It's not as simple as clicking your fingers and letting someone go though, these are contracted players and we need teams to come in for them. Fewer teams are likely to be in for Gardner than Foster due to age, salary and long-term potential. I don't think Gardner or Foster are viewed as long-term players at this club, so better for me that we clear the decks why we can and then use their wages (and hopefully Meli's too) to recruit a top-class winger for 2014 if we can't promote one.

I understand your concern for future planning, but even if we kept Foster with that season in mind, is not exactly the solution to get us from bridesmaids to champions.

We've managed to pick up Turner and Walmsley for next season, two young english players who are well rated in certain circles. Who's to say we won't be able to pick up a winger next year?

I don't really see what the fuss is all about, letting our 4th choice winger leave.

Good luck to him in pastures new. He never lacked commitment to Saints in my mind, but not every fairytale works out exactly as planned.

I understand we can't let Ade go, it was more when you look at Ade's performances against Fosters at a similar age, they were not really that different. But through those years we kept Ade, where as Foster seams to have been excluded more.

I suppose you can say the difference is, that in the years when Ade was dropping the ball and having similar days to Foster in defence, the team was winning things so it did not matter. But when people say Foster is not Saints quality my question is was Ade at a similar age and time in his career???

I always use a very simple criterion for judging how good a player we've just sold/released is: Who else in the league wants them/ultimately signs them? Foster, as a free agent, has been signed by a lower table club and only on a short deal. That says everything that needs to be said about the lad and his prospects and what the rest of the league thinks about him quite succinctly and no further comment is necessary.

We haven't paid him off. He's asked to go. He was told he wasn't first choice and didnt want to play for Rochdale.

Saints agreed to his release.

He just wanted to play first team rugby which he wouldn't get at saints. He loves saints and would love to stay but he wants to play first team.

It's not a fool proof arguement

ie Scott Moore; Saints - Widnes, Brough; did round robin of many clubs, Danny Ore; Cas - Wigan, Shenton; Cas - Saints - Cas, Rangi Chase; NRL - Cas - ?, Sean Long, Bobbie Goulding, Kevin Brown, Luke Robinson etc

Most of those were big talents but trouble makers that big clubs gave up on and wouldn't take the chance of a big contract on until/if they matured. Shenton would be snapped up by any team in the league given an opportunity - he was let go by Saints early to a non-threat club because he just hasn't settled here and we didn't want him coming back to haunt us in a Leeds shirt. Hardly comparable to Foster who none of the big clubs want simply because he isn't good enough for the top level and hasn't developed past his early promise. If he signs for Wigan or Warrington in a year or 2 and tears the league up then we can bemoan a poor Saints recruitment decision, but frankly he won't and it isn't.

Not necessarily. Bradford only have a one year licence remember and so if Foster wants to play at Superleague level he would be foolish to sign for more than one year. The length of the contract might also reflect his own thoughts about his future. He may be reviewing whether to continue playing at all. We don't know. But a one year deal is not necessarily a reflection of his confidence level.

And in Turner there is a player who is considered to be a defensive liability, in certain circles.

Maybe union next year

Well if he goes to union I'm sure they will all bag him for making the most of what he has, or maybe they will promote him for what he has and give him greater exposure.

Im guessing he took a look at Union but didnt fancy it, i could see him becoming a poster boy for that code. I think his game would be well suited to Union, good shoe both off the tee and out of hand with good training. A good boot in that game will see you a long way.

Best of luck to him mind.