Yeah but he has signed. He put a pen onto paper and squiggled his signature on the contract, he was allowed to do this because Hull gave him permission to speak to other clubs. There has been no breach in any rulings as he was given permission by his current club.

Adrian Shelford

He hadn't signed a legal contract though had he? Willie has and I'm sure the contracts players sign in the modern era are far more watertight than they were in the 80's.

He had signed a contract which is why it went to the high court, at great expense, and allegedly cost is Connolly, or so tge urban myths say.....

As Hull fans, know he is not staying as Pearson announced it and he also implicated Saints in his statement. Then it will make little difference to Hull fans whether it is official or not.

If they were going to boo it would be done now regardless as he is officially not staying. It may help that Hull are playing well. If Warrington had been flying in the table at the time of the transfer to Saints Warrington Fans may not have been so concerned either. Also distance plays a part. Going from Hull to Leeds would be more difficult to swallow than Hull to Saints.

Similar for Wire. If Fozzard had signed for Leeds, Bradford, Wire fans would have been far less bothered than a local rival.

Put it this way, mr Fozzard wasn't happy at all!

It seems to be common knowledge on these boards and on the terraces that he's signed for us, so I can't see why there would be a sudden burst of uproar if Saints did announce his signature.

The Hull fans that I have spoken to seem to have (well before the surfacing of this 'rumour') accepted that he's off.

I don't see what difference it would make to either club or player. Hull know he's leaving, saints know he's coming, he knows he's a saint and that's all that need to know.

I don't think the player wants it announced to be honest, we've still got to face them in super league and maybe in the play offs and it just adds pressure in him.

At the end of the day, nobody needs to announce it until after 1st September and I wouldnt be shocked if that's the case.

I started this thread ages ago now and all at fc had accepted the fact that willie was to move on, it does not mean we are not gutted, but we have accepted it. I personally feel that its professional to announce it after the season is over and not before, it shows a lack of respect for your current employers and followers to do it any other way. I wish him well and can whole heartily say you have enlisted one hell of a player who gives his all every match.

It was Andy Platt what it cost us.

Adrian Shathead had actually signed the RFL registration form for Saints, with the contract to follow. But wi*an nipped in, offered him more, and he signed their contract. Saints (and their lawyers) believed the signing of the RFL registration constituted the de facto acceptance of a contract. And, of course, lost. This was in the day when wi*an would buy a player as much to deny a rival team having them, as it was because the wi*an team needed that player.

I'll hate them till I die.

Bit more to it than that. Clegg(saints director)was called a totally unreliable witness by the high court judge.
Buffoons that lot.

If he's signed, who cares if it's announced now or on 1st September?

Looks like Rogues was right with his post about an ex SL player resigning from Union. Wigan have resigned Thornley - probably as a replacement for Carmont.

Interesting comment from a Hull fan about Manu, especially given his team has actually started performing this year. I hope he's not in decline already...

Yes indeed, but look on the bright side: those years of stealing players and trophies mean that they now have second billing in someone else's stadium to some chav's wedding for their biggest "home" game of the season. It can't help but make me laugh every time I think of it - overall the decade of pain was worth it