So Warrington (who probably already spend the full cap) bring in 3 new players and don't get rid of anybody? How do you think they are going to do that then? Just cos' they haven't announced any departures yet doesn't mean they won't.
Just like every other team will sign some and have to lose some to make room.

As for us improving, you can't say with any certainty that we won't anymore than I can say we will, unless you can predict the future in which case you could boost your paltry wage with a lottery win.

Heres a question for you NGB4C

If we paid the extra money to the players leaving to keep them and didn't have the money from the Atkins transfer, would we maintain a 5th or 6th position next year with the squad we currently have and very limited funds to improve it?

I would wager that a 2nd season with the squad we have now would not prove as successful as this one has. The simple reasons are :

1) the squad would already be down on numbers of experienced players compared to the start of this season
2) some players who have performed towards their peak this year may not have been able to reach those levels of performance again next year
3) as has already been said other teams will improve

JK has so far signed 4 players - all of whom are top quality signings, and ones which we would not have been able to make if we handed out large contract increases to some of the players who are leaving.

I am all for having as many British players in the team as possible, but when they are just not available at the right levels of quality for the right money, then I have no problems with overseas players who fit in to these criteria been signed

For the benefit of you know who...

One year team Thumper had a squad of 25 Bunnies who each earned an average of 50 chocolate bars - costing the club 1,250 bars.

They had a good season in the rough and tumbly world of rigby luger. At the end of the season 15 of the players said 'because we've played nicely, can we have 10 more chocolate bars each'. But the nasty Mister that owned the club said 'but we've only collected 1,200 bars this year, how will we be able to give you that?'

Then one night, in a dream, the nasty Mister had an idea. 'If I just get 20 bunnies next year I could give them 60 bars each and, if I let one of my faster bunnies go to Team Bam Bam, and they give me 150 chocolate bars, then I can also make up for the 50 bars we are missing this year and still have 100 bars which we could use to bring in 8 junior Bunnies into team Thumper - and we get some new, bigger, better Bunnies and be able to give the other Bunnies the 10 extra bars they have so well earned this year.

And so the Nasty Mister went to work and they all lived happily ever after!

Is there a simpolified version cos the maths is way too tricky for me

I'll answer you. No I don't think we'll make 4th next year or even 5th.

Now a question for you. Did you think we would finish 5th/6th this season?

I'm gonna guess no. So you and I may be wrong about next season as well.

As for keeping Snitch and Atkins and making the signings we have and to improve other contracts, even me on about half your wage can work out that we cannot afford to do this.

Don`t confuse improving as a CLUB, with improving league position. We have new ground in the offing, a solvent club and what I consider very prudent and astute recruitment. Don`t forget next year the Reserves Competition becomes an under-20 affair, and all clubs have to have 8 players from their own Academy in the squad. Personally I think we`re doing pretty well on our limited resources. Also note that Saints, arguably the most successful team recently, with a turnover in excess of £5million posted a pre-tax loss of £440k, (up 12% on last years`s loss).
Would you settle for that, or use some of your impressive salary to help balance the books?
I may be wrong but you come across as a bit of a Merchant Banker

There seems to be a lot of doubt on here that NG is actually earning 40K. Now I don't know him/her so can't actually make a call.

Would it be possible to scan a pay slip or tax return and put it on the forum so that we can all rest easy on this matter?

Check out NGBC supporter interview on website, link in m sig!

You'll need to sign in to see them!

not sure what that does to website credibility mate!
i thought id dragged it down far enough!

What should happen is that any player you bring through your academy system from your own service area should only have 50% of their salary counted against the cap.

It would encourage clubs to invest in their own areas.