You could be right but if/when Sam's departure is announced by the club I'd hope any announcement about his return in a couple of years was taken with a pinch of salt rather that put forward as a master stroke by IL. The fact we will have lost him after a mere two years means it is anything but IMO.

There is always the possibility that Mossop will never return, or may come back in10 years time when we won't want him anyway. Hasn't a wolves player recently signed a 2yr NRL deal with a guaranteed return to HJ? That IMO is the minimum we should be giving to our contracted players.

I would expect all WILL take it with a pinch of salt, the ultimate decider of Sam's future will be Sam, not you, me, or IL. Sam will go where the money is, and thats the crux of the matter, NOT whether or not the club management is competent which seems to be the basis of your argument. I think you and JJ should start a poll as to whether posters on this board feel that the club management and/or board are fit for purpose, because all that you post suggests that you don't think they are.

It's an open forum. I would just hope that you don't perceive me as arrogant just for disagreeing with you. Or that you don't view others that way. It's only opinions ateotd.

Stop being nice, you are confusing me...

Sorry WP but what are you talking about? I have clearly praised IL for his undoubted success whilst in charge. Haven't you read my posts? Why would you think DaveO and I are somehow in cahoots or have some sort of agenda? I disagree with DaveO reasonably frequently, it's just that on this issue we appear to feel the same. I haven't been anywhere near as critical of IL as he and find your attempts at rabble rousing quite loathsome. Please give it a rest.

Ok..

In a nutshell. A perfectly valid point IMO and this is all I see you and JJ trying to get across.

Would you blame him with all the flak he is getting from some supporters who spend their lives on rugby league websites and seem to think they know it all and could do better. A example being the case of Sam Tomkins and a situation where contract's these day's are not worth the paper they are written on and a Chairman has to obtain the best deal for the club, especially if the player is insistent on leaving.

How many of the website 'barrack room lawyers' would like to be in that situation when today, players and their agents have all the power?

I would go along with your view there Gurney. I'm oft portrayed as some sort of apologist for the club and a happy clapper, i'm really not. I just don't see the point of going off on a rant when none of the "fact" are known...

For those critical of the club and announcements, Sam could easily make an announcement, i don't hear one, do you?

If Sams contract is as worthless as you say IL should not have trumpeted it saying it bans him from talking to RU or NRL clubs for three years. That would be misleading and basically just spin to pacify the fans at his brothers loss to RU.

Only the following can have happened here:

1. Sam broke the contract and did speak to other clubs and now wants away .
2. IL received and enquiry on Sam's availability and decided if the price was right he would sell assuming Sam agreed.

Which is it? My money is on 2 but that is just my opinion but its got to one of the above.

You don't have to be a 'barrack room lawyers' to work this out. If Sam broke the contract why when IL announced his contract bans him from talking to clubs would IL not sanction the player and tell him to stick to this contract? Because IL was afraid of the consequences? Then the question again would be why come up with such a contract if you are afraid to enforce it?

Is IL going to sell him because he wants to get the best deal for the club? Well given he'd still be contracted to the club after his three year stint was up he could still do that then so why now?

Bare in mind whenever he does sell Sam if it is to the NRL he isn't going to get shed loads of cash because transfer fees count on the NRL salary cap. Add Sam's salary to a transfer fee and even with the large NRL salary cap he'd still be taking up a hell of lot of it.

I think the idea IL has no choice in the matter is just not the case at all and I don't think cashing in on the players value early is going to help the club win trophies either.

The funny thing is even that is a myth perpetuated by certain posters. The way some go on you'd think I'd made a sticky topic for criticism of IL and nothing else.

Now there's an idea

Would help clean up the board no end and some threads may actually manage to stay on topic!

For those who are having a go at IL.
Have a look if you can at the club's accounts for the years before he bought the place and since he's been the owner. The club has made a profit in the past three years.

We've also won the C Cup, the GF and topped the league for two seasons. At present we are top of the league.
The years prior to IL were awful.
The guy no doubt hasn't acheived all he wanted but by any measure we as fans and the club are far better with IL than went before for many a year.

The ONLY club to win both in recent times.