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.