As for Connor, Ellis' comments just confirm that it was right to let him go, he did little at Hudds this year too, bags of talent but always looks unfit and the constant sledging at the ref and opposition players wore thin by the end.

We finished 10th so basically couldn't done much worse

Smith is getting time on his record ( rightly so ) but any other coach like radford Hodgson etc would of been under pressure if they was here last season

Yet smith didn't really get any flak

Because people realise the recruitment has been bad for about 5 years now and Smith came in too late to change the squad.

Must admit I was dissapointed by the predictable end of season slump though, seems no coach has the answer to why the players are in holiday mode from August.

What and Ferguson didn’t spend any money , he spent more then other clubs most years until Chelsea started spending .

Net spend that old chestnut still spent more money that majority of other clubs

See if they can win at a smaller club like Fulham or someone like ferguson did with Aberdeen

He won titles with likes of Darren fletcher and wes brown etc

That old chestnut?

Why was he able to spend more money than the majority of there clubs?

He had to generate money by selling players like Coutinho otherwise he wouldn't have been able to bring his players in and compete and win major trophies.

He didn't have unlimited spending power.

I'm not having a go at you at all, I just stress the fact that Yeamo had a few job opportunities when he retired, but chose to work in the prison service because of the job prospects, career path etc. and with him having a young family that gave him the best chance, and what's more . In his chosen career path he is doing OK.

The thing is before the game went fully professional all players went back to work when they finished, in fact they worked whilst they were playing!! But, on retirement, many fell on hard times. When Hodgson was here I know that Danny houghton was contemplating going back to his tools as a Plummer/electrician and no doubt he'll pursue that when he eventually retires and he does that as one of the FC's and indeed the British games all time greats (as is Kirk). But there are no guarantees in life after Rugby league.

Sadly we might love our very demanding, physically debilitating and taxing sport, but we have missed our chances and failed to grasp the opportunities over the years as a sport (probably the best in the world) so we stay what is in effect a semi part time environment, which rewards players in the short term, but doesn't however give them any sort of security, so most understands that they go back to more menial tasks etc when they retire. Most players I know have no other aspirations than that.

Sadly that's where we are, we think we are supporting the best game there is, but financially and prestige and public awareness wise we are really nothing but a sport that has all the ingredients to be great but that has been so badly mismanaged over the years we are also rans on the national scene.

That means that although our players are heroes and titanic sportsmen whilst playing, they end up back where they started, that's why they are all to be respected for the sacrifices they make, the pain they go through and the enjoyment they give us. In the end the rewards they get for that are at best short term and they all have to adjust to being back on 'civi street' when it's over.

They do whatever they have to , to support their families and that's why Testimonials ae so important as they give players who have been loyal a little nest egg to help them through. What a sad situation that is, but I respect players like Yeamo who were heroes for all of us and continue to strive to succeed in life after they finish, whatever that means they have to do.

Personally think itd of been harsh to give Smith any flak, given the absolute mess of a squad he inherited.

We saw a definate reaction after a shaky start, and id say an arm wrestle with Smith and certain players as to what wouldnt be tolerated, we saw people moved on due to Smith standing by his principles for the good of the culture, even if it left us very light at times. For me id say the season was a success in the aspect of smith changing the culture and removing some big names with thr wrong attitudes from the roster. Moves that previous coachs didnt have the balls to do.

Very much in the middle of a huge transition, and also hamstrung by loan repayments, but ive every faith Smith with patience will leave us in a much better state.

I dare say in 2 seasons time we may even be praising our academy products and signing a marquee player

Bloody hell mate stop talking sense…we are finally catching up with the other clubs academy’s and like you said in a couple of years time we may reap the awards with acedemy players and possibly a marquee signing once we get the Covid loan out of the way as unfortunately we haven’t multi millionaires on the board or a billionaire owner who is prepared to buy any player