Quote: Pepe "The year they won the Grand Final they had 46 players on their books. Half of them would have slipped into any Championship team and all but a few had quality in this league. It was pretty clear what was going on up there.
This should incur a massive fine, demotion and all titles over the last 3 years expunged from the record. They did not deserve to lift that trophy and Halifax should now be pencilled in as the 2009 Champions.
This goes to show what I've always thought about Dessie Boy; he's not a lovable rogue, or one of those characters in the game that give all a story to talk about, he's nothing more than a cheat. The sooner he is out of the game the better.'"
Pepe
I am not going attempt to defend any proved breaches of RFL operational rules by Barrow, however...
You talk absolute blank, even other fans of your own club recognise it as demonstarted on another thread. You are a bitter, spiteful and vindictive, even regarding issue which have little bearing on your own club.
There was nowhere near 46 players on the books at Barrow in 2009, it was actually half that number, hence the signing of Allen, Ballard, Coyle, 2Bobs and Halliwell 2/3rds of the way through the season as we were struggling to field a team when the offer to sign them came. As for the quality of signings that year, Luisi was the first to arrive 4 games into the season, then Catic in May and finally Rooney and the players mentioned above in July. Rooney making only 9 appearances and Allen et al 6. in the 2009 season. The club finished the season with 27 contracted players.
I believe the breaches so for relate to payments to players for community works which they were not actually doing. That may not be as uncommon as you think, however when you have an individual willing to tell everything he can (real or not) to settle a score with the chairman the consequences must be faced.
There is no precedent anywhere in RL for awarding a title to a club by default when the title was stripped from the original winners.
And finally, do you think it the act of a responsible governing body to impose fines that could put clubs into adminstration? A points penalty in line with the offenses is expected and appropriate, applied both this season and next if warrented. However the current financial climate means any significant fines could see Barrow (or many other clubs) be heading for administration. Is this what the game needs?
Personally I will await the findings of the RFL investigations and outcome of the hearing with the comforting thought that your opinion is absolutely worthless regarding this matter
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