I know that David Hughes taking us to the brink in 2005, 2009 and 2013 and the mismanagement of Gus have been fundamental reasons for us getting to this crisis over the past decade or so.
If you look at the squad during the successful 2005 season you'll see the gradual move away from seasoned and experienced Pros throughout, for example in that season you could frequently find the likes of Mark McLinden, Rob Purdham, Joe Mbu, Danny Williams, Feleti Mateo and Solomon Haumono on the interchange bench. Players like Karl Temata and Chad Randall were wearing jumper numbers outside the top 17.
The first time we went bust greatly diluted quality with the lesser salary spend starting things off at Harlequins in the back foot.
But I would also say that from London's perspective, the gradual changes in rules which counted us the same as a heartlands club (whilst the likes of Catalans and Gateshead were not) and which compelled the selection of 8 club trained players in the top 25 and in reality also the outer squad meant we could not really ever move forward.
After all, it is unrealistic a geographically isolated club could not only develop 10-15 Super League standard youngsters but retain them all versus let's say a club in Yorkshire able to plunder five rivals and the Championship. I know people might mention Catalans but they can select from a league playing nation whilst the other clubs similar to London went bust within the first few years like PSG, Crusaders and Gateshead.
History shows that a less prestigious bottom three or four club in an expensive location was going to struggle to attract even part-time players from the Championship without giving a top 25 place on day one and only really be able to pick-of untested and untried youngsters and fringe players from the North. Again this diluted quality replacing players like Rinaldi with Ben Kaye and giving a squad place to the likes of Luke May.
No one needs a reminder of the brinksmanship in 2009 and again in 2013 which cost us more players but I am glad to shed the rules compelling us to throw in specific club trained players on top of a weakened squad.
The new rules should allow us to get the best we can afford, no one will be happier than me to see that happen versus having to give places away because of the various quotas which I feel we should have been exempt from given our isolation.
The sad thing is that the club trained players are arguably stronger this season than the overseas players but that is because we went fishing in a pool with nowt left, rather than because the club trained players are top class.
Cheers
Mark