If Raynor thinks he'd be up for a sacking in April anyway, it'll probably not have taken a big pay-off, so wages should be there. Can't see you coming up with the fee for LMS - he's an important player and symbol for Quins. You'd easily be looking a 6 figures, I think.
As the Crusaders are finding out, SL clubs aren't going to be keen on releasing good players at this stage of preparation - they at least have quota spots available though.
Calderwood, Yeaman, Hall, Briscoe isn't a bad 3/4 line and Whiting and Turner can cover centre. Turner can probably cover wing as well, can he? I'll be slightly surprised if you get any sort of high-end replacement.

Sad to see him go, he has been one of best players over the last 5 years or so and when fit is still the best British winger around.

A good decision by the club though, his fitness worries along with his pending court case means we would not have seen much of him this season and I doubt we would have been looking to renew his contract so it's a sensible decision by the club.

Thanks for everything Gareth and good luck!

I do agree with most of your post and your right,most of the quality in this country has already gone so i think we may have to pay a fee to get someone decent.With LMS i think we may make a move for him in 2011 when he is ooc,where we will also have a few forwards ooc.We do have cover at wing but i would prefer having like for like so we have that same depth.Saying that we have some cracking young kids comming through so who knows.

Well I honestly dont know how I feel about this one !!?!??!?!

What kind of money do people think he would have been on and will we be buying another winger or looking to spend the cash on cover for other positions ??

Sad to see him go but probably the right decision. It does leave us a little light in the backs but I doubt we will bring in a high end earner at this point. Looks like youth will be getting a chance out wide this season.

I wish him luck with his case. He's been a good servant but his heart always followed money, hence his foray into Rugby Union and now the much publicised alleged fraud.

If I'm honest, he was one of those players who always NEARLY got away from the defence. That crabbing Jason Robinson style never really worked for him.

Hope he gets another club but I can't see it with the case looming.

And Craig Hall is a ready made and trained replacement with more skill, TBH.

agar hasn't let us down for 2010 regarding shrewd signings. i think it would be sensible to leave the space free, since filling it with an emergency signing always ends up being a bad idea. we have great number of youth players on the cusp of the first team squad so it would be a shame to hold them back another season...

if we need to sign mid-season then we are able to do so. plus, the depth of our squad is not tested or proven yet in SL, so leave it free for now...

Hall in the centre with Briscoe on the Wing.

As for Raynor......i was never fussed on him and he was injury prone...thanks for the memorys and a try at cardiff but the right decision AGAIN by the club.

His defence under the high ball is worse than Raynors, If he can sort that aspect of his game out then maybe.

Really? I'd say it pretty much clears up any mystery there might have been.

My only worry is that if Calderwood or Briscoe get injured then Hall will probably get moved to the wing and Turner to the centres but that does not do much for Hall tbh.

In fact will Turner start in the centres ahead of Hall? I hope not but I heard something along the lines about Turner being very impressive in training!

Yes he is a good player, but no he isn't the best British winger around.