I have not read this entire thread but what i find hard to understand is the following. Sorry if its been asked already.
Manu signs when Cas were relegated thinking we would kick on and win silverware. He then extends his stay under Agar. Did he have ambition to win trophies or was he happy to be a big fish in a small pond? He is now offered a contract to play in a team under a decent coach with an owner with genuine ambition. why would he want to go elsewhere? Does he lack ambition.
I accept money talks but the stress of moving family etc from a settled enviroment and the re settling period etc is it worth it? Surely with a salary cap the difference in package cant be that much. or is it?
If he goes elsewhere i would question his desire. Is it that Gentle's methods are too much for some of Agar's boys.

From what i can see nothing has been announced it is those who are allegedly in the know stating it's a definite done deal that Manu will leave, he may well but it's not official yet and until then i won't worry, and if he does decide to move on i trust Gentle to bring in players who will improve the club, many players have left in the past and many will leave in the future but we will always carry on as no player is bigger than the club!!

My thoughts exactly. With the possible exception of Carvell (who I believe we did all we coulf for) I can not recall a single player who has left us and gone on to improve at their new club. (i am talking recent era before anyone trawls through the history books)

Danny Brough, but that is it.

Josh Hodgson is having a good season at Rovers, but still doubt he would get into our side.

I think we disagree there. But i see your point. I think Brough has a decent kicking game but thats it. It could be argued that we have missed that but his journey since leaving us to today has not all been good.

Hodgson was always going to be second to Danny imo.

The more this drags on the more ed off I am with Manu.

It's not like he's having to make a life changing decision, it's a job for the next two to three years. Does it really take more than a month to decide and inform the club?

Brough would improve us massively, he has a lot more to his game now than he did at Hull, you only have to watch the two games against us to see this.

I would withdraw the contract offer to Manu, he is taking the P**s.

I wonder,if this is the reason that some of the OOC players ,wont re-sign.

Didnt O'Meley say 'Agar was one of the best coaches,he's worked with?'

Manu is 32 and we offer BIG 3 year deal , I am NOT convinced full stop , is that why Saints offered 2 ?

Save on his contract and buy younger and develop BUT buy quality and a SL star already , IF we can.

It's like fantasy rugby league on this board

Agree Dave,

McRae said, he's been back & forth to Manu's agent,for over 2 months, still no joy.

Mcrae said it would be resolved by the end of this week so not long to go,although i think we all know hes leaving.

If it was that nailed on he was leaving, it wouldn't be dragging on so long would it? It's obviously a very difficult decision for him.

Clearly it has been a very difficult decision for him, the reasons it may have dragged on is simply the club did not offer him what he felt he was worth initially, hence improved offers etc, the fact it has dragged may imply he has been torn between offers, or indeed waiting for the best offer at this stage of his career.
Uprooting your family, children from school, leaving friends you have made over the years, expecting your partner to move to a different city and lose their job/freinds/social circle is not easy for any-one irrelevant of your career. Eight weeks to make these choices is nothing in comparison to the changes faced by not only a player but the players family.

O'Meley may have said that, what he meant was 'Agar used to let me nip off for a fag when I wanted'

Don't see the difficulty in making the decision whether to go to Saints or not. It's hardly far away, there's no need to uproot his family at all.