That isn't the way to long term success, we've already lost a lot of academy players in the backs despite a couple showing us they had real talent and we seem to have problems taking players further at the club in that area.
Signing overseas players doesn't come cheap and we thin our squad down (by having to loan out) and/or have less experienced back up as noted by Kirk Dixon last year in commentary.

If Bumpy's against it that's all we need to know. His record is almost 100% wrong so far. I really, REALLY hope we sign this Papuan now!

Exactly, seven is too many (by four or five IMO)
So you merge your academy side, scrap your reserve side and want to bring in even more overseas players. Is it any wonder the game is in the state it is?
btw I'm not just having a go at Hull, somebody at the top of the game needs to start making BIG decisions.

I don't think the reserves thing is a stick that you can beat Hull with. We tried a reserves team, but the "competition" was a joke. Basically a handful of friendlys with a game being called off every other week and half of teams not strong enough to provide any meaningful opposition. If the RFL created a proper reserves comp then we would be all for it, but it was considered a waste of time in its current format so we've gone back down thw dual reg route instead.

Likewise the academy. Alot of people still dont like it, but you have to take both clubs for their word that its been done for the right reasons, and not just as a cost cutting exercise. The coming years will tell us whether it was the right move or not.

For a long time, Hull's academy amd youth development just hasnt been up to scratch. Its easy for a club like yours to preach cutting overseas numbers etc when you have them rolling off the conveyor belt, but we are trying to walk a thin line between developing our own and being successful. As long as there is a pathway to the first team and kids are getting their chance, I am ok with that. Last year we had about half a dozen players who either made their debuts or who had more game time than in previous years. Fash became a proper first team regular. For a team pushing at the top with not too many injuries I think thats ok, and as the quality of youth players improves (which is what we are hoping will happen) we will hopefully see them push through in bigger numbers. Its no good binning all your overseas talent and replacing them with kids who are just goinh to be out of their depth.

How many overseas players does your team have?

To be fair he hasn't said that he agrees with Wigan having 7 or so players, think he is taking about the game in general and I agree with him.

If we want to sign another overseas players then we should release a current one.

To be fair to Hull as a club both the owner Adam Pearson and Radford wanted and were/are very strong advocates of the U23's/Reserve side but the sad fact is very few clubs provided sides on a regular basis. This then made it a complete farce when we had a team that had no fixtures to play due to other teams failing to put a team out etc. that is no fault of our set up/academy.

Taking in to account the cost involved in running a proper reserve side Adam Pearson & Radford have in my view made the correct decision to scrap the reserve team and use the money elsewhere to help improve the development of players and build stronger links with lower league clubs etc.

The fault of the failure of this in the most part down to the RFL for not making it a mandatory requirement for all SL clubs (including those that are trying to attain SL) to have a proper reserve team set up to run inline with their SL fixtures.

After years of neglect by the previous owners/regime Adam Pearson from day one has stated that producing and nurturing home grown players is essential for the long term future of Hull FC. He has stuck to his word and put a large amount of money investing in this area of development and with the input of Radford etc completely overhauled the systems previously in place.

This doesn't provide home grown talent over night but thank fully we at Hull FC are now seeing some positive results in this with the young players now appearing on the fringes of the first team and players such as Logan, Fash, Turgut & Matongo making advances in the first team.

With regards to the joint academy for for fans on both sides of the river the jurys still out on that one but as has been said we as fans have to take what our owners has said on the reasons for this as he has made sound decisions thus far in putting this club back in the top of the sport.

I agree with him as well. I've always admired Wigan for the way they churn out quality players. Other Clubs including Hull should use them as a benchmark on how to do it. That's why they have less excuse for having 8 overseas players on their books. I'm just surprised he came on our board to point our the failings of our Club which we already know.

It's hardly harming the international game...the World class players we do produce don't get selected anyway!

Didnt saints 'borrow' half the rovers squad for reserve games?