[Nat (Rugby_Aholic)]

11 Players Released including Beswick : Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:47 am  

From the Evening Courier:-

THE extent of new coach Karl Harrison’s Halifax revolution was confirmed today, with club bosses releasing a list of 11 high-profile stars who are being cut for 2012.

Ireland international hooker Bob Beswick is arguably the biggest casualty after establishing himself as one of the club’s most consistent performers during a three-season stay in West Yorkshire.

The other names on the document - which was due to be circulated to rival clubs by the Rugby Football League later today - are Australian half back Ben Black, full back Miles Greenwood, prop Neil Cherryholme, back rower Ryan Clayton, centres Dylan Nash and Jon Goddard, half back Danny Jones and forwards Paul Smith, David Larder and Michael Ostick.

Some of the 11 have already found new homes, Black joining Harrison’s old club Batley on a one year deal.

Jones, who only returned to his hometown club last autumn, is being tipped for a quick return to Keighley after the Cougars secured promotion via yesterday’s Championship One Grand Final.

Beswick, who effectively missed out to Sean Penkywicz as the one specialist hooker in Harrison’s new-look side, is expected to join Super League side Wakefield, while Goddard has been targeted by Doncaster.

Larder has already confirmed his retirement, while Smith is also understood to be considering ending his career.

Coupled with Harrison’s re-signings, it leaves just three of Fax’s 2011 squad unaccounted for - veteran props Jim Gannon and Frank Watene and back rower Stephen Bannister.

Harrison continues to be active in the transfer market, with reports over the weekend linking him with Featherstone’s versatile forward Ross Divorty, the son of his former Fax teammate Gary, and another of his former Batley proteges, the prop Sean Hesketh.

Rochdale’s highly-rated utility forward Craig Ashall, who can play either back row or hooker, is another name in the frame.

Re: 11 Players Released including Beswick : Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:58 am  

No mention of Fieldhouse or Ratu ?

Re: 11 Players Released including Beswick : Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:31 am  

Could Frank perhaps be kept on in a non playing role but still doing the community work? He's done quite well with that over the past few years.

Re: 11 Players Released including Beswick : Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:46 am  

Blimey, least Beswick won't be playing against us! Hopefully this will give Josh Barlow more of a look in at hooker. Bit disappointed with Cherryholme being released!

Re: 11 Players Released including Beswick : Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:12 am  

Great for Bob, if he has got a chance at SL. Out of these, he is the only one I'm sad to see go from the squad for next season.

Thanks to the other guys released for their efforts, and good luck.

Re: 11 Players Released including Beswick : Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:52 am  

None of them except Bob really did much will be missed. Hope Bob goes to SL as he is better than many players there.

Re: 11 Players Released including Beswick : Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:29 am  

With the exception of Bob, as much as the others have played their part in last season, and I thank them for their efforts, its no big surprise is it? Even Bobs departure was looking more and more obvious.

Good luck to all of them at their new clubs.

with reference to JG,FW and SB, only Sb gets my vote to be here next season. I think we can and will do better than the 2 vetrans.

Re: 11 Players Released including Beswick : Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:43 am  

Can't help thinking that informing players (some of whom have served the club well for the last three to four seasons) that their services would no longer be required by way of a face-to-face meeting - as opposed to a letter posted through their doors, would have been a classier way of dealing with affairs.

Re: 11 Players Released including Beswick : Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:52 am  

Jim Bergerac wrote:

Can't help thinking that informing players (some of whom have served the club well for the last three to four seasons) that their services would no longer be required by way of a face-to-face meeting - as opposed to a letter posted through their doors, would have been a classier way of dealing with affairs.

Where does it say that they were notified by letter? The "document" referred to is more than likely a press release of the non-retained players.

Re: 11 Players Released including Beswick : Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:16 pm  

Thank you all for your efforts at Fax and all the best for the fiture.