Thanks Adey, that makes obvious sense. But it must assume that all leading clubs are up to it. If it is legal I would assume they are, if it isn't I wouldn't.

Its legal. Scully's deal was legal. Harris' deal was legal.



And, provided it is a genuine image rights deal and not a favour from a pal of the chairman, its even OK within the salary cap - provided the salary cap auditor does not become aware of the scale of the image rights deal, and believe it to be really part of the playing contract.



But there are other ways you could achieve the result too, such as those I indicated. Or you can be Catalans where, as I understand it, the players pay far less tax anyway so they automatically get more bang for their salary cap bucks.



I think the problem with a club securing (sorry...silly me...the player's agent securing) a decent genuine image rights deal for a marquee player if that club has not been successful is that the player's image value is seriously compromised if he is no longer "successful". So its a virtuous circle for successful clubs, and a vicious circle when you fall from grace. Ring any bells with anyone...? And yes, the prize money DEFINITELY is a factor in successful clubs attracting successful players - but (as I hope I have shown) it is unlikely to be more than just part of the story.



Of course, if the image rights deal was to be cobbled together between the owner and a pal, or if it was some other sort of deal as I postulated, then a senior marquee player COULD nevertheless be attracted to a club that had not hitherto been seen as "successful", without taking up a disproportionate amount of salary cap. But, as I said earlier, no wealthy club owner would fall for the tempation, would they?

I agree that we possibly cant sack him, so bring someone in above him and demote him, this is what they would do in industry if they had someone that was as ineffective and as costly as Potter.



Why havent we got a Director of Rugby like other clubs, he will then either sink or swim.

Potter's light grey and the team play the same way.

The Bulls have.....................

No guts

No determination

No effort

No aggression

I'm on record as being in complete agreement with you on this one Adey - I seem to recall you putting me on your Christmas card list after a discussion about it on the VT last season, although you've probably since removed me following my frothing about Odsalgate.





I would be absolutely flabbergasted if the clubs with wealthy owners aren't using the same wheezes that people of that ilk have always used to stay several steps ahead of HMRC and by extension, light years ahead of whatever system the RFL uses to monitor the so-called 'salary cap.' It's as plain as day that some clubs are fielding squads of significantly higher monetary value than others whilst both would claim to be spending the cap; the difference is that the clubs with wealthy businesses backing them have all the connections, expertise and mechanisms already in place to get money into some of their players bank accounts by means other than a straightforward salary payment and furthermore, to maximise the proportion of the money that said players were able to keep hold of, by using tax-efficiency schemes.



It can sound a bit sour-grapey to moan about the clubs with wealthy sugar-daddies, or rather the lack of same at your own club, but I'm with you on this one; the current situation creates a two-tier SL in ways that goes far beyond the obvious and that in turn fuels the arrogant nonsense that some people spout about reducing to the league to 10 and casting adrift the clubs that can't compete.



Having said all that - would I like our very own Mr Burns, a la Shuddersfield? You bet I would.

in australia at the moment job hunting

On the issue of Potter I agree with Bullinenemyland that in order to turn things around we need a completely new broom. A new coach with fresh new ideas would be ideal. It happened in 1977 when we brought in Peter Fox and it happened again in 1995/6 with Smith and Elliott. Both had fresh ideas and could get great performances out of limited players and spot potential in the transfer market.



In 1996 we had the help of a pile of cash with the first sky deal. I'm not sure how we're fixed financially after the Odsal deal but if we can possibly do so we need to think about a big shake up.

I thought that's what Plopper was supposed to be? To be fair, I agree with you and when the big 'who should replace Macca' debate was going on I said as such.



However... I think we have to give Potter the rest of the season. The players who were brought in last were in the main part those who were available where as this season he's had more choice and options. These need to be given time to gel. Several of the Aussies seemed to be 'late' arrivals for various reasons and the pre-season in UK RL is a joke - the only team who seemed to have a proper test (rather than games against other SL teams or those from the lower division) was Wire. The more settled teams are going to hit the ground running compared to those who have once again had a big player turnover. Is Potter good enough? I'm not sure - Saints were hardly a 'bad' team when he took over and weren't Catalans essentially an Aussie team?



I don't think Nobby is the right man for the job. Good as his record was, it was done with a well established squad that he knew inside out.

Was thinking of not so much 96 reprised as 91... A second coming...

I think Mick shouldn't get an extension but from a slightly different perspective. In my opinion he should walk voluntarily because this club will have a toxic affect on his ability to find a decent coaching spot in the future.



I don't think the fact that we are utter gash is his fault. Its a gypsy curse or a cabal of feckless players or something else, but Mr Potter should get out now whilst he can still hope to have a career.

While I don't think Potter is covering himself in glory at the moment the salary cap era, and (IMO) dearth of quality players makes it a lot harder for a club or coach to rebuild a squad when it has been decimated by a few years of poor recruitment - which is the situation with the squad at Odsal at the moment.



I think it took Wigan, a club with more muscle and clout than Bradford at the moment, about three years to get their squad into serious challenging contention after having to repair the damage done by the Millward reign and the short term solutions they had to make to avoid relegation. It shows the long term implications that getting it badly wrong can have for a club.

As anyone thought mick potter doesn't want the job but if he walks away would lose out on payments etc, i may get a ripping for this but a very close source suggested this to me last year with some of potters actions in terms of selection and to me he doesn't seem to care less. Win lose or draw his response is always the same, he should of come out and slammed the bulls for such an horrendous score line at home and apologised to the supporters.

Complete overhaul needed at the bulls, i'd sooner see young enthusiastic players wanting to put effort in , couldn't lose by much more. Our conditioning is a joke , firstly the 30 % fitter comment, yeah losing the 2nd half 34-6 and regardless of "some injuries unavoidable " i honestly believe the players are not conditioned correctly, every single year there are 4 or 5 major long term injuries, no other club suffers like we do, yes maybe 1 or 2 long term but ours year on year is ridiculous . The bulls need to be very very careful, without some form of a push for the playoffs (which i think is miles away) this pledge thing wont stand for another year, they would have to drop them to £50 and even then would struggle for more than 5k imo. The fact hood has stated we are full capacity on the cap shows 1 of 2 things, either 1- he is lying or 2- we are paying way over the odds for some players.

Agree with Asim - its very difficult to build a decent team quickly now. The supply of quality Aussies/Kiwis has really dried up, which was the easiest quick fix available. Add the fact that clubs are now seeking to contract good young players for much longer, and the supply of good quality (or even highly promising) players available each year for transfer is very small.