How many games did he play last year, and like has said I've never watched a game and thought damn wish Bateman was here, when he played LF he gave to many penalties away, his seems FC is in tilling his own culture on the club and ew and jb didn't like it as seen by their twitter over the past season leaking information about wages when they would have been told to keep quite about it and other things Ive seen.

The number of front rowers Wigan have signed recently is means he won't be first choice, can't see him ahead of farrel and the youngsters they have. and if he thinks he can get away with abit more he is in for a huge rude awakening

This isn't just about Bateman. There is a bigger issue here that also involves whitehead, naughton and kopout. They are all promising home grown talent who have chosen to leave the club in the last year. I have now lost ALL respect for Cummins and the rest of the management. I am a REAL fan but I can't keep throwing my hard earned at something I don't believe in anymore

Again, read my post properly. I clearly say fair play to fans that don't buy season tickets for genuine understandable reasons, such as not affording them, not attending enough games etc etc.

However, I am sorry but if you've not bought one simply because you don't agree with what is going on at Odsal then I don't think you are a true fan.

In some way those that have chosen to not support the club by investing money in a ST at a time where there is little cash flow have probably contributed towards the club having to back down at the transfer request at this time, yet those same "fans" will cry and shout for blood when ultimately if they had dipped into their pockets (assuming they could) and splashed their cash it might not have even happened.

My so called elite are people who whilst not agreeing to everything that goes on will still turn up week in week out and support the guys that pull on the RAB. We don't constantly harp on about playoffs and winning trophies, everything happens in cycles and we've had our turn at glory. Chances are that if the club survive we will see triumph again. However we won't if we chase something that we simply cannot afford.

Bateman going is no worry to me. Some are making this out to be a crisis and its simply not... its good business. If more players go before season I might not agree with the decisions and I might even comment that I think its a bad call but will that stop me buying another ST, or buying a shirt for next season? Hell no!!!

More than any other club, this one seems to have a section of fans who are quick to turn on the club they claim to support. My honest truth is i'd rather be a championship club, with a smaller fan base who supported the club no matter what than the predicament we find ourselves in.

I find it hard that many seem intent on inflicting harm (no matter if it is intended) on the club, but as a fan I'll have to put up with it and hope that some day the noise will quieten enough that we can actually get back to enjoying the game.

Sorry if you feel aggrieved by my comments but this is the club i've loved for many years and it pains me to see it in this situation.

You'd have been better telling that to your John.

We've had a few forwards who have been tipped as the next big thing. Graham Joyce, James Donaldson, lee radford. They all didn't quite fulfill their potential because they missed out on that late growth spurt that can make all the difference. I always thought that radford would have been absolutely world class if he was 2 inches taller and 2 stone heavier. I think the same might apply to Bateman.

Like most i'm disappointed with losing Bateman, specially being another Bradford lad leaving his home town club, however...

I think we've adequate cover in the back row, Ferguson, Winterstein, Donaldson, Walker, Blythe if needed and Addy (if he learns to tackle)

So if the club use the funds appropriately and bring in some strike out wide in the form of a fast powerful centre, it should soften the blow.

I think Wigan have forwards who are already better than Bateman so he's going to have to pull his finger out in order to compete, otherwise he might find himself on the fringes of the Wigan team rather than a guaranteed pick like he was when fit at Bradford.

It might be the kick in the pants he needs to fulfil his potential, but I'm not holding my breath

Does this provide funds to sign a centre from Newcastle?

more likely it provides funds to pay the bills.

Ha,maybe but let's hope not

If we were able to sign a decent prop, the squad would actually look more balanced than it did.

Words can't say just how disappointed I felt at hearing this news. It's not just the one player, it's the drip drip drip over the last 18 months and just when we're trying to sell season tickets too.

However, much as I've always said that a pro sportsman's career is short and I don't blame any player for maximising his income, at the end of the day we're better off without those disloyal few who lack the ethics to see out the contracts they've freely entered into, and I agree with Franny that we want only those who are committed to the club and their team mates[if only for the length of their contract, which is all anyone can reasonably ask. Hopefully all the bad influences have now gone...

Fortunately, we're far from badly off in the second row/loose positions and played most of last season without John anyway as he was mostly injured, so the effects may not be too bad with more chances for such as Danny Addy and James Donaldson.

So today's t&a report says the fee was 'approaching' six figures. So not even a six figure sum then. I really hope this wasn't done to ease any financial worries, because a figure smaller than six figures isn't going to stretch very far.

In my opinion I feel this could be a really bad move for Bateman . If he can't shake his injury fitness problems I can see loan moves and then a sale to a lower club . If he had stayed at Bradford a few more seasons he could have got to the nrl ! But if he keep his terrible grammar off twitter, knuckle down he may get into Wigans first team

Not to bothered about him going. When he was missing never once thought I wish Bateman was playing. with his injuries he may struggle to get some serious game time at Wigan.

Wow, that one took me back. Hanley, Skerrett by all means. But who remembers Phil Ford these days? I liked him!

Don't compare yourselves too closely to the Sox. The 'Bambinos's Curse' lasted over 80 years!

The red sox finished at the the bottom of their division and near the foot of the total table of teams last year, and they won the "world" series this year, think that make more sense

The Red Sox had the talent last year, with one of the highest payrolls in MLB. The issue was with their manager Bobby Valentine, whom almost everyone loathed, and only lasted one season.

There is not the quality at the Bulls for them to suddenly leap into title or cup winning contention next season.

I don't theynk they actually meant literally.

I think Bob Dylan's Hat might be rhyming slang.

My point was that attitude and team chemistry make a significant difference in sport. I do not not expect the Bulls to suddenly become world Champions but do believe that they will continue to make progress on the field because of the type of environment that Cummins is trying to put together.

What is interesting is that the Red Sox who, despite significant talent and a high payroll, totally underperformed in 2012 then cleared out the "problem" players and brought in a manager who totally brought the team together and with a few lessor name additions was able to turn the team around to a World Series win in 2013.

Huddersfield don't really need another back rower. WIgan are too small in the back row IMO, Farrell's best option is to develop size as a prop. I think Bateman might be the same.
Interesting what Radlinski says about stripping him down & rebuilding him. I wonder whether that is mental as well as physical.

Firstly, is it only the elite who get to judge what is an understandable reason?

I won't deny I've thought long and hard about getting a ST this year, but there are too many reasons not to imho. During the pledge I (and many other non elitist fans) threw lots of money down a black hole. I'm not saying that is anything to do with the new board, but I haven't seen enough of them to convince me that we will last the season out. I got myself into debt during the pledge, again if you don't think that makes me a true fan then I'm not sure why I'm even bothering posting anymore.

Just from reading your post you must also have concerns that we are being lied to already by the new board. They have insisted that we haven't sold Bateman for financial reasons, but you feel that if us non st holders could have supported the club this may not have happened - you may just be trying to stick the knife in and convince us lesser fans not to go, so you can get your wish of supporting a championship club, but I think it shows that even the holiest of the elite aren't too sure about the new board.

I have never said that i won't turn up at Odsal week in, week out - I simply love the bulls too much to stay away. At present after the uncertainty of the last 2 years I feel it's too much of a risk to lay down the money up front. RHP aside I've not seen anything from the new board which gives me enough confidence that my ST money won't be wasted and we will be back to square one.

I have never harped on about about the playoffs/trophies, I understand that in all sports it happens in cycles, and there are very little trophies won in each season. I have more of an issue with the way in which FC has handled a lot of things - and it appears that many of the players do too. I can understand letting a player go who's hearts not in it, but I feel Bateman could have been convinced we are the right place for him. It appears from where I'm looking that FC takes the easy option of showing players the door rather than trying to motivate/discipline them. And tbh, I was more gutted/pis$ed off with Jamie Langley being slung out the door.

Yes you may have loved the club for many years. so have most on here. It doesn't give you the right to tell them to feck off because they don't agree with you. Again, if you get your wish and this large section of supporters do feck off, you probably will end up watching a championship team, but only for a season or so before we are gone for good.

If you are one of the 'true fans' you should be trying to convince others of the reasons for investing in a ST, not spitting your dummy out and acting as though every fan should have to answer to you. CC tried it, it doesn't work.

Tbf, if JB has put in numerous requests over the past 2 years it would seem that somebody at the club had at least attempted to try and convince him to stay. I don't have a problem with what FC is doing, in fact I'm impressed with his style of handling. He doesn't take any crap, and that is what I want to see from a manager and coach. You do it Frannys way or it's the highway. It seems like the 3 that have gone feel like they should be running the club and team themselves. Be gone with you I say.