By Mark Orlovac

Fielden has made 17 starts for Great Britain

Wigan have pulled off one of the biggest signings in Super League history by luring Stuart Fielden from Bradford for a fee in the region of �450,000.

The world record transfer of the 26-year-old, which takes the Great Britain forward from the Super League champions to a club staring relegation in the face, is the talk of rugby league.

But what does his switch mean for the two clubs involved, and what do the fans make of Wigan's latest attempt to maintain their Super League status?

Fielden's capture highlights Wigan's determination - or desperation - to stay in the top flight.

The Warriors are in a perilous position at the bottom of the table, with just three league wins so far this season.

They are currently four points behind 11th-placed Catalans Dragons. But as the French team are exempt from relegation, Wigan know they need to make up at least three wins on Wakefield, who lie in 10th spot, to have any hope of staying up.

There is no doubting Fielden's quality. His tireless running and no-nonsense attitude saw him named in the World XIII for 2005, a team selected by journalists from all the rugby league-playing nations.

Coach Brian Noble, who knows all about Fielden's quality from their time together at Bradford and with Great Britain, will be hoping that his presence will lift an injury-hit dressing room which is low in confidence.

But, with 11 games to go, time is running out, which means the pressure will be on Fielden to justify his hefty price tag immediately.

The other question on everybody's lips is how Fielden's capture can be incorporated under Wigan's �1.7m salary cap.

Following Kris Radlinski's decision to come out of retirement to play for free, Warriors chairman Maurice Lindsay said they could not have paid the former GB international any money anyway because "our salary cap is full".

So it looks as if the Warriors will be hastily looking to off-load players on a permanent or loan basis.

Your views from Five Live message boards:

"We have little option but to try and buy in new players. Why should we get relegated without trying to save ourselves? I don't think anyone would think this makes Noble someone with no coaching skills who just buys players to make their lack of ability."
northern_soul

"Something odd must have happened for Fielden's signing to happen. Why would he want to join us when we are bottom, possibly heading out of Super League?"
newspieater

The Bulls were top of the world last autumn when they defeated Leeds at Old Trafford to claim their third Grand Final win in five years.

But since then they have lost Leon Pryce and Jamie Peacock to St Helens and Leeds respectively while allowing Robbie Paul, Stuart Reardon and Rob Parker to leave.

Noble will want Fielden to make an immediate impact at the JJB

Brian Noble, the architect of their recent success, jumped ship to join Wigan in April, and now Bulls fans have to deal with yet another body blow in the form of Fielden's departure.

Bradford have admitted to losing �520,000 last year, so the money from Fielden's transfer will be a welcome boost to the bank balance, as will the �500,000 they are set to pocket over the next four years after selling the naming rights to their Odsal home.

But the Bulls have had some big shoes to fill and will have their work cut making it to the Grand Final for the sixth-year running.

Your views from the Five Live message boards:

"It was obvious a time would come when we wouldn't be making the Grand Final every year like we have been doing. You just have to take it. With all the money problems hopefully sorted out now we can start rebuilding again."
ItsABullsThing

"I cannot believe it. Gutted doesn't begin to describe how I'm feeling. What on earth are the Bulls doing? Cornerstone of the pack allowed to walk...might as well shut up shop now, cos we've got no chance of winning the league."
bullishmood

Unthinkable at the start of the season, the prospect of Wigan playing in National League One is becoming increasingly likely.

The thought of seeing one of rugby league's biggest names falling out of the top flight has sparked a mass of rumour and conspiracy theories.

It got so bad over the weekend that Wigan chairman Dave Whelan requested an appearance on television to deny reports that he would buy off the National League champions in order to preserve his club's Super League status.

If that story wasn't outrageous enough, there are rumours circulating that Super League will expand to 13 teams next season.

Such a scenario would avoid the need for relegation and still allow the National League champions to take their place in the top flight.

Changing the entry and exit criteria for Super League next season, at such a late stage in the current campaign, would spark mass protests and accusations that the game is being run solely for the game's elite clubs.

As for Fielden, his rumoured �250,000-a-year wages would be a massive burden to the Warriors should they go down. National League One clubs have a maximum salary cap of �400,000.

More than likely, the Warriors have a release clause in Fielden's contract which, should they go down, would allow him to leave and fulfil his dream of playing in the NRL.

Your views from the Five Live message boards:

"If Wigan are relegated from Super League then it would be a serious blow to the RFL. To lose a name as big as Wigan devalues the competition and effects the amount of revenue and sponsorship coming into the game."
Big_Jim_Mills

"Wigan deserve to go down. They're bottom of the table for a pretty damn good reason. They are simply not good enough for Super League, therefore deserve to be in National League One. Castleford had to do it and fought their way back, so the task isn't impossible."
Soopa_Bean