But those of us who attempt to be constructive about this issue actually provide points for the debate, it just seems easy for some to look at this as if there's two sidessuccessful club.

By the way, BartonFlyer is talking a lot of sense on this thread.

I think 'Attack' is a little strong. I welcome informed debate, with the emphasis on informed. I have no problem with anyone who has the opposite view of myself. I do have a problem with people who just say the same tripe in every post regardless of the topic. My eyes are open to the mess we are in, I just see little point in venting emotional ramblings based on little evidence, which is what a lot of people on here do.

As for Moon, as much of a blow as it is to lose him, I'd rather have someone who wants to play for us than a talented baby who can't get his own way. We'll undoubtedly miss his ability but not his attitude. On a personal level, any player from a 'bottom-half' Club offered a three year deal at the current SL Champions would be stupid to turn it down. Good luck to him.

Talk about Rats deserting a sinking ship
or the current directors, asset stripping, before they let the good ship SCR sink
It cannot be good for any new investors to see all assets disappearing
what kind of a team are we going to have ? perhaps we can borrow some players from Swinton
Only bright side, Admission prices will have to be reduced to watch the bottom of league SCR, or there will be no one watching
Worst pre season I have ever experienced in 57 years of following Salford
Seriously fear the worst

I suppose on the flip side, Scoot, if our expectations are rock bottom (Mine certainly are) we can only be pleasantly surprised if by some miracle we do anything this coming season...

What would you say was Moon's primary reason for joining Leeds?

A, Opportunity to join the Superleague champions and bag a 3-year contract?

B, Get away from Salford at any cost because of the off field issues despite an imminent takeover?

I'm struggling to see what more we could have done to keep him. Veivers spoke to him in Oz and he's coming back only then to not bother until he has manufactured a move to Leeds.

There was only two options.

Keep a player who has already taken us to a tribunal to get out of his contract and who in all probability would have gone missing throughout the season.

Or make use of a very saleable asset.

Can anyone see a big company like Peel being part owners of the club investing significant money and then not following through and maximising that investment by not getting the signings Vievers wants? For me it's a bit of a no brainer.

Mainly A, however considering how long the saga's been dragging on, I'd suggest B may well have had something to do with it. If he thought things were rosy here and we were looking towards a bright future he may well have hung on. I guess we'll never know. Maybe if the club finally gets put in the hands of people that can make it a well-run success we'll see an end to players jumping ship. Hopefully we'll finally find that out.

When was the tribunal to determine his contract obligations?

A, Before the reported financial issues?

B, After the reported financial issues?

Would you take your employer to a tribunal if you didn’t have another offer of job already lined up?

A, No

B, Yes

I'd agree with that, and throw more names into it. Patten opted for unemployment rather than stay when he could easily have taken the money.

Yes, we clearly can't offer a good prospect of reaching a Grand Final, but the regular complaints about training arrangements payment times, cliques, "us and them" etc that come out are hardly conductive to an environment that employees are going to feel hugely loyal towards. Hopefully the work that Paul Highton is now doing will help make players feel that their issues are better managed.

Patten opted for a new career as a players agent because his body couldn't take the punishment. Moon opted for a dream move to Leeds and a 3 year deal.

I do think though it's about how best you utilise your resources to provide the best environment possible. It would appear to me that too much may have been invested in the squad and not enough on training facilities, equipment, medical and support staff. It's a fine line because its no good having a great working environment and crap players and vice versa. The problem is the Patten's and Moon's were obviously used to different working environments where a lot more money would have been available to provide this.

As for 'cliques' this is a new one please enlighten us?

Patten and Moon also came from the Australian set-up: a quick read of Alker's book reminds us of the gaps between standards at clubs here and there. Some accept it when they arrive and some cannot or move back. Some clubs: Wigan, Leeds and warrington approach the Australian image.

Re several postings : I feel the comments made above need to be the model for the future of any Salford debate. I know sufficient of the posters to know that none were non-critical of issues within the club. However, there's a huge distinction between what is known as a critical friend and someone who criticises with no acceptance of any qualities shown to him or her.

Several months ago, someone, one of the beach brigade I think (to use one poster's crude segregation of other posters), asked whether Salford had been punching above its weight for so long and is now fatigued by that exertion.
A lot of truth underlay that remark.

I have to agree with Scoot. Over 25 years support from myself, and I cannot honestly ever remember feeling so disheartened as a Salford fan. Maybe the lure of the new stadium kept me feeling optimistic for better times, just around the corner. But I must be on a roundabout, as the promise of a brighter future has never seemed so far away.

I dreamt about us playing at the Willows the other day (sad I know). I'd go and play there in the first division in a heartbeat...

The financial issues were well known at the time of the tribunal, not sure what point you're getting at.

As for the second question, B - Yes, if you felt your employer had breached the terms of your employment. Moon isn't stupid he would have been well aware of interest from other clubs even if they didn't equate to a firm job offer.

I'm sure at the time the tribunal was being reported people were dismissing it as Barker nonsense, you were probably one of them but I've not got the inclination to check.

For what it's worth Joel Moon was a player I would willing to pay to watch in recent times. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a player in recent times, thinking of what magic he could come up with tonight. Broughton will miss Moon, Jodie flourished outside Moon and was put away for tries that only Gibson could dream of doing. On another matter now, Salford's backline has been ripped apart as of our best players. I honestly believe the club should lower the price of tickets! This squad is not SL standard the only bright light is that we will have Owen, Ford, Walne, Sneyd the potentially will be 1st team players that have graduated through the academy (apologise if I missed anyone off, so disinterested in SCR and the people who have killed the club)