shame if he goes.....but by looks of it he aint staying

Just a point, I thought other clubs couldnt offer him anything until semptember?

Unless we've given him permission to speak to others?

I refer you to the first reply.

I'm Stef's biggest fan I think he has the lot (even if still potentially) I'd be gutted if he left, on the flip side I see him reaching his full potential at a progressive club and wouldn't want to see his talent wasted.

Rock and a hard place

Sorry but this is the forum I'm chosing to make a few observations, predictions and promises.

I for one if Ratchford goes will see the club as lacking ambition and nowse. To say to Steff here you go you are the future of the club, you are who we will build the entire team around and who can lead us to glory, wouldn't take the hard sell as i do genuinelly get the impression that ratchford is a bit different from some of the gold digging talent we have lost in recent years.
If he does go and there is not an earth shatteringly good replacement I will have to think long and hard if the new ground is enough for me to continually put myself through the grinder supporting our club. We lost Myler and i see that as not within a hundred times as damaging to the club as losing Ratchford will be, for me not only is Ratchford the most talented young player in the British game but i'd suggest when he matures he will go on to become one of the best at whatever position he ends up specialising in.

I have purposely chosen not to take up the 5 year season ticket deal as i smell failiure at the club, I suspect deep down that the new stadium will only provide us fans with a greater level of comfort to watch a failing team. I can't put my finger on it exactly but there is a deep lying issue within the club and I worry that it will ruin it beyond repair if the board and backers don't pull thier collective heads from the sand and see what everyone else involed in RL can see.

I hope more than ever before i'm wrong but I very much doubt that I am, I can honestly say that if i didn't have a season ticket i would have to strongly consider not bothering until the last game to say goodbye to the old dear. I know i'll get abuse but anyone who knows me know's that I hold Salford RLFC dear to my heart and it breaks the same heart to see what is becoming of a great sporting club.

Mr Wilkinson please take heed of myself and a great many other fans as well as people with a deep understanding of the working of not only Salford RLFC but also RL in general and act now before things become to late to give us the fitting finale to our spiritual home and more worryingly stop the new ground becoming an empty white elephant.

I hate some of the negative tripe that's spouted on here (more often than not by people who can't spell or use punctuation).
I'm a positive bloke who generally sees the best in people and definitely sees the glass as half full rather than half empty.
Some of the moaning, doom-mongering, exaggeration and stupid demands made over the last few weeks have really irritated me.

However MR's post, and particularly the part I have quoted, describe exactly how I am feeling at present. In fact, I didn't really realise that's how I felt until I read what you had eloquently written.

Don't you know? We just ignore the cap at Wire. We have offered Ratchford half the value of Matt King's contract so thats only £500k a year. We've plenty on more than that.

I would love Stefan Ratchford at Wigan and I rate him very highly. A British player who is very talented and can play numerous positions effectively with still plenty of potential at 22 is very hard to come by. No wonder he is sought after by the top clubs in Super League and some rugby union clubs. As a side note though, I wouldn't take that article very seriously. The Sun is hardly a credible source.

Out of interest, you guys watch Stefan Ratchford every week, how high do you rate him? What's his qualities? Strengths/Weaknesses?

i have watched steff come through the ranks and in my opinion i rate him very highly a better all round player than richie myler and rate him in the same bracket as joe lydon very versatile in any of the back positions can also play hooker if he goes to wigan you have captured a diamond player

OK?.



Eh?

I can't see Wigan needing him with Mellor, Tomkins etc.

He's rubbish. I'd steer clear if I were you.

I don't think saints will be in the market for ratchford, not because he wouldnt be a good signing, but because we have a shed load of (injured) half backs and have just signed hohaia.

In terms of losing players, yes its disappointing as we are finding this year with eastmond graham and very likely puletua, but the clubs will still be here next year, and so will we as real supporters. Saints and salford will be better clubs with new grounds and facilities, and players will come and go. I think the future is bright for both our clubs.

See my heart felt plea has the desired effect as far as getting rid of part of the problem at a coaching level.

So if your reading this Mr Gates, Sheik Bin Bag or some random Chinese/Indian billionaire another solution to some of Salfords ills is endless potts of cash being lobbed our way with the desire for nothing but our heart felt thanks as a rewards.

[sizeWorth a try but doubt it'll work

He's a very good player but I think that some of the comparisons are OTT.
If he goes to his home town club,or somewhere that doubles his pay,then that doesn't show a lack of ambition on Salfords part,just the reality of the situation.b

[iAt the end of the day it's all down to Ratchford to decide what's best for him.

The club have offered him a decent contract I believe, but sometimes it's not just down to money as we all know from the past.

I hope he stays on board with the Reds but if he leaves then so be it we just move on just like we did when Myler, Coley, Robinson took there leave.



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