The whole farce is now a lot deeper than just SDL and championship!



In the Wigan Evening Post this week, there was an article about St Judes and Eccles, who will not now play ANY teams at under 18's level if the opposition include Professional players.

Basically, those dropped from Championship sides for SDL players, and are still in their teens, have been turning out for the local u18's amatuer sides.



Its a mess, and all wrong.

We have excellent facilities, we have good morale amongst the squad, and players who join us seem to really enjoy being here.



If Wigan youngsters get to sample the facilities and squad morale at Leigh before Wigan let them go, it must make them more likely to join Leigh. Of course, should a significantly better financial offer come in, they would take that — but if they're only being offered part time money somewhere else then Leigh might be an attractive offer because they're familiar with the club, and it's close to home.



The same goes with those players that opt to go FT elsewhere after leaving Wigan, but find it isn't well suited to their situation or are subsequently let go by those clubs.

I doubt any player will go to a club simply because of the facilities, if all other things are equal then yes, but first and foremost it will be down to cash offered. It is after all a job.

Yes, but the f/t contracts offered to younger players are often pitiful, and far less than the player could earn with a p/t contract with Leigh and a f/t job.



It's not a scenario that covers everyone, but it's my opinion that it really must shorten our odds on landing these players. It also gets the word out that Leigh is not a bad option for local young players.



All IMHO of course.

I don’t completely disagree, but why do we need the ‘Partnership’ for this to happen? Do kids at say Saints not know if they don’t make it there that Leigh have excellent facilities and would be a better option than either giving up the game or going back to Blackbrook etc?

We don't need more D\C's from Wigan. If I played in that Wigan team last night even I'd look good. I didnt see any Wigan youngster stand out when the shoes on the other foot and we thrashed them in the preseason friendly.



What we need is someone with plenty of money and drive to take the club forward not some kids from Wigan.

Fylde Warrior...it is the fault of the RFL.

When there was still promotion, a few of the TOP sides in National League were full time as they had the backing/sponsorship, because SL was potentially only 12 months away. Now, thanks to the licensing system, it does NOT matter if you can't compete with a SL side....ask Widnes - we put 50 points past them twice in the season that they got 'invited' into the promised land.

Thanks for your input mate.

That's the ideal option. However, the person or people with money to give away aren't there - they may be interested, but can't risk it in the current economic climate. It's a tough ask right now.

Brian the moment you mentioned the crowd you lost any validity in your argument. More Leythers turned out for what was their Wembley. Unfortunately; Leigh and this so called great rivalry proved more unattractive to Wiganers and neutrals than any other fixture. Even the likes of London and Catalan are bigger 'draws' for Wiganers than Leigh.



The notion of a great rivalry is dead in the water, a red herring. I would agree that franchising / no P & R has killed it but to suggest Wigan need Leigh is rather silly.

Come on Wiganers did not attend because they could not use their season tickets and thought tickets were too expensive. Had you played Cats Broncos or Salford at this round of the Challenge cup the atmosphere and the crowd would have been better ? You know the answer.

Fylde Warrior = FULL OF S**T !

Enjoying yer 15 minutes of FAME on our board ???

I got banned from your forum for asking years ago 'are you going to break the salary cap again this season' ?

Obviously our moderators are not tarts.

Parker and Brierley (who could hardly walk this morning) were at LSV at 9am coaching the 20's, while the molly coddled Wigan players were tucked up in bed.



Remember, our players do a full days work, then train at night, then eat sleep and repeat all week for 1/30th of what Tomkins earns, so I have nothing but respect for our players.



We are a team with no money to spend but we always stick together.

Leigh are a team in their own right whichever division we are in.