rlhttps://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article/1144/news-|-horne-names-squad-for-game-at-rochdalerl
Dons' squad for Saturday's match.

Ben Cockayne isn't included.

Is it time for Richard Horne to move on?.

Are Club Doncaster funding the Dons with a budget that is the 5th, 6th or 7th best in the league? If so, Richard Horne is probably achieving somewhere near expectations. If we are funded with a budget in the top four for this league, Richard Horne is under-achieving and has not spent the cash wisely.

What are the ambitions of Club Doncaster? Is 5th, 6th or 7th the most they can afford?

As fans, we're stuck in limbo. We're hoping there is sufficient money to get us out of this league but we never hear any reassuring noises from the club that they expect this to happen.

The five-year plan was the last public statement of intent. That was a long time ago and didn't come to fruition. Club Doncaster probably feel they're better off keeping their cards close to their chests rather than provide a benchmark by which they may be judged.

Richard Horne could be operating on a five bob budget. If he is, he's not doing badly. If he's the best funded coach in the league, the board ought to be asking a few questions.

With that in mind, I don't know whether our present predicament is the fault of Club Doncaster, Richard Horne or a combination of the two.

What I do know is that we were relegated to this league at the end of 2015 and we're almost certainly still going to be in it in 2023. Someone's getting something wrong somewhere.

Its time for the whole Management team including Carl Hall to move on, bask in the glory of getting Doncaster 3 World Cup games and his own team is just a bit better than Midlands, Cornwall, Skolars and West Wales.

For starters, it'd be nice if the club communicated with us better. At least the weekly In The Dugout kept us up to date...

Whatever we're doing now isn't working. We've tried DR, we're now doing things on our own but without success.

Are the club's finances such that survival is the name of the game? I don't know...

Club Doncaster have been accused of not coming up with the finance for the Dons this season and that remains to be proved IMO. I believe League 1 sides used to receive 75k from the RFL, that is now said to be 25k. Are Club Doncaster even in a tight year short of 50k to make up that shortfall?

It remains to be seen, but as you highlighted on another thread the playoffs are the best we can hope for and that is no guarantee this season. Another frustrating season DM. It is an the clubs DNA unfortunately apart from brief seasons of success we are just a jobbing League 1 RL club, nothing less nothing more.

Its the hope that it will come good that is the kicker. Father in Law often says "we are never going to see any success are we" and at 93 next I am sadly reminded that he will be correct.

An interesting stat ...

The Dons have only finished on the right side of Bet365's Handicap once this season (league & cup). So either the bookies are constantly overrating the Dons or the Dons are constantly underachieving.

As you are aware the Bookies are not in the habit of handing over money willy nilly

Yes, very interesting. I didn't check the odds yesterday. How much start were they giving us at Rochdale?

From memory, I don't the bookmakers gave us much chance last season. They regularly believed others were better than us.

This season's games have become extremely predictable in terms of who will win. We know we'll beat the bottom four, we're pretty sure to be outclassed by the top four with the Oldham and Hunslet matches being close.

The absence of one Gary Fox (Wanderer) has clearly had a negative impact on performances too. His return is much needed!

Wilf, tell your father-in-law to look after himself and keep hoping. With a bit of luck, we might get to the Championship again before he reaches 100!

Dons +14

Thanks Gary.

After the N Wales results, I thought it might have been more than that.

How do you think the bookies handicap will look for the next game against Hunslet? Possibly Hunslet +6?

I'd be surprised if it isn't somewhere around there, possibly Hunslet +8.