jamescolin

In today's Yorkshire Post. Johnathon Ross takes a 50% pay cut. He is now only receiving

Some years ago when my kids were small I had our sledge stolen. It was a good sledge and worth a bob or two. I went to where the usual villians hang out and offered the 'big guy' a personal reward for the name of the culprit and the return of the sledge. I got both. Somebody will know who did it. Offer a free pint per home game or something on the basis that the ground is left alone. You say that nothing will work. So you go the villains den and negotiate. Protection money? Get the leader on your side and forget it. It is cheaper believe me. Giving in to the villians? No, using common sense and getting just getting the important one on your side. When he feels important he will do more for the club that it costs. Might go against the grain, a suggestion such as this but it is a solution.

Typical remark. The world if full of people who do nothing but find fault.

As I underestand it- yes.

Thanks to Stephanie, Lauren, Vic and Mrs Vic, Chris, Mark, Kev, Steve and a special thanks to Halfpenny Lane Junior School for their attendance and delightful singing. Overall a successful day. Going to get some rest now. It has been a long day. Oh we took give a bob or two

What is this country coming to? The only solution would be a Local Communuty Patrol Team formed by the supporters, endorsed by the police. Does anybody think this is possible? They have been effective in other areas. Further do I take it that there is no insurance cover?

It is drivel. I rang the office today before I gave the YP both barrels. I was advised by Kevin that we are letting the Army reply. When you think about it a kick in the watsits from the recruiting commanding officer will be the best reply. The special comments about recruiting and special rfelationship and how the funds will be spent are spot on. Th end result will be that the Army benefits. When you think of the millions hived off by so called entrepreneurs who engage in arms deals and then dont supply the equipment and not prosecuted, you would think they should be the targets.See today's Private Eye. In eqipment terms

Just a final remimder if you have a bob or two left. The Featherstone Sports and Educatiuon Foundation Chartiy will be singing carols at 10am until 12 noon and from 6pm to 8pm on the 16th December at Tescos, Pontefract. You can join in the singing if you like but more importantly we need you to put what you can in our collection tins. Merry Christmas Col.

It is still a question of HOW? Before there is a scheme it is all wishful thinking.

And I agree as well. The question was HOW are we to achieve it. That why I said is the threat of a breakaway sufficient to make them wake up. I think we are all of the same mind. But getting the powers that be to move from their entrenched position we need to take action of some sort . All the protestation in the world won't make a scrap of difference. A combined Championship proposal that 'treat us fairly or we are gone' might work. But we need SOME form of action or the clubs in the Championship are going nowhere. All the things mentioned, we protest about. but they happen anyway. So protesting is no good. Something stronger is required. The real question is have the Chairmen of the Championship clubs got the b......s to take a united front or are they split because there isa faint hope they might win promotion. Divide and conquer.

Agreed- But what's the answer? We are still short of funds so what action should we take? Funds will not be volunteered without some action. So what is it. People spend plenty of time talking about the problem, the answer gets little press. Suggestions NIL.

By breaking away I mean negotiating our own deals and having some autonomy. From what I have read there are quite a few clubs in trouble and nothing is being done about it. If this isn't the answer then what is? As cash flow is everything in any business the only other way is for clubs to cut their cloth according to their income. Perhaps they should all be doing that. The dangling carrot of perhaps a SL place or even promotion to our league may make clubs overspend. That is why a rethink of the whole situation is necessary. Perhaps in view of today's news we should all go to Leeds Carnegie. They seem to have no problem raising funds, kidding of course. What a complete and utter shambles. So called business men do not seem to have a clue on how to conduct themselves when it comes to sport. Whrtever the answer is the status quo wont do.

Good question. I am not sure , but isn't it

Terry, Just read that article. Nothing concrete in it in fact it sounded like a load of b....s..t and wishful thinking. I don't think he has any more idea that the rest of us. But as I said it is time we spoke in the Championship with one voice.

According to the Yorkshire Post quite a few Championship clubs are in trouble as well as Keighley. I think we have to bother. If we just concentrate on Fev and other clubs go to the wall then we will have no league to play in. It is time I think for all the Championship clubs to combine in an effort to get a better deal. If one isn't forthcoming is it time for another break away? Ok we would have to renegotiate deals with the broadcasters and sponsors for income, but we would at least be our own masters instead of waiting for the breadcrumbs from above.

Have we enough bulk upfront? Take Dickens and Tonks away and we seem to be lacking there. Also having met the PNG players I can't see Marabe being big enough for centre. He is a tiny fellow. Standoff maybe. Briggs to centre.

You see though that industry do get grants for training purposes and irrespective of the players rights if a grant was made to clubs who take a player on to reach a certain standard (i.e. same as industrial training) that would maintain the players rights in law and the same time compensate the training club. If sport is an industry and subject to industrial law then some form of compensation should be coming to the training club. You are right though it is a problem, but there are solutions if the will is there. How about paying the club a sum for taking somebody off the 'job seekers'? The government make Sports Grants as we have seen. A slight extension of that principle could help the smaller clubs. I am fully in favour of the right to work where ever. I have been in order: a miner, a railwayman, a soldier, and a banker and unemployed as I am now (not surprising at 75). You might have a rule saying that if a player has been nurtured and trained by a smaller club then the bigger club should pay a fee to cover that. I know it goes down the line and therefore a Championship club would have to pay an amateur club if they take a player. But it would be fairer than now. No matter which job I had the people who paid me got their moneysworth that can't be said of the initial club in a player's career if hje moves on at an early stage,

Sorry DMS. I never said a player should not be a free agent. What I said was that in the past we were compensated for his leaving. Old Rovers idea has merit. But if you think about it industry has never paid compensation (they might pay the employee if head hunting him) so there isn't a parallel there. In the past we did get a fee for the player going and my point is that money is now lost to the clubs. As it helped with new signings it is a big loss.

Must be Houston to Hunslet

Sorry, someone may not know about the Bosman rule. Whatever you think of mamagement to my mind the start was this ruling that was the killer. When a player comes to the end of his current contract he is a free agent and can sign for who he likes- and this is the killer- without a transfer fee. In the past we have brought youngsters along and they went then in the old days to bigger clubs. BUT we got a transfer fee and that enabled us to sign other players or give up and coming youngster a contract out of the proceeds. I have been since 1939 and we have never been a rich club. Our succes has beed built on the back of good coaching, up and coming players, and an influx of seasoned veterans of our choice. We can't do that now as the youngsters go without fee and so our mix to enable us to challenge the top clubs has gone. There is a lot wrong with the system but I feel the root of it all lies in this rule. Yes a player should do the best he can for himself in what is a short career but the club that nurtured and discovered him should be compensated at the time of the transfer and also later if the player gets international honours. That is what use to happen and made a better level of playing field. Now it needs, unless they abolish the Bosman rule, a complete rethink.

So do I plus the Bosman rule. After that came in it killed the smaller clubs chances.

Why should Robin have to have patience to answer a post that you obviously don't agree with. As far as I am aware we were having a discussion from different points of view. To dismiss somebody's argument offhand because you don't agree with it is also stereo-typed and also a generalisation. You don't agree so dismiss it. But then we listen to you. Give me the same courtesy. Is there an inner club that we are outside of, that decides what is right and what is wrong There are quite a number of points that Robin and Bob have made that are spot on. Others I didn't agree with. Does one have to have patience to give an answer? Sorry sir, this naughty poster will try not to disturb your patience in future.

Seen them both. Jesse was sat down but didn't look that big. The other fellow is quite small. I am taking it of course that the two people I saw were the PNG blokes.

I know there are some unfortunates but they are not all they seem. Reguarly in the paper shop I am behind unemployed people who buy forty fags and spend