Come on Walshovski don't play silly buggers you know full well what I meant. There was a significant increase in the player budget in an attempt to gain some momentum and you know it. OK maybe not on a level to Leeds United in football but enough to create the financial problems the club finds itself in today.

The club would have been equally criticised if they hadn't speculated before moving to Barton. There would have been people on here whining about the club lacking ambition had they not increased the player budget. Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?

I agree that some of the signings turned out to be poor and the squad did not perform to their potential but to say the financial problems are more deep rooted is utter garbage. These financial problems are recent (not historical) and a result of increasing the player budget, not getting bigger crowds and having fewer income streams than they had at the Willows. And don't throw the company accounts at me because a lot of the long term debt was simply loans from the directors that I doubt they ever thought they would get back.

I think "speculating" was part of the problem. There were arguably safer, more solid signings that could have been made, but we appeared to splash cash based on past reputations. Two of the "big signings" never played for the club, one took a year to get remotely fit, others were plagued by injuries. And it wasn't really surprising. I remember reading at the time a couple of journalists saying how the word in the game was that Salford had "signed a few lemons", then the stories came out about the club not bothering with medicals before signing.

There's little doubt that the playing budget was increased, but it wasn't increased very wisely.

I agree some (not all) of the signings turned out to be poor but that's not my argument. It was still a better squad in 2011 & 2012 than the club had in 2010. Could better signings have been made? Yes but would better signings have put another 3000 on the gates in this economic climate? I very much doubt it.

We can all be smart ar$e$ and identify mistakes with hindsight can't we? and I can't remember too many on here being critical when some of these signings were announced. Quite the opposite as I remember, people were getting a bit giddy.

I can see PV bringing in Aussies. Looking at AdamJK's squad post we only seem to have Shannon Mc on the quota. Whether that's a wise move or not is anyone's guess, but it would make a little more sense in that by the time we actually are in a position to sign players there will be little left in the UK, and a larger pool of has-beens/rejects etc are available from down under.

Nothing personal against overseas players and I know some would argue it's impractical but I'd love Salford to have a squad that consists of only British players.

Just because some were getting giddy at the time doesn't mean others weren't looking at the likes of Anderson, Bailey, Feka and Wild and questioning their fitness/injury records.



There was the half from Melbourne being touted (McGhan). Realistically, unless deals have already been done, we'll have to look at picking up fringe players with some kind of UK/EU heritage to get round the work permit rules (regardless of quota situation).

I think you have Mr McRae to thank for these signings, he was quoted at the time saying he wanted more experianced players in his squad.

At this stage of pre season I'd settle for Aussies, Kiwis or any South Sea Islander.

I'm actually not really worried about the backs if the young full back from Wigan signs, we get Gleeson and are prepared to let Ford show his class think we've got a decent back line.

But we need to get a couple of no nonsense props (Mason would do for a start) and with Moon going (get the feeling Moon was going to be the experienced half back partner this year) we need a wise old head in the halves, can honestly see if we struggle to get one that come the start of the season Long will be in the team.

I can see Long playing too. At least until they get someone in...

There may be nearly a full team of ' Italians ' to choose from ?



Re, McPherson wasn't he signed off a Crusaders defaulted contract and thereby given dispensation ?

there may be deals done in principle from Veivers Visit in Oct , but the window of opportunity to get new Player additions, and launching New Season Passes & Hospitality / Business sponsorship is getting narrower by the day.

The only people who were getting excited over our signings for our last season at the willows were the same lemons who continue to think the current situation at the club is all down to an unfortunate stroke of bad luck.

Yes. He confirmed it himself at a FR meeting last season. So we currently have no quota players.