Well he won't be on here for a long long while and I'm awaiting my abusive PM and then he wont be on any of these boards for ever.

Just another thought on the Barrow situation, doesn't this prove that the current rules ie salary cap and no p&r, is stifling clubs who can afford to bring in players if they have the backing. Whatever you may think of Des Johnston, he put his money where his mouth is and was obviously an ambitious guy who wanted to see his club win things. I know the rules were brought in to level things up and stop clubs overspending but even with the rules in place clubs still get into financial problems.

Would the rfl have given Barrow special dispensation to pay bigger wages if DJ had asked them?

It would appear one of the main problems/gripes is paying out travel expenses and it counting in the Salary Cap.

The salary cap is to allow the likes of Batley/Dewsbury/Sheffield etc who have few fans to compete with ambitious clubs who have fans. It exists in tandem with no P&R under the guise of 'protecting' clubs from themselves, otherwise translated as 'we will strangle you by stopping a benefactor pumping money in because you cant win promotion'.

A 29 point deduction and an 8 year ban suggest that this goes beyond a couple of mileage claims.

Ah - like Arthur did at Leigh.

I see it all now.

Dearie me today.

And the point was ........... ?

Will Barrow effectively be lost to RL because of this or is there a consortium waiting in the wings ?

I believe the Barrow club will survive and should look to what is going on here or at Rochdale if they've any sense.

Of course they will. They'll just take a step backwards for a few seasons.

Just a thought, but couldn't they employ Cumbrian players and staff - thus eliminating the need to pay travelling expenses??

You never know - it might just catch on!!