THE BIGGEST news to come out of Hull FC this week has been the impending departures of Tom Briscoe and Danny Tickle, but that could help FC recruit strongly for 2014.
It's now been confirmed that Tickle has signed a three-year contract with Widnes beginning from next season, although most people were already aware of this beforehand.
Announcing it now allows the fans to move on and look forward to the emergence of new signings or youngsters coming through.
With a contract offer on the table from FC for quite some time, Tickle's decision not to sign only ever meant he was on his way out.
But while Tickle leaves the club for personal and family reasons, Briscoe's expected departure is a little different.
According to most reports he wanted to try his hand in the NRL against the world's best players, but this now looks most unlikely.
His departure is more likely to be to another Super League club, with Leeds and Wigan strongly believed to be in for him, which will really hurt the FC faithful when it looks like their club is very much on an upward curve.
However, Briscoe's departure may well be softened a little due to lack of form. He's fallen down the pecking order for his country and is being outshone at Hull by Tom Lineham.
At least Briscoe's departure, along with Tickle's, should free up a large amount of money on the salary cap, especially as Mark O'Meley and possibly also Ben Galea retiring.
So, whilst I don't want to wish away a promising 2013, the signings they make for 2014 could push FC to bigger and better things.
