I wouldn't presume to suggest others ought to be happy if they feel disinclined. Nor do i think every decision IL has made has been correct. Given that he has to make many decisions, and that the success or otherwise of many of them is out of his control then it is no wonder that he has made mistakes. Personally, I feel that he has made it too easy to leave. But his achievements in making the operation professional and generating our own talent to my mind far outweigh these quibbles.
He is to my mind a uniquely difficult position - the NRL and Dark Side simply have far more money than he is allowed to spend, and we remain the most famous name in world rugby. So, we attract more attention than anyone else. In the light of that, it is so far so very good for mine.

Don't forget it was Dave Whelan who made Orrell Wigan's training base and before IL came along Wigan have always produced top players. Where do you think the likes of Hock, Hansen, Lockers, Micky Mac and others came from?

We are rightly lauded for a good youth program but I can't remember a time since the mid-eighties we haven't been producing players.

This doesn't detract from what young players we do produce currently under IL's leadership but I think people forget the longstanding contributions of others such as Brian Fowley and others who did this for decades before IL arrived.

IL is continuing a tradition not inventing one.



He certainly is in a difficult position and the current debate is all about how he is handling it.

Unrest off the field translates to on field performance.
For the 40 odd years that I've been supporting WRLFC, that's always been the case at this club.

A pi$$ poor performance tonight, IMO, reflects this.

IFL, needs to come clean, officially, to what's going on. OK, the players probably know, but are subjected to some form of gagging clause.

Let the facts be known, all then can digest in unison, Fans included ( Y'know those people who pay out hard earned sponduliks to help pay the wage bill), draw a line under it, and move on.

BTW, I don't subscribe to the 'Backing Up' excuse. We do, and always have had, the option of playing on a Sunday.

At the risk of repeating myself I agree he has done most things very well. However, the Mossop/Sam situation isn't one of them! We were comforted at Joel's departure by Sam's contract. It now looks like so much spin. Why can't you and others see this? He is not superman, he makes mistakes! Others have said that the landscape has changed in the 18 months since Sam signed but that really is putting a shine on things IMO. I am not an out and out IL knocker. Make Mossop stay the course and allow Sam to talk to other clubs next year and I would be happy! He can make mistakes or take chances with things like the Powell signing and I don't really care because, on balance, he gets things right. I'm also willing to admit that the Mossop situation won't be as bad as it looks if he does indeed come back in 2 years because, unlike the cherry and white brigade, I haven't suddenly come to the conclusion that Mosop is crap (not aimed at you of course).

Why do you and others think people can't see?

Some posters on here don't seem to see that its not what they post, but the arrogance with which they post, and the implication that others are stupid that gets other people backs up.

I know he isn't perfect but I would say he's running at a 90% success rate.

With regards to players leaving I see 3 options:

1 - Force them to stay the length of their contract and let them leave for nothing running the risk of a dummy spit and poor performances or paying someone to sit in the stands.

2 - Sell them to another Super League team which makes our rivals stronger and us weaker.

3 - Sell them to the NRL where they can't come back to haunt us.

The last two obviously gives us money to invest in the playing staff, back room staff, training facilities, Central Park, Youth program etc etc.

I think IFL's biggest contribution is getting the backroom staff in place to maximise the performance of the team and player development through the academy.

In the days of the cap any profit the club makes can't be spent on increased salaries, so even if we were able to pay a transfer fee for Inglis we couldn't afford to pay him a competitive salary under the cap without letting other players go. IFL has thus taken the approach to spend profits on player development as it is the only way he can re-invest profits to further improve his business.

You are getting confused with the latest forum on Monday night. This refers to the historic forums that have been held.

Captain Dan I am going to the forum on Monday and asked for clarification as to the format.

The club have confirmed It will consist of about 10 fans and will be conducted by students from Leeds Met on behalf of the RFL.

So I understand it isn't like a normal fans forum were people ask about weetabix!

The club can't make an announcement until there is an announcement to make! The situation is pretty well documented in the media about what is going on i.e Sam in talks with NZW and Wigan in talks with Minnichello. These are complex negotiations but the good thing is IL holds the ace cards so give him some credit for that. Whilst under contract he won't let Sam go unless he gets the right deal all round. Just be patient and wait for the story to unfold. If it pans out the way it is shaping up then for me Minichello in for a couple of years while Tierney develops is a good solution.

The thing is to me that the NRL is a massive draw for quality players and we have plenty. Perhaps the talk around SL is of players who fancy a couple or three years playing there. That doesn't mean they want to emigrate.
With Mossop there is a deal whereby he will return to Wigan at the end of his stint in the NRL. Maybe IL is negotiating this with Sam and the NZW. The transfer fee is often mentioned as well as this could be difficult for the NZW.
Whether we like it or not (and I don't) this is the reality IL/Wigan have to deal with. Morley and Ellis returned and neither went back to Leeds, they went to their rivals. As far as I can make out IL is doing deals that will get the club a transfer fee and ensure the Wigan (academy) players return to the club and provide income whilst they are in the NRL.
I don't like the whole business, probably neither does IL, he has to deal with it though and no doubt is doing what is in Wigan's long term best interests.

That looks to be about the size of it FT, not nice, but reality....