https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... e-30305915 Hopefully will give a few fringe players an opportunity to play next season

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... e-30305915 Hopefully will give a few fringe players an opportunity to play next season

Can't be a bad thing

Interesting comments on Matt Ellis (and the DR situation) from Batley chairman Kevin Nicholas on their forum. Kevin is one of the more widely-respected chairmen in the Championship.
"DR is always a tricky topic with mixed views to say the least. I personally am unsure about it but the discussions we have had with Wakefield has filled us with more optimism than ever before. Only time will tell but if this relationship does not work we will be surprised and obviously disappointed. All i can say is that we are very positive that it can work hopefully for both Clubs. Ste Mills at Wakefield has had links with us doing work for coaches for a few years now and knows Moko well. Then Matt Ellis as new to RL administration is a breathe of fresh air for our sport of that there is no doubt. Once he gets settled in SL and then knows how it works at both levels of our sport he will bring a lot of integrity and common sense to the table which is very promising going forward."

He's said so little there, you're forced to read between the lines. Basically he's trying to hold Mills to account just in case we don't lend them our best players when available, and say something decent about Ellis so he feels accountable, too. It's a statement for them, not fans, as we don't even know what the agreement is...

Guess time will tell , but have to be honest have always enjoyed going to batley and what a great set up on a shoe string , we need a dual reg partner to try and get fringe / recovering players match hardened.

However we are the senior partner and the one paying the players so am sure they wil only get players when it suits Wakefield to release them

I was at the Bartley shirt launch last night (my lad signed for them) and their chairman had a lot of great things to say about Matt/wakey & Steve Mills and was convinced that this dual reg arrangement was a good thing for both clubs, he felt it was a bit different for other dual reg deal, as batley had be somewhat against DR in the past, also mentioned that the deal was done in the middle of last season but had to keep it quiet until trinity’s promotion was confirmed.

You’d have to ask the Batley Chairman or Moxon as they were the two that were saying it

I think that's a bit harsh, that's not Kevin Nicholas' style at all (and I'm not a Batley fan). I think it's fair to say they have been treated a bit poorly by DR partner clubs in the past (eg players being on DR with Batley then allowed to go on loan elsewhere rather than offered to Batley) and he will know that plenty of the club's fans will be cynical about DR arrangements as a result,but to me that statemennt was really positive about Wakefield. I'd take it at face value, Nicholas doesn't strike me as someone to try and play mind games like that at all.