Chunkster, thanks for the input. I've got to say this has been an interesting read. I think we all know that if bigger clubs with more financial clout come and offer decent money then we are going to have to let players go. However i don't believe this should be looked at too negatively. If we are seen as a club where players can come and learn their trade and then after a couple of seasons, if succesful, move on to a higher level then surely we will see more young talent willing to play for us. I think S O is right when he says he wants to see some stability, it is really important that we halt the yearly merry go round of players if we are to progress. This thread has identified a shortage of players from Donny and one question i'd really like answering is why we haven't signed Craig Holt and Scott Jones, these 2 did well last year and i would have thought would have been in the plans for this year. On the issue of Tony Miller i believe he still has to prove himself. I think we all appreciate that the job is not easy and that the team has been put together with very little money but he does seem to distance himself. Why doesn't he acknowledge the supporters who are sticking by the club? If he showed us that the results really matter to him i think maybe we would be a little more accepting of the bad performances.

Agree on the distancing bit.
A coach needs to be visible not stuck in the opposite stand.....it gives totally the wrong impression.
The coach needs to get himself on the field before and after games with the players and a least wave at the supporters in acknowledgement of their support.

i agree with you about the coach showing passion i think it goes along way and also show lads that it matters.
chunkster i agree that the level of the local teams isnt up to standard but dont forget them lads play for fun just for love of game. i think there is afew individuals from local teams who could quiet easliy cut it at the current level it would take a couple of weeks hard graft to get fitness and speed upto scratch thats the main difference not skill!!
after all most of the current 1st team are good amatuers playing above there level but if they are trying we can live with that we all know were not the richest club in terms of money but we can be proud and passionate that costs nothing.

Totally agree.....they are out there....they just need bringing up to speed fitness-wise.
It it wasn't the case....then it would be same everywhere......and so where would RL players come from?

I agree that there are and have been good players from Donny,but the club always seems to overlook local talent(which would surely increase the gate) to players of lesser ability from Cas, Wakey, Hull and Leeds.Thats always been the case with the Dons, the only time we had a squad of local lads was when the club changed to the Dragons and local players like myself,Tony Chappel ,Howard Roberts,Ernie Lake,Ian Fletcher,Ian Stewart and others all turned out to play for our home town club,not for the money but for the pride of representing your home town.I will never forget playing that first game at Belle Vue against Hull KR,sitting in the changing rooms under the main stand ,while 1000 Dons fans stamped and cheered before the start of the game,all the lads that played that day will tell you that the hairs on the back of your neck stood up and some were close to tears.The club has made the mistake of overlooking local lads or using them and then letting them go,that is why we cannot get local lads to the club.However i will do all i can to scout local lads for the club as when i was coaching the scholarship we had a number of good quility players who with the right coaching could have formed the basis of a team for the future,but that has been disbanded due to cash ,but when only one coach out of five was being paid ,then you have to question the logic.We need to get behind the lads tomorrow ,as i am sure a few of the lads playing have a point to prove.

I'm totally 100% behind the settled team idea, for the risk of broken record syndrome its what has been absent for the past few years. Its been chop and change due to the circumstances that have been brought about by running instead of walking. Get the team settled, and the finances settled( I believe they are) and hopefully the blooding of young local talent will come but not just for the sake of it. I want to turn up and know the players out on the park, I want to take pride in their performance week in week out. It is a ridiculous scenario having a different team every couple of months and not one that helps to get the disillusioned back in the seats.

Spot On Al.

Keep having a paddle in the sea Dave!

Yes Geoff we did have some great local players as you mentioned ,but look how many clubs we had back then around the villages,Bentley,Askern,Rossington,Armthorpe,ICI,Moorends,Goldthorpe,Skellow and many be a few more,now we have two, Bentley and Toll Bar ,if we are to progress you need players to perform at a higher level,the step up from amateur is hard as the game is much faster,even at the lower levels.Bentley and Toll Bar should join forces and try to play in the conference instead of struggleing on season to season playing in Yorkshire one and two ,then maybe we can get back to the days of having a team made up of local boys.Toll Bar have some great facilities and good youth development,while Bentley have players with more experience of playing semi pro , but this will never happen as both clubs want to keep their identity. Surely it would benefit both the clubs and the Dons,and this could give local players something to aspire too,using this as a Dons feeder club.

We don't like mergers on here chunkster (it's a touchy subject).
You just said that we had a better pool to pick from when we had more local clubs like Askern, Rosso etc ....so why would we want to make it fewer.
Besides .....are we just giving the Marauders youngsters up to Hull etc..what about them?

There are still clubs at Moorends and Goldthorpe, although Moorends now focus on summer rugby only, and Goldthorpe [now Dearne Valley] are in the Pennine League.