Harlequins are not the worst offenders in SL, and we would have had nearly as many overseas players as HKA, if things had turned out differently. Crusaders do need clamping down on, if they can't find enough British SL players willing to join the club, they should be scouting the national leagues. There are talented British players out there, and you're right too many clubs, Salford included, choose an overseas player over a British one far too often.

When you look at what is being achieived by some clubs, mainly: Hudds, Wigan, Sts and Leeds, minus some average overseas players, and you see what can be achieved by good coaching rather than plugging gaps. Which is a throw back to early SL years. We're lucky to have coaches like Nathan Brown, Micheal MacGuire and Tony Smith in this country, when you look at what they are achieving with largely English squads. Questions get raised over why players leave these clubs and regress. It's simply a matter, of poor coaching at the clubs where they end up.

Look at the difference at Salford the last few weeks. Simms puts his faith in the young British players that he's got and coaches them how to play the game, all of a sudden we appear a much stronger team with less overseas players. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Simms a coach before all the crazy imports started to arrive.

I understand what you are saying but these bigger clubs have had the advantage of taking their pick of the best young British talent for decades. I know many years ago Salford offered a 17 year old Shaun Edwards a massive deal and he turned it down and signed for less money at Wigan. How many more has there been Adrian Morley, Callum Watkins etc. It's similar in Football where the hottest young talent wants to play for Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea. Although there is always a few top quality players that slip through the net or develop later and that's what Salford should be looking for.

Personally I think our club's junior development has come on leaps and bounds in recent years under Alan Hunte. There is nothing more I like to see than young local players given a chance and taking it. Realistically all Salford can do is sign the best kids they can and then ensure they put as much investment into their development as possible.

I know it must seem like I'm defending the club but it's very easy to make comparisons (with big clubs) and criticise but sometimes you have to be realistic and put it down to the hand you are dealt. I think Salford have got to look to emulate what Huddersfield have achieved after some years of growth in a new stadium. Would these quality kids they have now signed for them if they were still at Fartown without the financial muscle of Ken Davy?

The original question was about the new franchise,as of this morning we know that widnes will be joining the super league,and the way they will get a squad strong enough is that they will do the same as everybody else, they will sound out the aussie agents and bring over another planeload of second -rate aussies,with a couple of academy kids to keep the league quiet.

JUDK: more possible could be quiet and hidden "nods" to certain very good SL players unhappy at their club ; especailly if out of contract by October. (SR?)

You are probably right hillbilly, but i am still willing to bet that widnes start super league with at least half a team from aus wether recruited from other super league clubs or from australia.If we lose any they will be replaced by more of the same.

I'd also like to add that Widnes will probably end up at least half a dozen players from the Superleague team that loses their license.

In answer to the Post title ,No.
1. because I promised myself I would't get myself in the same state as the 2008 announcement!
2. because I think the club has done ' enough' to get the nod until 2015. and if not it's too late to change anything as the bids will have gone in today for the existing SL clubs .
3. because I promised myself this season I would try my best to concentrate on the on field activities of the club and try and enjoy the season for the rugby , not the politics ..

Re Widnes ,
I think they won't rely on journeymen Auusies at all
they have the makings of a good academy setup and I think they will blood there lads if they are strong enough.
They are most likely to take fringe younger players from other SL clubs ( not unlike us with Ashley Gibson / Jodie Broughton ) .
They will throw money at Myler to tempt him back before 2015..

Always liked Widnes they got relegated and we got Aaron 'Aaron' Moule!

I couldn't help but notice you didn't question the comment I made about Catalans?
That's because you are not including any Catalan trained juniors in your overseas figures! At least I don't think you are.

You are Ian Foot the immigration officer from 'Come Fly With Me' and I'll collect my £5 Three cheers for wikipedia hip, hip

Fook me it was a joke hence the wink

I agree, largely, with what you are saying. The signing of young players isn't just down to financial capability, it's what the club can offer in terms of player development. This is where Hunte has been a massive success. We just need a first team coach that can move our young players from SL potential to SL quality. McRae hasn't been capable of this from day one, hence the reason we lost Turner.

Morley was a big miss by the club, if he'd been offered a contract I reckon he would have signed it. Kallum Watkin just sounds like it was one big mess, but Shaun Edwards was destined to play for Wigan.

As for Hudds they are the model of how to build a SL team. You can't rely solely on producing SL standard players from within the club, but they've spent money wisely. The acquistions they have made recently, really improve the standard of their rugby and have generally been pretty good. Luke O'Donnell looks a much better player than Willie Mason currently does.

We're not too far away, we just need to stop signing the likes of Jeremy Smith or Willie Talau. The latter did well when he played, we just didn't see enough of him, a reccurance of which seems to be happening with Anderson and possibly Feka. They still have time on their side, though, and with a little more on-field success I'm sure we can start to bring better quality signings into the club on a more regular basis. Rather than the hit and miss situation we currently have.

Apparently another Championship side could come up? Probably Halifax, if two come up and two SL sides go out we have to be one of them?