I fail to see any real positive from this move and can't see a way i'll be convinced otherwise. I want to believe in Pearson and have backed him from the off at FC, but here he's painful misguided. I think this 'venture' is bound to fail and will be abandoned as quickly as it has begun.

I listened to Hudgell's 'interview' keenly on Humberside at the weekend (which was just a PA exercise for Hull KR). Hudgell's final statement said it all for me. Something along the lines of 'please Rovers' fans, believe me when I say I wouldn't do anything that wasn't in the best interests of Hull Kingston Rovers, as that is my one and only concern'. I wouldn't expect him to say anything else, it's his club and passion BUT this attitude is what will break the agreement.

If it is to work the clubs needs set aside their singleminded attitudes and have a common goal, for unified success at junior level in Hull. Hudgell was only a few months ago smugly claiming 'Rovers will no longer sign FC players'....now he wants this linkup? After making a U-turn and backing the marquee player rule he the wants to jump into bed with FC's 'outstanding' academy, allowing more money for player signings. I don't trust him and can't believe Pearson does either.

West isn't East, Black isn't Red and FC will never be KR. The two clubs are defined by their differences and rivalries. Breaking these down to produce a system where we share players is going to be unworkable. The draft system (which is so ill-thought out) would be impossible to implement and i'm sure there will be underhand tricks being used to ensure one club gets the player they want. Surely having a weekly starting squad of 17 players, reduced from 34, is going to limit the progress of the players? It's easy to come on the Radio and say 'the new Academy will produce future GB internationals' but that's not guaranteed. FC's last big batch of top youngsters came in 1998....and that's because they were thrown into the team all at once. Get the players a decent coach and pathway to the first team and you'll see results.

I'd reluctantly accept FC sharing Bishop Burton with Rovers, and see benefits in sharing equipment, transport and resources etc, but this is too much. This 'plan' has left me feeling like FC's identity is being tarnished. In a few years the new academy will crumble to pieces and I'll gladly be one of the many fans ready to tell people 'i told you so'....

Why not?

This is a separate entity, nothing to do with where either club plays. It is being funded by both clubs and if Rovers were relegated the last thing they would do is scrap their academy and give up any hope of playing SL again.

Even if Rovers did go down they would be odds on favourites to bounce back with that squad. Youth development is a long term project.

Would they have the majority of that squad though?

Yeah that's a fair point but they have got most of them contracted for next year, the decent ones anyway, so probably ok.

Since when did contracts mean anything.I'd be suprised if there arent get out clauses written into most of them.

Yes maybe so. I would also presume that would free up an awful lot of cash to sign new players, just like Leigh have.

Anyway, who gives a f*** about Rovers?