Interesting point here.
As a chairman, you see your youngsters come through and develop into adults and quality RL players. You know that they have the chance of a lifetime to play at the top of their profession.
do you keep them to their contract, or let them go, taking a parental pride in their progression ?
remember, that it you and I were in the same boat, all we have to do is resign. we can go to any job we want.

Wakefield have signed Scruton from Bradford. I certainly would've taken him if he was on offer. Anyone else?

So can they when they've seen out their contract. Don't forget a contract gives them a guaranteed income for years, something few of us get I bet.

Me too if we have the cap space. However, in SW we trust.

What about looking after the fans interests aswel? I dont have a problem with anyone wanting to better themselves but the issues i have are:

if we are going to sell players mid contract or let them leave when the contract ends then imo the players coming in should be the same standard or better. We have some fantastic youngsters but it would be stupid to fill the first team with too many at once. IF the rumours about charnley and micky mac are true then who do you replace them with?

Charnley would be replaced by Manfredi, without much problem. Mickey Mac would be different proposition because we don't at present have anyone to fill that spot. But with the money available I would look to bring in Daryl Clark from Cas.

Surely that's harking back to selling the good players you produce and bringing in others, seems insane. What is the point in having such a good academy system to abuse it like that?

Saint Claire did you just choose to ignore Rogues point that we would replace Charnley with Manfredi? We don't have a good enough hooker in the academy yet to replace McIlorum so would have to look elsewhere to replace him.

Since 2010 we've replaced:

Richards with Burgess
Hoffman with Farrell
Riddell with McIlorum
Roberts with Charnley
Carmont with. Thornley
Gleason with Goulding
Coley with Crosby
J.tomkins with Hughes

Not to mention players like Hampshire, Manfredi, Williams, Logan Tomkins, Sam Powell etc all making regular first team appearances.

Players will leave every year no matter if they are homegrown or imports but we will always have young players ready to take that next step, therein lies the point in having such an excellent academy system.

Brian , with regards to replacing Mac , have you seen Matty Fozzard play in the StS U19s last season ?

Obviously Wigan would more than likely look towards a more experienced hooker but I'm curious to see what ( if anything ) you think of him

Anyone heard anything about Jamie Foster coming?

Pretty average signing if true

Seriously can't see it, Manfredi's probably a better reserve. I bet Salford will be interested if they have any cap space

Could a move for him be for his kicking than his ability. Not good enough tbh. But then again how man not good enough players have we signed over the last 3 years who go and become decent players.