Firstly, putting to one side the reasons behind Gareth Hocks exit the club has lost another key player ahead of the coming season and despite the differing opinions on Hock I think most people in the game recognise that Hock is one of the very best forwards in the game, a prolific forward runner who the opposition fear because he is so difficult to stop. Whilst this will no doubt open up opportunities for other players we currently have no-one at the club who is of Hocks calibre.

Does this now place more pressure on Shaun Wane? well if results don't go his way early on in the season then the supporters are bound to get on his back regardless of the reasons behind the Hock departure but I just hope that supporters have some patience.

Widnes may now be a totally different proposition for many teams next season and I have little doubt that Hock will improve them significantly but you can't ignore the reference to Hocks lifestyle which has been turbulent to say the least and he is a player that I really worry about in terms of his mental health and I mean that seriously given the rumours about his lifestyle.

I thought it a bit strange when it was reported that we had tried to sign Gareth Ellis in the close season and perhaps the reason is now clear. However this is a good opportunity for other players in the squad who want to play for the club such as Liam Farrell.

After his performances in 2012 following his drug ban I was beginning to have some respect for Gareth Hock but that has now dwindled following this mornings statement by the chairman.

A sad way to end your Wigan career.

After reading Ian Lenaghan's comments it is the right thing to do. I don't think he will last long at Widnes and the same problems with probably come up again.

I hope for Hock's sake they don't but I don't think he is mentally strong enough to deal with this.

Gareth Hock will be 32 when his current contract at Wigan expires, and by the looks of it he'll be spending all that time at different clubs, on loan. Presumably none of them will be table-toppers.

What a great end to his career.

I wonder if this is what he envisaged when he marched into the head office and demanded pay-rises, demanded a transfer, refused to train, etc.

I'm so glad Mr. Lenegan is such an astute businessman and refused to bow to Hock's demands. I hope he wallows at the bottom of the table and never plays International RL again.

If what's in the article is true then I think Leneghan has dealt with the situation brilliantly. I can't help but think there may be more to the story that the public will never be told though.

Either way, we have lost a fantastic player, Which only makes next season a tougher challenge now.

I wouldn't necessarily believe Gareth's mates from Sams Bar in Beech Hill.

The club isn't always right. It's not infallible. When it comes to disputes the club will put spin on their side of the story. I'm not saying the club is to blame, but just because they put out a nice press release documenting their side of the story doesn't mean that's the absolute truth.

Maybe I've heard the same rumours as you. I see Hock to Widnes as a peace keeping exercise planned by IL.

Ironically, Wigan don't want to lose Hock, so instead sent him away for a year. One could speculate the loan deal is for a year as perhaps Wane won't be hear next year if he fails to deliver.

If not true, then i look forward to the counter statement from Hock, and the court case to follow...

I won't be holding my breath...

But if the information that they are putting out is incorrect and potentially libellous towards Hock then him and his agent will do something about it. Just as Gleeson and his agent did when people were saying there were two sides to his sacking.

It was a purposed question. Obviously you haven't heard the same information as I have, off what you've heard I can understand why you would suspect it's all his fault.

If that statement from Lenagan was a "peace keeping exercise", I dread to think what he would have written if he was peed off. There's no way Hock will ever play for Wigan again after that statement.

Then again, which of your major rivals have second rowers of Hock's calibre? On the other hand, I think all of us have better team players which, at a time when our teams aren't crammed with superstars, counts for a lot.
As for pressure on Wane if results are poor, this would probably happen regardless.

As an outsider it seems your club have handled this as well as they could have. Your chairman and coach have shown a strong lead in dealing with a disruptive influence which will surely bring the rest of the team closer together - probably of far more benefit than retaining Hock.

Often when is presented to the press isn't always the truth or full story.

Correct... But you must be careful or you will be accused of wearing "Cherry and white tinted specs"