When was the tribunal to determine his contract obligations?



A, Before the reported financial issues?



B, After the reported financial issues?



Would you take your employer to a tribunal if you didn’t have another offer of job already lined up?



A, No



B, Yes

I'd agree with that, and throw more names into it. Patten opted for unemployment rather than stay when he could easily have taken the money.



Yes, we clearly can't offer a good prospect of reaching a Grand Final, but the regular complaints about training arrangements payment times, cliques, "us and them" etc that come out are hardly conductive to an environment that employees are going to feel hugely loyal towards. Hopefully the work that Paul Highton is now doing will help make players feel that their issues are better managed.

Patten opted for a new career as a players agent because his body couldn't take the punishment. Moon opted for a dream move to Leeds and a 3 year deal.



I do think though it's about how best you utilise your resources to provide the best environment possible. It would appear to me that too much may have been invested in the squad and not enough on training facilities, equipment, medical and support staff. It's a fine line because its no good having a great working environment and crap players and vice versa. The problem is the Patten's and Moon's were obviously used to different working environments where a lot more money would have been available to provide this.



As for 'cliques' this is a new one please enlighten us?

Patten and Moon also came from the Australian set-up: a quick read of Alker's book reminds us of the gaps between standards at clubs here and there. Some accept it when they arrive and some cannot or move back. Some clubs: Wigan, Leeds and warrington approach the Australian image.



Re several postings : I feel the comments made above need to be the model for the future of any Salford debate. I know sufficient of the posters to know that none were non-critical of issues within the club. However, there's a huge distinction between what is known as a critical friend and someone who criticises with no acceptance of any qualities shown to him or her.



Several months ago, someone, one of the beach brigade I think (to use one poster's crude segregation of other posters), asked whether Salford had been punching above its weight for so long and is now fatigued by that exertion.

A lot of truth underlay that remark.

I have to agree with Scoot. Over 25 years support from myself, and I cannot honestly ever remember feeling so disheartened as a Salford fan. Maybe the lure of the new stadium kept me feeling optimistic for better times, just around the corner. But I must be on a roundabout, as the promise of a brighter future has never seemed so far away.



I dreamt about us playing at the Willows the other day (sad I know). I'd go and play there in the first division in a heartbeat...

The financial issues were well known at the time of the tribunal, not sure what point you're getting at.



As for the second question, B - Yes, if you felt your employer had breached the terms of your employment. Moon isn't stupid he would have been well aware of interest from other clubs even if they didn't equate to a firm job offer.



I'm sure at the time the tribunal was being reported people were dismissing it as Barker nonsense, you were probably one of them but I've not got the inclination to check.

For what it's worth Joel Moon was a player I would willing to pay to watch in recent times. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a player in recent times, thinking of what magic he could come up with tonight. Broughton will miss Moon, Jodie flourished outside Moon and was put away for tries that only Gibson could dream of doing. On another matter now, Salford's backline has been ripped apart as of our best players. I honestly believe the club should lower the price of tickets! This squad is not SL standard the only bright light is that we will have Owen, Ford, Walne, Sneyd the potentially will be 1st team players that have graduated through the academy (apologise if I missed anyone off, so disinterested in SCR and the people who have killed the club)

The Moon tribunal was during the playing season and prior to Steuer Gregson's action against the club. The point I'm making is I think the player could have been trying to get out of the contract because of interest from another club.

I fully agree with PV and Highto when they say they only want players who want to play for Salford.

Moon only played 19 games for us. Yes , he had a good offload and was elusive, but again, as with the rest of our backline last year , his defence was very suspect.I believe that if you sign a contract, you should honour it, no excuses !! To Say you are homesick to try and get out of your contract, and then sign for another SL club is just WRONG.Moon ,Holdsworth and Patten to name 3 have lost all respect from me. What we need is a team full of Paul Hightons and Stu Littlers who never gave less than their all for the club.

In reply to theredshed I'm pretty sure Salfords financial woes came into the public eye around April time when the first unpaid tax bill appeared. Last time I checked April was during the playing season.

Give me a break......



And why's that ?

Answer; Because they were'nt good enough for other superleague clubs. It was either Salford or a part-time life in NL1.

Yes , they may not have been the most talented of players....BUT....they remained loyal to the club for many years,and always gave their best, which cant be said of some other players.