Time for some investment

I'm not sure Bill, but they reckon the six-week, 48-game tournament cost New Zealand taxpayers and the Rugby Union $39 million; about £800k a game. I would have thought that the money has already been spent getting the stadium up to stratch, while there may be some training ground costs and added security nearer the time.

It would seem that he Williams has now signed for Millwall for 250K. Really see no point in moving to a struggling championship side so it shows our total lack of ambition to allow this to happen.

Oophs thatshould have been 800 New Zealand dollars, about £400,000

Yeah, but surely if the NZ Tax payers & Rugby Union spend the money, then presumably the UK Tax payers and our RU meet the costs, so it shouldn't take anything away from MK Dons

In NZ rugby is a religion and probably backed by the state, while in the UK it isn't, while the RU probably did a deal with the stadia owners. I guess Winkie won't get his investment back until the world cup itself and even then will be down the pecking order.

Of course this is a complete guess, he might be just a tight wad.

Pity Bath isn't on, he could have told us how much Winkie had invested

I don't think it will take long, a period where they are winning and we are losing often coincides with his return, although hes a bit of a blogger now days [I will have to read one sometime]

The manager hinted that they were reviewing a number of players who are going to be out of contract at the end of the season - sell now for some cash or face them going on a free at the end of the season.

If I am not wrong, Gleeson, Potter, Kay, Bowditch, Powell and Smith are contracts ending in the summer

Kay is 31, Bowditch 27, Potter 29 could all be sold unless its clear they are likely to stay (or the manager wants them to stay) - so I expect more will be sold and some will have a contract extension before the end of the transfer window

Assuming this season has been written off by the management, then I hope we keep Gleeson, possibly Powell (though has he already had a contract extension?) - Potter might stay - but Bowditch and Kay may be deemed to be best sold for money now

Smith is probably going to stay as part of the coaching set up, and senior player

I wouldn't want to see Gleeson, Potter, Bowditch or Kay go. I understand players have been offered contracts and we are waiting to see if they accept them. Not sure about Powell, I thought he would have progressed better than he has.

Like you Furz - would not want to see them go - but I guess the management are going to look at it as - is there a cat in hell chance of going up - and if that's not realistic, then maximize the money on those with expiring contracts who we may not want to be part of the longer term and risk the others that we can persuade them over the summer