Forum

to East Antrim cricketer - I am not involved in the running of the club nor do I serve on any committee of Muckamore so I am unable to comment. In order to maintain my impartiality as an umpire all I hear now is rumour & speculation. On a completely separate issue and purely for information - as somone who used to play sorry paughill at rugby in the early 70s could anyone from CSNI confirm if there is any involvement with or from the Civil Service Sports Association?

Re Rich Belfast clubs. I think there may be some misconception about the "rich belfast clubs". I know CI have worked really hard at building a social club and having a sportsmans dinner that raises funds and it is great credit to them. At CSN over the last 3 years we have had golf days, a sportsman dinner, club ballots and this year we are having quiz nights, a golf do and a ballot to raise club funds and to donate to a charity. To build team spirit and thank our sponsor quite a few of us are doing a 10km run in March "Between the Bridges" and the sponsored proceeds are going (in full) to assist the charity of choice. What I am saying is as a club we are working hard to generate funds to sustain the development of our club. We have no sugar daddies but what we do have is initiative and desire to progress as much as we can at all levels.

Anyways, anybody wanting to sponsor me to run 10km on 8 March give me a shout. The charity is http://www.adelanteafrica.org and the project is the St Josephs project.

gareth. great reply 100% as every club & ourselves have too think long & hard wheir its leading as PREDICTIONS are that its not going too improve for at least 2 years?This is just my personal opinion that if the pros were all banned then it takes pressure of & yes if clubs have £ too pay locals so be it & fair play too them if they can? The credit crunch will have a massive effect on clubs this year IE if theres friday games who can afford too take off as WORK now will deffinitly take first place & two nighters & sunday games i personally think a lot of pressure will come from work & family too put cricket futher down the pecking order?ps i wish PETER LAVERY still owned the BAY INN as he said we could sign who ever we wanted after winning 10 million !pps amazing we were ANTI PRO then & didnt take it up but did get a PHONE CALL from PAUL MCCRUM offering his services.

Would that be Muckamore you're thinking of Andy?

Steve - its not just CI and CSNI have the chequebooks out. To qoute my grandson "s wee bird tells me" that others are offering incentives on top of trawls on the forum! Hmmm.

re. pros

I think that Jeff raises a very interesting point there about the credit crunch and professional players for 2009. While the majority of the talk on the forum has surrounded the rich Belfast clubs approaching all and sundry for their services, how different is the situation likely to be for the other clubs around the province?

There have already been a couple of high profile examples in the North West of clubs conceding that they simply cannot afford to hire an overseas player in 2009 due to the tightened financial times and I can only imagine that a lot of clubs in the NCU find themselves in a position where they have a very hard decision to make when balancing the pros of youth development and strengthening the team with the cons of financial management.

It may prove to turn out as a case of the haves versus the have nots in the upcoming months.

Jeff

More signings and money exchanging hands in Belfast..CIYMS sign an Irish international as the cheque book remains open / CSNI sign Mc Kee from C Ville.

danny. u havn any luck? my eway sat 2 placed & non runner, but im havn seconitis at moment.Vanburn mite like too let HIS HAIR DOWN ALITTLE TOO ?dont wee all? ive only ever been too 1 as unless free entry hate paying in LIVERPOOL is top place for craic & the racing is superb ladies day is a MUST GO TOO if you get a chance (tell you this hard too watch racing as the eye candy is best u ever see). but enuff said b4 the editor starts editing too find the cricket detail. wats yur view on the credit crunch think might be hard too fund pros this year & next?

Re JEFF

What will Vanburn be thinking - gambling and lapdancing........ tut, tut!

wayne , well dun was cracking price &very game winner. ill not say 2 much as VANBURN dont like horses on here. im not gn festival this year for ist time in 7 years as going AINTREE more craic & far cheaper in liverpool(2free lap dancing clubs)lol. do u go any race meetings ?ladies day aintree is sight for sore eyes winters day & all you see is mini skirts boob tubes & more tanned bodies than u see in spain, def worth a trip as gets u LIFTED for the up COMING cricket season.lol

Jeff - was on Joe Lively e/w so did a bit of roaring myself. Building up to Cheltenham!

think you missed my point Richard - the forum is certainly of value and can, on occasions, be of a certain "mischief" value. I simply say that there are some clubs whose players never post a view and I wonder if decisions are taken to "ignore" the forum.

wayne . that well known book marker ted mcnerlin roared joe lvely home( wee later found out his wife avril had 2 £ on it ) was 20 1 on betfair wen he made mistake at last . take it u bet it?

Richard - easy solution if nothing of any worth is said on this forum...don't read it!!

Ps - hope the lads in Dundrum were on Joe Lively at Cheltenham yesterday.

Andy Kennedy - Yes Andy you're right about the overkill from and about some clubs. But then there are very few who ever claim to speak FOR their club on the Forum! All generally prefix their comments with 'I'm not involved but......'and then go on to defend the club's position on everything under the sun whether it be the way they voted or the quality of their teas!
So really is anything they say of any worth? Like Reality Television, talk is cheap.