Catalans haven't made an offer for one and two they can't match the transfer fee we've offered the Bulls, he'll be signed on at salford tomorrow.

You come across very confident about this. You must be in the know because it's a very bold post to make otherwise. Catalans are a cash rich club and they have lost Louis Anderson for several matches through injury.

Are you sure?

It's what I heard. Something to do with taxation and costing them less to pay players compared to English clubs. I think this is why they have had the money to redevelop the stadium.

Employing people in France is considerably more expensive for an employer than in the UK
Equally, being self employed and operating as a company as I believe many do in the UK also costs more in France.

The french may have no word for entrepreneur (thankyou Mr Bush), but they certainly invented the word bureaucracy!

Thanks for the info I don't follow foreign taxes it's just something I heard which was obviously wrong.

Just another thought do you think with the euro doing well against the pound over the past few years, its actually affected Catalan negatively? For instance the Sky money would exchange into a lot less euro's than it would say 4 years ago.

Although the pound has fallen vs the euro, the biggest effect I suspect is the rise of the $AU

That said, if you were tempting an elderly Aussie to Europe, I rather think the French lifestyle has quite a bit that might sound a tad more attractive than the M62 corridor

It's impressive going to Perpignan and seeing what has been creating for a Superleague club who's every other game involves travelling to the UK - the size of the crowds, the enthusiasm, the stadium enhancements all show what can be done if the will is there.

In July 2009 the rate was 1.17,today it was 1.165.
I know that's spooky but that's what T'internet tells me.

Don't the RFL have some kind of mechanism that protects Catalan against currency fluctuations?

Sorry it was more like 5 or 6 years ago when the exchange rate of the pound against the euro was much stronger.

He has turned Salford down saying he has no intention of joining the club.

Had a feeling this would happen, how embarrassing.

It appears you're correct.

Never mind. Would have been nice but if he doesn't want to come that's his choice. It highlights the problems we have at this stage in being an advert to recruit better players. Maybe after August 9th we'll be a more attractive offer.

I think he need to be wary about this 9th August date as the start of a new tomorrow. Koukash is the one who has bigged it up and we all know he's not shy of making bold statements that clearly aren't true. I get the feeling we'll probably unveil an underwhelming new club badge and some mediocre signings when a lot of our fans will be whipped into a frenzy expecting Chase and SBW to be on the pitch at Barton.

My understanding is that no one has signed for the club despite Koukash's protestations. I'm sure Read League and his sources will say otherwise but he was claiming yesterday that Whitehead was signing today and he's just told us to do one.

At least this breathtaking piece of misplaced arrogance is just on here and not on the VT.

We were always gonna be up against it in attracting a player who had a stated aim of a top 4 club. However, as Nobby and the Dr have said; we're only interested in players who want to be here.

It's disappointing but we move on.