I'd be happy with that if true. I've mentioned his name on here a few times after I heard he was leaving Fev, but one of your fellow Cas fans seems to think he's heading your way.
Ben Hellewell would be another one I'd be after. Also confirmed to be leaving Fev.

Some optimism here, but here's a 17 I'd be happy with in SL2

Gaskell
Williams
George
Henry/Arundel/Hellewell/A N Other
Kear/Wood/Ainscough
Sammut/Addy/A N Other
Brook
Sidlow
AoB
Crossley
Olbison
Roberts
Donno

Conroy
Mellor/Pitts
Bates
Fakir/A N Other

This is an odd thread for me.

There are current players who I think have Championship quality written all over them; Olbison, Walker, Henry. And there are players who'd I genuinely be gutted to see drop down a division and stay with us; Donaldson, Blythe, Kear, Gaskell, maybe Purtell (I think he'd go to Hull KR for some reason).

I obviously think a lot of the high earning overseas lads will leave.

I wouldn't mind seeing Jean Philippe Baile join us...

Karl Pryce, Jarrod Sammut and Shaun Ainscough would be three guys I'd welcome back, two of which have been mentioned earlier.

From what I hear the club are in negotiations with lots of players. Many of this year’s 1st teamers are considering or have decided on deals. I guess we’ll hear more as the weeks go by.

If we can get Sammut and Crossley back then that would be a good start, but I’d be surprised if Sammut couldn’t get a SL team.

I’d be reluctant to take Karl Pryce. He’s not go the right attitude and I suspect he’d drive Lowes to distraction.

Quite a number of our existing squad is SL1 quality – particularly the likes of Addy, Olbison, Donaldson etc. I can’t see them getting that many offers from other SL clubs since they’re average. However they would be useful at SL1 level.

I expect to see more of Roberts, Bates, Mellor, Wood and Conroy next year.

Fairdoos, I'll admit I've seen nothing of them in the Championship and it was a case of suggesting a couple of former players I liked who I thought could do a job.

It wasn't so much about being too good for the Championship, but the effort and level of performance put in by Donno it'd be a shame for him to be relegted.

Oh I know that. It was just the notion of Millard and Baile on one flank would make going to Keighley tolerable!

Think Kearney mentioned in article last week that he wouldn't rule out going down with us. If we could push out boat to retain him and purtell and get sammut back we'd have start of a decent set of backs.

Am I the only one who wouldn't miss Purtell?
He doesn't have pace, or agility, he's not the best defensively and he doesn't really provide much for his winger.
I thought he had his best games for us when he was playing in the 2nd row. I think that in itself tells you how effective he is (or isn't) as a centre.

For the amount of money he must be costing us, there must be a cheaper option out there somewhere (Platt/Hellewell/Baille?!)

Purtells struggled last couple of weeks. I could see him being on big money too. I'd keep Blythe ahead of him. OK, he's had some brain farts but he runs hard and keeps his legs pumping.

I think Purtell standing out as a better player is probably down to the drop in form of those around him.

As for next year, I'd also look at Danny Bridge, I liked him when he was on loan - meat and drink kind of player who could tackle.

It will all come down to money. If we have a quiet chat with player and agent about still paying a good wage next year - as long as it stays private - we may just hang onto some of them. I am not surprised at Gaskell. Stay here and be first choice or move to keep the bench warm. That may go for a few of this squad. Would Olbason, Donno and Addey get a starting place in any of the top 6 SL clubs. They would be bench players in that first year. We thought Kaufusi was very good but he sits in the stand. Why not offer them a similar contract to now with a release clause if we don't get back up say within two seasons. We need to spend the full cap (legally) next year and choose a hand full of players who we really want - such as Kearney, Manu, Fakir etc. and they get paid separately for opening supermarkets by one of our sponsors which isn't part of the cap. We will have the money. About £900k payment + parachute payment spread over say two years means we will have enough to keep the squad we have as long as that last few £K disappear off the accounts. The other clubs do it.

I would also take Sammut back. The top clubs have never been interested in him due to his inconsistent nature and not really running the team like a conventional half. He will always interest the bottom clubs who need a spark.

Still waiting for the assistant to be named. I will be bitterly disappointed if we don't get one as Jimmy does need good support. Either a tough ex forward or a back who will sort out our poor defence is required asap.

Don't know where people are getting these figures from. Central distribution next year is 500-600k. Then there's a one off 250k parachute payment. Everyone seems to think the combined total is the parachute payment and we then get central money on top. Central funding plus parachute payment will cover bulk off the 900k salary cap, assuming green makes parachute payment available to fund squad and doesn't have other uses for it in mind.

One advantage we will have next year is club trained rule coming in which means only first 40k of any of our academy products wages will count towards salary cap. Provided money's there to fund it, means we've some scope to exceed the 900k cap legally, and we've probably got a much higher number of ex academy lads floating around than majority of clubs.

Burgii...?