Agree, Wakey looked more "battle hardened" and made metres every time they had the ball. Their number 8 and 12 both looked good.

Hull's full back, Marcus Walker, went off towards the end with what looked like a shoulder injury

I see LR has offered a job to Danny Wilson at Cas next season. (Also Andy Last.)

Cas fans saying deals are done for both Andy Last and Danny Wilson.

And signing Westerman

Getting the band back together

One thing Radford needed to do was learn from his mistakes and bringing in the same coaching staff and some players aren't going to help that.

Not sure Wilson would be that big a loss, he has been there for a number of years and our academy hasn't exactly been that successful has it (The Rovers merger didn't help). Get a top youth coach in, with a history of finding and developing players, it can be done as Rovers have one from Bradford.

The only concern for me would be Cas signing players from us or the best academy players from the area, they did take advantage of the academy merger a couple of years ago.

Can't argue with that Dave, not sure having his mates with him helped him last time out nor the issues he couldnt sort with Westerrman & Watts together but time will tell I guess. With Evalds signing a deal to stay not sure if that rules out him making a move for Shaul, though can see Faraimo heading to Cas.

As for Danny Wilson he seems to be well respected but we've not exactly been pulling up any trees with the academy even with the merger farce.

With the massive news this morning, I'd doubt Wilson will he going to Cas.

Also gives us a massive advantage over Rovers, we are no in pole position to get the best local players and Cas wont be poaching our players for a while.

Not sure it's a great decision for the game though

It sounds like Rovers are not happy, a one sentence press release!

What is there to be happy about! I can't understand why a club that wants to run an academy and has put so much money and effort into it is been told their not allowed to do it.

It will be interesting but until we know for sure I won't rule anything out, though you would think he'd staying to be a part of an Elite set up.

More news on the academy rlhererl

Agree with your thoughts Dave in regards to whether it good for the game in general or not

What's the actual difference between those running elite academy's and those running standard academy's?

It's abit vague apart from detailing the standards our academy's achieved hence being awarded elite academy status.

You want to play against the best and the only way to do that will be in he elite academy. Rovers have to play against college teams.

..... during the winter/spring.

I see the reserves will be back again next year.

Friends of mine and a couple of Diary readers who have sons at the Rovers set up are always telling me how much better theirs was than ours seems like everyone doesn't agree