If the visa is denied, we can look at the situation again. If the visa is approved then we will need to employ the person offered the job or the club can be sued for the value of the contract (maybe more because of damage to reputation). It would not be sensible for the club to pull out of the deal now.

If the visa is denied then I'm sure the Rowls will be offered the head coaching job and we will decide where to go regarding the GM role.

It really is quite simple.

We can't just leave it open forever, we should write to them and set a reasonable/agreed deadline, its then up to them to push to get their visa sorted if they want the job.

The visas will be sorted when they're sorted. There's nothing that either the club or the individuals involved can do. If we've got a job offer on the table (pending a successful visa application) then that offer stands until the immigration authorities make their decision.

Thought all Government departs were now given targets, surely one of these is some kind of time frame to approve/reject a visa. Find out what it is, add x number of weeks and set a deadline.

The main problem is that there is no legal crow bar that the club can use to hurry this up. The UK borders are all in with customs and excise which have more power than the police and courts of this land. The fact that correspondence were going to HP says a lot about this government department. One thing I will say about this whole affair is that there are some important lessons to be learned from this for the future. Lessons I thought would have been learned from previous attempts at bringing people over from down under. As my mum often says " it'll all come out in the wash".

I do think its telling that they have been trying to contact Hilton Park, really fills you with confidence that they could track down any illegal immigrants, especially if the crafty devils gave their real address.

We should ve gone for either of those two up and coming coaches.....Rashid Blackmore or Mohammed Adamson. I doubt visas would ve been a problem then.When will the club ever learn by going to RL backwaters like Oz, do they actually play the game over there?

Needs sorting IMO, its dragging on too long.

If the guy coming over has not got a badge to coach in the UK (yet) as was alleged a while ago then surely we should be appointing our head coach now and allow this 'General Manager' situation to run its course as its nothing to do with the coaching role.

If the guy is coming over to coach (and presumably he has got the required badges to do so) then we really need to be reviewing why we as a club signed / agreed a contract with someone who didn't have the required paperwork at that point to work in the country.
If they didn't /haven't signed a contract but the owners feel abliged out of decency then fair enough, its exceptionally rare in business or at sports clubs to see it but thats purely whoever is in charge of the clubs decision and they will stand or fall by it.

If the guy hasn't signed a contract and is still stuck on paperwork issues then I'm sorry we have waited a long time (more than reasonably expected) and we should close the issue, a verbal agreement where someone hasn't got legal paperwork to work in the country won't be difficult to untangle, in terms of reputation damaged in the game (if you believe that has a effect) then I don't think you'll find any sports club risking so much on awaiting a appointment, We have been very fortunate Paul and Neil have delivered the lads to the field in such good shape and form - what would we be doing if we had witnessed 3 dire performances and 3 hammerings - I suspect people wouldn't be worrying about doing the right thing in the game then !

If Paul Rowley and Neil Jukes have said they would like the job , then give it to them - its a winning mentality and they are steady at the club for some time.
If the new guy is arriving for a General Managers position (but is really a ex player wanting to coach) then give him the General Managers job (if the visa comes through), it can't do any harm to be seen to helping a guy get his coaches badges whilst he works for us (and might help the reputation the club seemed worried about damaging), lets be honest this guy may have quit his job abroad to come here and could be being delayed on paperwork issues (and I'm sorry, I'm glad the UK borders are doing there bit, its damn hard to get in virtually every other country in the world to work except -until recently- the UK).

We play Barrow in 12 days time, it needs sorting.

The question is,did they really send the replies to a empty waste land called hilton park or was that jovial chappy keith and his little titter or was still some clown filled in the address wrong on the forms ?

Either way the new guy quite simply is not wanted or needed.

If you are reading this mystery man find another club to use for a step up to super league ....please

Over to people in the know to answer that last one. I would hate to be in the dock with some of you lot in the jury.
I really hope Paul and Neil succeed if or when the get the job.

Re the Border Agency sending correspondence to Hilton Park I am surprised a Leigh Postal worker does not know about the LSV.

Even Leigh residents who have never been there know where it is.

I do not think the visa will be granted so for the £30k a year General Manager post I shall apply for the position just in case Charlie Caroli does.

I might even decline the salary as long as I get free red wine. BTW I shall leave the coaching to our present incumbents but should things on the field go badly obviously I shall take over.

You are rapidly becoming the biggest bitter and twisted fool on this message board, no I take that back you have achieved the accolade of being the biggest bitter and twisted fool on this message board, congratulations

In view of this thread I shall not be applying for the post of General Manager.

I resent part of this post , I NEVER filled in ANY said forms, with any address .