Convenient how they managed to not release news of sale until after early bird deadline had passed, minimizing negative effect on season ticket sales. And get fans forum out of way too to avoid any awkward questions.

I'm in agreement!

Just another also-ran club, who will be in the position of 'seller' when there is a market for an asset of value. Can not see much light at the end of the tunnel, even taking a big picture view there is little on the horizon to be cheerful about.

Bateman is a professional and there can be no blame apportioned to someone who want the best for themselves. Being at the Bulls most have seemed like a dead end for a player with international/NRL ambitions. That is the sad truth.

Likewise

Players are NOT fans. They are paid professionals. It is unfair to judge them in relation to how we as supporters may feel. It is at the end of the day, a business, to both player and club.

Disappointing but not entirely surprising given where we are as a club and our likely finances. I would have preferred to have seen a player plus cash deal if possible but perhaps the cash was more attractive to the club right now?

Certainly isn't positive news that we needed though, people will look at this as another Bradford lad brought through that is sold to balance the books. The fact that the fee is undisclosed isn't necessarily a bad thing if we intend to spend some of the proceeds.. but if I'm honest I can't see us paying much out in the way of transfer fees to replace him.

Kopczak and Whitehead I agree, wouldn't out Bateman in that Catergory. Whitehead and Kopczak walked out on the club. Bateman stood by us in difficult times, and has left in the off-season.

Whether we like it or not, we have not made the play-offs the last 5 years. Wigan have just won the double. When your player wanting international honours, we struggle to compete.

Agree x 3

I wish Bateman was a Professional because he's been far from it in the last couple of seasons. Good luck Wigan , you could well need it.
On the upside, at least he'll have new people to have drunken fights with in Wigan.

I think that's right, the Bulls would most likely have not wanted to take on the salary from any player exchanged. Any Wigan player worth swapping would be on decent money and the funds may be needed elsewhere.

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.