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Panthers face salary cap probe deadline
BLACKPOOL Panthers RL's problems continue to mount following a Rugby Football League investigation into possible salary cap breaches.
It would be the ultimate irony if a club crippled by debt, lacking a major investor and with problems paying its players should now be penalised for over-spending.
The RFL told The Gazette: "The RFL is investigating contractual irregularities at Blackpool Panthers. The club has been given until 5pm today (Tuesday) to provide information for the investigation."
Coach Martin Crompton said: "I have no information on this but it would just top things off after the few weeks we have had."
The club invested like never before in its playing staff during the close-season in a bid to build a promotion-winning side. However, a financial crisis has engulfed the club in recent weeks although the directors did meet last month's wage bill.
But Crompton insists the promotion dream is still on and he saw glimpses of his side's best form in Sunday's 28-6 win at Swinton.
Crompton said: "People forget that we have lost only one more than the league leaders. There are a lot of wins left in us and a lot of football to be played. I guarantee we will be in the mix.
"We were excellent in the first half at Swinton and it was a fantastic effort to restrict them to just one score in that heat. It would have been no injustice if we had led 36-0 at half-time rather than 18-0.
The coach was again down to his last 17 after centre Casey Mayberry reported in sick on the morning of the game.
That meant a recall to the 17 for stand-off Carl Forber, who Crompton had decided to drop following an ineffective display at Hunslet.
He explained:"I was very disappointed with Carl last week and felt I had to make a change."
Simon Svabic was preferred at half-back and impressed his coach with his determined effort.
Another successful experiment at Sedgley Park was centre Martin Ainscough's switch to full-back.
"It was certainly experience for him in those conditions. I don't think he realised how much running was involved and he was fatigued at the end," added the coach.
Centre Dean Thompson also impressed Crompton with a try-scoring start to his second loan stint from Widnes, having trained with the Panthers only once since agreeing to return for the rest of the season.
The coach was less happy with the double sin-binning of prop Dave Best, the result of a running battle with Lions hooker Phil Joseph.
Crompton said: "I have no arguaments with the second yellow card because Dave over-reacted, but for the first he was blatantly headbutted. I don't know if there's history between them, but Dave won't let something like that happen and he has to defend himself."
*IT'S difficult enough for the Panthers to get their message across in these troubled times ... but now the club find themselves without an office phone. Having vacated their Colonial Hotel base following the resignation of chairman/owner Bobby Hope, the Panthers have returned to their old office at Fylde RFC only to find the phone has been removed.
For the time being, anyone wishing to contact the club may do so via the main Fylde RFC number on (01253) 734733 or can contact general manager Steve Walmsley direct on 07968 787633.
Following England's World Cup exit, the Panthers have confirmed that Saturday's home match against South Wales Scorpions will kick-off at 3pm.
Walmsley told The Gazette: "It's a vital opportunity to raise some revenue, and we urge anyone with Blackpool rugby league at heart to come along and bring a friend."
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Weather for Blackpool
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
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Wind direction: West
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