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Midweek with John

Wednesday 28th July 2010

Preparations for our remaining four league fixtures are well under way and with so much still to play for, it will make for a very interesting month, before the play offs begin. I have to pay full credit to this years 'group', and that includes the playing squad and also the backroom staff who have been fantastic this year in implementing and supporting the systems that I have put into place at the club on the playing front. It was always my intention to put my own mark on the club and to structure things in a professional manner, and everybody involved currently has 'bought into' the process.

With both eyes firmly fixed on our season run in, it would be amiss of me to lose focus on the importance of the remaining games but on the other hand, I have considered already at points throughout the season, the importance of a smooth transition from 2010 to 2011 in terms of the squad. This is the reason that I am currently reviewing the players' performances in respect of whether they will be offered terms for 2011.

At this stage, I am very happy to announce that I have agreed terms with the following players;

Phil Wood
Dean Gorton
Liam McGovern
Ste Roper
Paul Crook
Ryan Powell
Danny Smith
Craig Ashall

I am also in advanced talks with another six of the current squad and hope to announce at least another 3 re-signings later in the week.

I have also agreed terms with two players from outside of the club who I have monitored extensively this season. Both players will be valuable assets to us from next season as we look to improve further next term. The players will be announced during September.

There is a still lot to play for both individually for the players, and for the team between now and the end of September, and we ask all of our loyal fans to support us at every opportunity during the last four fixtures. We have a tough away trip to Workington this week which will hopefully see us achieve a minimum finish of 5th in the table. But, the following week, we entertain rivals Swinton which is likely to be a very exciting clash and could see us move up to fourth or even third in the table. Hopefully, the home performances this season will encourage you all to come out in force and give us our biggest reception and support of 2010 so far.

Stanky