Salford fans are delighted. Saints fans? Not so much.

I read it in the MEN this morning that there would be a swap deal and presumed Godwin for Gaskell but couldn't believe Saints would be remotely interested in Howarth.

Strange signing to say the least.

They seem to be going through a similar malaise to us after it finally dawned that our golden years had well and truly ended.

Poor team spirit, ageing stars looking increasingly old and forlorn, new coaches each year, dissatisfying recruitment, odd decisions at high level.

We could just do with Lomax falling out with them now to replace Tomkins

The signings that have killed Saints these past couple of years has been the overseas boys. The 2 props in Perry and Laffranchi have been pretty woeful and Hohaia has been off the scale dissapointing and they must be taking up a good chunk of salary cap cash. I still think either Lomax but definately Gaskell could have been a cracking partner for a 'proper' halfback who could guide them about the place. Thankfully for them Lomax is too good a player to just fall away and he'll make a great fullback long term but Gaskell looks shot. I'd take a punt on him here for next season as a utility player.

The lad could play anywhere in the backline IMO. He's exactly the type of player I'd love to see us sign to add competition in the backs.

He needs his confidence building back up and there would be no better place for him.

Gaskell when fit is one of super leagues most promising players, it's really disapointing his career thus far has been so heavily dampened through injury as I think a fully fit in form Lee Gaskell would be pushing for an England shirt. Great move by Salford though if he gets a break with injuries.

You thinking about Wheeler mate? I could be wrong but I don't remember Gaskell having too many injuries, certainly since he made the first team.

His career has stalled because too much was asked of him too soon. How can a side expect a 20 year old halfback to run the play alongside another 21 year old player in Lomax who has a very limited organisational game?

He's one of quite a few that have gone stale at Saints recently. The likes of Foster, Gaskell and now Makinson have shown early promise only to drop away. Even Lomax, who is a fantastic talent looked to be heading that way but he'll thrive now at fullback.

Without thinking about new players we need to firstly concentrate on signing up our out of contract players:

Richards
Hanson
Tuson
Prescott

ALL are off contract this yerar. Get the lot of them signed up i say

Hanson - 3 years
Tuson - 3 years
Richards - 2 years
Prescott - 1 year + 1 year option in clubs favour

those late nights and long working hours have caught with me, completely mistook the two! yes all my sentiments where reserved for Wheeler not Gaskell. However the Saint Helens halves reject currently playing for us isn't doing to badly, good move for Salford he could thrive under a team with less pressure.

It will be a massive boost for him playing behind a pack that are able to dominate.

Im not sure id offer Prescott a contract. The lad is made of glass. When fit decent enough but not good enough to risk imo. If we werent prepared to offer Fielden a contract especially when losing so many experienced players then the same applies. I know Prescott is alot younger, but he's never had the pedigree of Fielden and suffered far more than Stu ever did injury wise at the same point of his career. As his body ages the injuries will only get worse and more frequent. As much as I like the lad he's not one id offer a contract to unless he can prove fitness with decent performances before his contract expires.

There's a lot of talent off contract at the end of the year and that is the priority now after the start we've had.

I'm sure I read Burke and Crosby were off contract somewhere and they'd both get long term deals for me. I'd love to see Hansen stay and I think guys like Faz and Charnley probably need salary increases to ward off any growing interest (that I'd guess there must be).

Charnley looks happy as a pig in . But when his best mate leaves this year or next, we'll see what his mentality is then. A player with his ability will no doubt get the attention. Where is his heart, with Wigan Rl or the dollars and international recognition of yawnion.

I'm sure he'll be targetted and tbh he's another that will probably go at some point. I still say the success we had in the 80's and 90's is biting us on the backside nearly 20 years later.

Wigan are 'the' rugby league club, the leaders of the game and the benchmark in outsiders eyes and that's why our players are targetted. You never seriously hear that Union are interested in Ryan Hall, Kevin Sinfield, James Roby etc.

It's frustrating but complimentary at the same time.