Think Chadwick was doing a solid job until Hope rocked up- slow affordable progress. Although it was good fun for half a season, this short period of indulging Hope's ego has left the club in a very precarious position. I also seem to remember that last years board of directors resisted Hope's advances last season, but felt they had no choice for this season- may be they were worried it may all end up like this.
Even if a few of the luxury players were off-loaded, I get the feeling a lot of the 'squad' players had their wages bumped up by Hope compared to what they were previously on. The consolation that can be taken from the situation is the Leeds game- a second string was put out there, and that team would be competitive in Champ 1.
Can see Hemmingway & Ballard going soon as would imagine they are on big wages & can get a club elsewhere pretty easily. I would say that Hobson would go as well, but he is facing a long suspension, so no other club will want him in the short term. Would like to keep hold of Ainscough as he is awesome, but again can imagine a number of clubs will be after him and we won't be able to afford his wages. No idea what we will do with Marsh & Best as we have yet to see much of them this year, but obviously have been paying them. Halliwell can go tomorrow as far as i'm concerned. Hope we can keep Holland on as I can't imagine that he was paid much at Wigan before he came across permanently.
Perhaps the Wigan dual-reg players will stay on which will provide a strong backbone to the team during the re-shuffle of players that will happen between now and the end of the season. I would imagine MC is leaving as isn't he now full-time and obviously the club will not be able to afford to keep him in a job after the end of the season.
Considering the above, some of the rest may stay on for the rest of the season as there is still a good chance we can stay in the play-offs and perhaps even get promotion.