Makes sense, Smith & Hock should free up enough money to make a signing that would improve us.

Ignore what I just said. ALthough I'm sure this will cheer you up.

What about Hock's cash? Is that availiable straight away? If so you should be trying to get someone over now if possible.

Forgot about Carmont.

I can see why they'd release him tbh but we'd struggle to find better. He's had his injury problems this year but in the main his form has been pretty good.

If we have Smith, Carmont and Hock all leaving and i'd presume Lenagan will have got Bailey and possibly Coley to re-sign on lower terms then we must have plnety of room to bring in a prop and another halfback.

I'd keep Carmont above all of the others who were out of contract.

Ainscough and Richards high try count has a lot to do with Carmont imo.

He’s been injured for a little bit of this season but again recently he seems to have come back into a good vein of form. He’s still a good player for me.

He can do another year whilst Goulding & Pryce try to work out what ever weaknesses they have.

if coley is being kept on and were bringing in another prop would that see either prescott/ o'carroll going out on loan and freeing up more cap space??

Tbh i'd see Fielden as the man to make way at this moment in time. He looks to be in a comfort zone at the minute in that he knows he's got a place in the 17 and even him dropping down to the bench hasn't looked to fire him up.

I'd expect if we signed a new prop and kept Coley added to the fact it's fieldens last year we'd see a totally different player.

Thats can only help us.

Am i missing something?

Given we have agreed Pryce is staying for 1 more year at least i would be surprised if we did not retain Carmont. Pryce has not proved himself worthy of a centre spot neither has Goulding, next year is the year they need to step up with a view to taking the shirt from 2011 onwards. It would seem logical Carmont will remain for 1 final year in 2010 to me.

I would be very very surprised if we didn't keep Carmont for another year for the exact reasons you list above jon, nobody I'll feel is up to taking over that centre spot, or not yet anyway.

How can you seriously say that?
Don't we accept by now that we don't have any accurate information relating to existing Wigan salaries, etc.
Our situation re. the cap is not the same as other clubs, so just saying that 'other clubs can do it so we must as well' doesn't mean anything.

No I don't have any info re Wigan players salaries.
However, Smith is no longer at the club and his salary is available.
I do presume that Hock will shortly be given a two year ban and his salary will be available. Contract renewals may bring further money available.
How is our situation re the cap not the same as other clubs? The 2007 "adjustments" will be out of the system end of this year for most players. The only way it could be different is whether IL is now using benefit trusts, image rights and offshore a/cs etc as other clubs do. If he is not then we are at a disadvantage. If he is then surely we are not.
I cannot see with the Smith and Hock situations that plenty monies are not available for signings.
As I said, the players are there and the money is there, so what is the problem?

There isn't necessarily any problem yet. Nowhere is it written that we have to announce new signings at the same time as everyone else.