The very best that can be said of this approach is that is a recipe for disaster. Let’s say the IMG/SL clubs persuaded by our arguments allow us to remain in SL. We have no squad. That means we come last. As it stands only those players whose alternative to waiting and seeing is leaving the game will be left when we finally decide what to do. I have to say I’ve no desire to see the youth team play in 1st team shirts whether it’s against SL sides or Championship ones. This is bizarre.

Yes very bizarre, but if that situation arose, I would expect Hughes to fill the gaps in the squad or completely new squad from the Southern Hemisphere. We've been called a team of Aussies even when we weren't particularly so why not? As any of the old timers will tell you, it was fun going to watch Fulham wondering who was the latest Aussie or Kiwi kipping on Roy & Barbara Close's living room floor.

Maybe Brisbane will buy us again!

Someone who usually talks sense has suggested on the other forum the Broncos are offering match fees not contracts next season and that only a handful of players have accepted to date. They also suggested Broncos are looking to leave Plough Lane, probably for one of the RU grounds already used.

How accurate it is remains to be seen, but it does seem plausible.

In the context of being bottom of the league, most of what is going on now is fairly positive. Decent performances, crowds reasonable (especially when one considers we have been a decent bet for a heavy/Heavy-ish loss for most of season), social media quite perky……but if this is true then things are very bleak indeed. I don’t know the ins and outs but isnt pay per match what the lesser teams in L1 and ‘amateur’ teams do. That would appear to be our aim a competitive L1 side. Wow!
On move from Plough Lane then we’ve gone thru the pros and cons but the only pro really is it’s SL standard if we don’t think we’ll ever be in SL then it makes sense although it isn’t good news as Roslyn Park is…we’ll less said soonest mended and I suppose we could pay for some 20th century style seating and dispense with hospitality as a concept.

I have to say it is all a bloody mess. Strangely it is not all of the clubs making this time.
Mostly but not all.
Do you think David Hughes will come the end of the season, hand over the keys to IMG and RFL and say here you are, now get on with it. I would not blame him if he did.

I had a look at the other site. I just don’t know what to think but if this is the approach that we are taking then it would leave us with a team that wasnt really competitive for the Championship let alone SL. I can’t see that doing anything but leading to lower gates than when we first came to PL and an inevitable drop to L1. Basically it looks bad. IMG et al capitulate and we have a non competitive SL side weaker than this season - difficult to see that as a win or we free fall into oblivion. Really chaotic way to do business.

what's the other site lads?

Absolutely, I could not agree more.

It’s the totalrl site run by the people who produce league express. It’s not split up into teams but general chat on issues. Page 64 of general rugby league Thread on Leigh’s rebrand “Leigh changing their name” has, in my view, not been bettered and is a recommended read.

How on earth can the management expect these players, many of whom left a couple of seasons back when we (seemingly) late doors decided to go part time, will stay on these terms. As for going forward Northerners and Aussies are very unlikely to bite on a pay as you go deal. This really only works for the couple of players we have who have a main job in London and fancy a bit of pin money playing rugby and the kids who haven’t established themselves. I wonder if we’re even going to bother next season. I wonder if I am. I have no fond memories of the Coleman days and we seem to be setting ourselves up for worse than that.

Do you think that next weeks game will be our last at The Cherry Red stadium. I think so.
Off to Rosslyn Park next season. That is if we still have a club next year.

I think so too Victor and expect to hear confirmation from the club about mid November. I think that could be that especially if only 4 players take up the pay for play offer (I’d be surprised if many more did) but think it’s a fair bet we get L1 ready by moving to RP. Ebbsfleet isn’t in London that would be taking the pxxx a bit too much. Hopefully Mr Hughes will put in a couple of quid to have the main stand fixed and possibly a small upgrade to the plank of wood style seating opposite. Im. not precious about it but RPs main/only stand is well below the standard. As for hospitality, that I think has had its day.

I assume that David Hughes contributed to the new stand at Trailfinders. So he may do so at RP to help raise the standards.

Yes went up really quickly if I recall correctly. Ealing would be the obvious choice to return and spruce up a bit for a middling Championship side but I suspect that would all be a bit easy for us. I suppose RP benefits from being real rugby heartland and it’s clear that quite a few did come when we played there last season. On the downside few we have accrued from Wimbledon will travel and we seemed to lose a few regulars as well. Basically we’re in strife.