Still doesn't explain where the money's gone.

Maybe they used it to support and strengthen their business rather than over paying players? (A lesson that a few clubs maybe could learn from... mentioning no names )

Hirst turned out and scored for Dewsbury yesterday; assume he's on dual reg from Wakey?

Wouldn't mind us going in for him if he get's frustrated not getting a shot in SL.

Typical arrogant Batley thought they could just turn up and win against the team that finished a few places below them last year. Sorry Batley you're not a big club anymore and just turning up expecting to win against the team at the bottom of the table isn't going to win over the neutrals.

I read that one thing they'd invested in was their training/gym facilities, so they don't need to spend money on private gyms/premises anymore. A capital expenditure which increases infrastructure quality and reduces outgoings in the future. Whether that accounted for all of it, or they're keeping a "rainy day" fund, I'm not sure.

They run a tight ship at Batley. No way will they have spent it all.
They've had a lot of work done around the club, but most of it has been done by sponsors, which will has kept the cost down.
The lads that extended their contract after their outstanding season last year got a nice bonus built into their new deals and they have a bigger squad this year, but they certainly aren't the type of club that will throw all the extra money at the playing budget.

Not a bad showing from us in second half...
The first half defence was very poor, Mendieka's defence is not good enough, Smith in that centre with Campbell for me..
Keyes and Pryce 6 and 7...Oscar played well too, J.C would have been my MOM though.

Leon was my man of the match. He ran with the ball more and caused problems for Batley each time.

As much as it was a good result, lets hope we don't fall in love with ourselves after that, there wasn't much between the two teams until the last few minutes.
Too many errors early in the tackle count.
Too many penalties given away.
No idea with attacking kicks.
No patience near the opposition line.

Still plenty to work on.

Second half was enjoyable...we were poo in the first half, our defence was very very poor, handling errors were under 10's level.
although when we play with confidence we look good with the ball in hand, for me we need a couple more experienced heads..

Has anyone read the T&A article with Beattie today?

Has he seriously said he hopes there is interest in our younger players or has he been misquoted??

I think it's a misrepresentation of the quote. He's bigging up the young lads saying that they're SL quality, but hasn't quite had the eloquence to make his point

I didn't read it the way Ewwen did to be honest, but even if he did say that, it's a statement of the flaming obvious. Our academy sides were beating SL teams in their league last year, and seem to have started this season in the same vein. Given the performances of some ( all....)of the youngsters in the first team and you'd need to be a real dimwit not to realise that bigger clubs are going to be slinking around.

How do we manage to keep young players?

Obviously we can't manage to pay them the same as SL sides so what is it that we do that keep them wanting to stay at the club?

Outside of the basics like paying them every month on the agreed date. I'd say regular first team football. Once they are established first teamers they are off to superleague where they belong. That's a fact of life while we are in the championship.

What I find gutting is seeing Adam O'Brien turning out for Halifax. Not because of any rivalry with them (good luck to them) but because he is genuinely superleague class. He's at the wrong superleague club IMO.

If Ethan Ryan were to leave I'd want to see him ripping it up on the wing in Superleague or NRL getting the show biz billing his finishes deserve.

A few years playing regular first team for us and I'm sure he'll be ready to step in to that level and certainly international honours.