "show up" and there's more to getting people to turn up than a winning side.

If he could do it all over again, I think it would be more successful for him. Maybe not with Salford, as they still wouldn't be getting 20,000 crowds (the fanbase just isn't there), but they'd at least be getting around the 6-7,000 mark. If he were to go to another club, I think he'd do a better job this time around.

For those reasons, I would very much welcome him at Bradford. Sort out the money loss instantly, plow some money into building a team capable of getting back into Super League, then watch the old fanbase start to slowly creep back (as long as he doesn't mouth off at them too early). Just as long as he doesn't sack off the academy like he did at Salford, which was a ridiculous short term measure and would be a disaster at Bradford.

No disrespect, but should he not have appreciated or considered that this could be a possibility when he signed up to join the team. And yes, folk don't get that many holidays but he cannot have his cake and eat it. He is a professional (part time is beside the point) and therefore he should clearly have considered this before signing the contract.

Also, Aston and other clubs banging on about this... they all had a vote and the majority agreed to this. No good now complaining that they have extra travel or no away support to cash in on. Did they not think about that at the time?

The lack of foresight is highly frustrating for me as I have an "If it can happen, it probably will happen" attitude. Always air on the side of caution otherwise you end up being in admin three times before eventually getting liquidated!!!

Aston wants to ask himself, if he really wanted to play that game so badly in the UK should his team not have performed better so they earned the right to?

By switching to PT and loading your side with PNG imports, you roll the dice and take your chances. The Bulls are going to have to consider this next season although if they too start moaning and groaning I won't be backing their argument.

I think I pretty much agree with that, he has learned some lessons and will probably be more successful if he does end up at another RL club. I suspect he'll stay out of RL now though, which would be a shame.

I wouldn't say having 3 PNG players would be classed as loading the team with them.

Let's take the bank holiday farce. All other games were played Monday afternoon but Toulouse kicked off at 8 in the evening and no flights home from Toulouse so the team had to travel 5 hours on the coach to get to an airport where they could get a flight from, so no chance of getting to work on the Tuesday. To say players should of took this into account before they signed is quite strange

There seems to be a lot of hatred towards Sheffield in all of your points you were trying to make and I can't say I agree with much that you said,have they upset you somewhere along the way. Are you one of the ones that said Sheffield should of let the Bulls sign Chisholm on a free instead of insisting on a fee for one of their players

Here's a thought. Whilst it may be that the Dr keeps away from RL do you think he may indulge his wife and let her buy the Bulls. If he is no longer involved in a team that would remove one of the impediments of her owning one.

I think that is a lot more likely than the good doctor buying us.

Leaving aside the part time/full time thing, I'm slightly puzzled at Mark Mexico having bother with his visa in France.

A few years back, when still in SL (iirc), we attempted to sign Greg Bird but were unable to do so because British authorities wouldn't grant him a visa. A few short months later he turned up at Odsal, playing, presumably legally, for Catalans as France HAD granted him a visa. Now, I've no problem with one country taking a different view on the visa situation, as we are, even though members of the same union, different countries, but if we (the UK) allowed Bird to play here under his French visa, surely the same European rules apply in reverse and Mark Mexico should be able to play in France under his British visa?

On the Koukash thing - I'd be happy for the Doc or his missus to buy the Bulls - they cant possibly do any worse than where we are now.

On the Eagles-Toulouse thing that just underlines the comical state our game is in now.
The RFL pushing to have any country involved but dont consider the practicalities of it for the players / teams / league structure.

Thats just my opinion - I'm not asking if anyone agrees or disagrees.

woh woh woh Roger, you've taken this way too to heart than I would have wanted to.

It was a genuine question that if you were a paid professional regardless of the standard, should you not have considered this would be an option? The question is yes because it clearly did happen. The flights to Toulouse haven't suddenly changed this year, they were the same last year and the year before that. Surely when Toulouse applied to the RFL, the clubs that voted them in should have considered this?

And as for the "hatred" towards Sheffield, absolutely not. Couldn't disagree more. I have nothing to say bad about the club especially after they were royally shafted in the whole Hudds/Sheffield debacle. I only referenced them as you pointed to the article about said player and Aston is quoted in it saying it was unfair to have to play it in France. Again, the rules were set out at the start of the season so he must have known there was a chance of playing this game in France. Toulouse have earned the right to play the game at their home venue so that's the right thing to do... maybe choosing a time where flights and travel would have be easier however, that's a different argument and one I think he would be right to suggest.

Please do not go twisting my words and making out I've got an agenda against the club. Not true. I've never said anything about Chisholm being allowed to leave free (the signing fee only went to prove he had a contract). I've also never had any beef with you and don't wish to. You're posts have always seem fair and reflective of the actual goings on so I usually respect what you have to say. On this occasion you're wrong so i think its only fair that I point that out.

As an aside, I'm glad your lad has signed on. think he's a great signing for us and hopefully will put some more local pride back into the shirt. Its what we have needed for some time.

Hello mate. First of all I should say looking back at my response I guess I did take it the wrong way ha, apologies for that

Watching Sheffield a lot these last 2 years I have developed a big soft spot for them and hope they do well in the future. They continue to punch above their weight and hope that continues. They don't have a large fan base but they are very loyal and passionate. They have been bummed on more than one occasion in the last few year, a bit like us I suppose

Not wanting to fall out with anybody on here, so I will admit I took it the wrong way

And thank you for the kind words about my lad

No probs bud... I'd be lying if I said I'd never done it before myself.