Gutted we no longer we have an environment where young players want to be!
Kopout, Whitehead, Bateman, Naughton, Burgess', Wardle plus more....

Hope this hasn't got more underlying money or cashflow problems.

Quote from to T&A:
“The agreed fee is an undisclosed sum but will benefit the squad in the long run and allow Head Coach, Francis Cummins to add to the dynamics of the group if he feels he needs to."

But you never know with the Bulls, when did we last get the full truth about anything!

Except in Bateman's case the impression given was that he WAS 'a fan'. We've been sold the 'he's a local lad who only ever wanted to play for us' line for years.

That's why this seems more disappointing than either Kopczak or Whitehead

Difficult to see this as anything more than a 'fire sale' to bridge the gap between the 'projected' and 'actual' season ticket sales

Ferguson
Winterstein
Addy

Bateman
Whitehead
Addy

Which looks better to you guys?

This has been on the cards since his mate left for France only think that stopped it happening earlier was his injury. John is like any sportsman tells any fan what he knows what they want to hear.

Everyone is aware of the issues. Ask yourself this, if Bateman was not a prized asset would the Bulls have held onto him? It is a two way street in Professional sport. If he was just another young fringe squad player then he would not have lasted as long because of his behaviour. He was a top prospect so the Bulls made exceptions. That's how it works.

Very Infrequent poster - tends to be when i get really down, but this week is one of them. Less than 3,000 season tickets sold, bringing in a player Widnes didn't want, now a potentially great player leaving because he does not see a future. I lived through the crap of the late 80's, with Seabourne and Hobbs coaching, with a team of cast offs from others, overhyped own talent and promising talent looking to put themselves in the shop window for more ambitious clubs, seems to me we are there again. Does the new regime have the vision to do a Caisley in 95 and revolutionise the club, I'm not sure, but they'd better start soon!

Not too sure I'm too down hearted about this. He didn't have a positive influence on any game I saw last year. He appears to be very immature with a poor attitude and a lot of injuries. I am however very worried about season ticket sales.

i'm becoming a little disillusioned with this, the club would have known this was coming and decided to hold a fans forum before they announced it.

The club wants the fans to buy into the future, I'm afraid we won't do that whilst this type of thing continues. I appreciate not announcing it before the season ticket deadline, however thats viewed, but at least give the fans the chance to ask questions in the appropriate forum.

I thought this was a joke when i saw people saying it'd happened.

He's been a bit part player for the last year through injury but even so we're stronger with him than not.

The offer only arrived late yesterday afternoon.

Im sorry but this must have been in the works for sometime, perhaps the agreeable offer came in yesterday afternoon but he was on his way out before the fans forum.

When was his latest transfer request, that's the interesting question.

I don't believe that for a second!

Timing of the forum and season ticket deadline is a little too convenient for me.

For every negative there is a positive. Even though Bateman has gone it means more oppertunity for the likes of Addy, Donaldson, Roberts, Mellor and Olbison to play consistantly. Who knows one of them might surprise us this year.

I agree with eddievan. We have lost three young players in the last few months. Whitehead, Naughton and now Bateman. I must be out of touch here as I can't really remember him being world class or winning games by himself. All I remember is an injury prone lad who does behave poorly off the field. Same with Whitehead. Yes they all may become stars but at this moment they are all just potential - but with serious attitude problems. Bateman is the best of the three but he will have a shock when Shaun Wane lays down the rules over at Wigan. I don't see this being just a Bulls problem but a general problem with too many youngsters and their awfull attitudes. Other teams also lose players. Wigan have lost so many youngsters to Union and NRL. Leeds have just signed Hulls winger. Its disappointing as many fans will now not buy a ticket. I am disappointed because of the time and money we have invested in him but if he wants away then fair enough.

So we've lost another of our young players.

But the thing is, this was always on the cards. Not just Bateman or other academy lads, but any player at the Bulls is on the radar of the clubs above us.

We've failed to make the play-offs for 5 years. We've sailed dangerously close to going out of business altogether. Of course players' heads are going to be turned if the champions come knocking. Who's wouldn't?

Player loyalty is, quite frankly, a myth. A player's career is a short one. Granted, some players break the mold like Beaver did, but for most 10 years is pretty much the sell by date on their playing time. Player HAVE to do what is best for them and their families. Players like Bateman especially, given his injury record. He's yet to make a full season at senior level without picking up a serious injury. Who's to say he'll even complete his 3 years at Wigan?

Players are going to want to achieve things. They want trophies, international call ups etc. And as it stands, they're not likely to get those at Bradford. A few years down the line, that may have changed, but right now, we've not as attractive an option as a Wigan or a Warrington and I really think so fans need to get some perspective. We were champs, but that was a long time ago. We've fallen from grace, hard, and there's a lot of work that needs to be done to arrest that fall and take us back up.

What by staying the whole season?

I wonder who else made enquiries, during the mess of 2012 he had around 10 NRL clubs after him.

Well I've just parted company with £450 for my ST's, if next season goes like last Season it'll be the last time for me! It's becoming a shambles run by well meaning people. Bateman isn't the be all and end all but it is very disappointing non the less. Just out of interest what did we actually get out of these last three transfers?

Oh and if a particular member of his family stops going to Odsal (and I imagine they will) there goes my reliable source on game day!!

Think all that's spot on

Did everyone see the comments Bateman put on twitter when wages were paid late in the summer.It was obvious he would be off soon with some of the things he was putting for everyone to see,and it looked like he was getting lots of encouragement from his mate Elliott

I just wonder how many more will have gone before the start of next season? Is there a rift within the ranks? The undisclosed fees thing is a copout for me, smacks of us getting very little for them and a little embarassing!

That makes a good point.

Another youngster with great potential gone. It's getting very frustrating watching our young talent leave the club.

Im glad we kept Addy TBH. All three that have gone seem like billy big balls.

Makes me re-think that rumour of Scruton apparently talking to Dr Koukash...

Christ, news like this makes me think; who's next?!

There was also the 'Sammut to Salford' rumour which has all gone quiet.

It annoys me more when it's the young players that leave. It was only last year that Bateman signed a 3 year deal and lots of people thought: 'He's Bradford through and through' and 'I'm so glad we have great talent like this at Bradford'. A year on, and he has signed for the reigning champions. It was the same with Whitehead when he signed his contract in 2012, and the same with Naughton. They were all given long term contracts, and all three of them have departed a year into their contract. We need to stop selling our young talent.