Doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of Gale because we had no choice.

For twenty years the game has concentrated on muscular robots. These robots are to be led by tame ringmasters with little spark of their own.

We ran out of our own little Generals who could think for themselves years ago, the last imho being Broughy.

Since then we’ve been filling the gaps with second rate Aussies or attempting to convert Loose Forwards.

Now it’s come home to roost. Gale isn’t just the best he’s the only one out there. For all his flaws and his age we are signing a player who at the very least believes in himself and has the experience to do so. Whether Gale can still do it who knows, but at least he might try - that makes him almost unique in our squad. I don’t doubt Lino tries but it no substitute for it actually working.

This is the last throw of the dice and it needs to be a double six. So I suggest we all shut up, back the bloke, and pray it works

Don't always agree with Vasty, but 'spot on'.

We had choices but decided on the ones that were based on the one that reduced the player budget to the maximum possible. We all knew even those who are blinded by the light of loyalty that the squad and coach was selected for one purpose only economics. They have subsequently made decisions that have weakened the squad further by trying to patch over the cracks with short term signings. Well we have made another decision to invest in an ageing scrum half who has not exactly sparkled in his previous SL stint. He may be our best hope but surely this is also an example of how far we have fallen this season, another string to MC’s legacy bow.
We have long had that last dice throw with our current playing record but you and those you defend believe in him, so let’s see how it goes.

Chatty Bongser would also like Eseh at Leigh.

No we didn’t but you follow your own blind agenda.

Why after 10 years are we in the position we are, surely during that time it would be possible to generate income from a well run business in the top flight of the sport. You may be right and we had no choices this season but who are to blame for this the supporters, the referees or those in charge.

I'm not sure why you think that. No other club is doing it at a profit.
But he and JM have now created something to do exactly that.

They may well have reported an operating profit but the club is now saddled with the biggest debt we have ever had. I know most of this is tied up in the loan to the council but if we do go down I don't see how we would be able to afford it with no Sky money and reduced crowds. Then there is also the elephant in the room of the directors loans...

Gale and his blabber mouth agent have been really quiet on social media regarding the move. Think it’s a good thing, hopefully he’s just come in, got his head down and cracked on. I like it.

So, the same question that I put to the other poster - Who exactly?

I don't know if this has already been seen and commented on earlier, but last night I read the interview with Ryan O' Neill, the co owner at Keighley, amf him blaming IMG for this move.

He said that Gale wanted a guaranteed opportunity to return to super league. As it stands, we're only potentially able to offer this on a temporary basis, of around 12 games, but he's currently signed up for the next 18 months or so.

Could there be something in the rumour a couple of weeks back that we were going with 14 teams.

I wouldn't think so.
Even if they did I think they'd try and pick 14 without us.

As a concerned Hull fan, worried about our own status in SL, I feel for you and would never want to see Wakefield in the wilderness, I have had some cracking away days at BV over the years and pray that continues. I have also heard that there will be no relegation, this year, from a source who is normally about 90% accurate with his information.
Expansion of the game will never really happen, we are as a sport, further behind RU than we have ever been, in terms of appeal and media preference, so we should stick to what we have , the heartland, a corridor of the M62 , and try to get Featherstone , Halifax and Bradford back to the top level. For all it seems like a three way relegation scrap between you, us at Hull and Castleford this sport cannot afford to lose any of those clubs, at a time when, professionally, our game is suffering a slow death.

I agree because why should they, I would expect their remit includes the game’s expansion. The first obvious one is a second French team rather than another Yorkshire based team.
The original proposed ground development would have helped but I am not too sure the slimmed down version which keeps being slimmed further really helps much. We cannot get away from the West Stand which is an eyesore and probably will remain so.
Why have we installed a screen in the ground because it would only be cost effective with SL coverage. I suppose it could be used for advertising, team sheets and scores.
The one obvious problem is self interest, unless Sky chip in with more money for a14 team competition no existing SL club is going to allow the funds to be diluted further. I am pretty sure our board wouldn’t.