Personally I think the coaching staff who worked with the lad in training, and reviewed all his performances on loan, and talked to him again and again, saying exactly what he needed to do to get in the team, and yet still after watching and reviewing didn't pick him, got it right.

But surely that is just a matter of taste? Some players will enjoy the Potter approach while others will respond better to another approach. What matters at the end of the day is how the team perform. It's in that area where many Saints fans have become unhappy under Potter. No, we've not done a Bradford - thank God! - but watching Saints under Potter is frustrating. They'll pull off a brilliant move and then drop the ball. Or they will create a great try and then let three in. They will work their butts off against you, Wire and Leeds, and then revert to under 7s rugby league for the next three matches. And then at least two people will limp off injured.

I'm inclined to agree with this.

Much as it pains me to offer a sort of defence of Nobby, he wasn't the only one who had a problem with Ainscough. So, it seems, had Maguire.

Now unless we're saying that BOTH of those coaches were wrong (despite both of them working closely with Ainscough in training), but we fans are right (despite us only seeing him on match-days), then I think we ought to give the club the benefit of the doubt and assume that they made a decision which, to the best of their very detailed knowledge, was the correct one.

would you be suprised to see him wearing a GB shirt in years to come though?

That's always my take on things, it's truly hard to properly judge a player unless you work with him closely. And I really can't draw any conclusion from his lack of appearances, other than in relation to the other players in his position, he was not 'ticking enough boxes'. Training performance, response to one on one feedback, and progress towards individual set goals is something we clearly have no direct insight into (and quite rightly so), and is such a huge factor in whether a player gets selected (or continues to get selected).

In sport like any profession, you are set targets and how you perform against those is what determines your progression or lack thereof, and nobodies external view means a damn. There are situations like in any employment where grievances occur, and sometimes you can never do right, in which case you need to seek alternative employment - so in either situation, it's the best outcome for both player and club.

Very Very Very surprised.

To be fair though, them dropping the ball after pulling off a great move aint potters fault. He coaches the move, but he doesnt tell them to drop it! Thats down to your players. And the injurys aswell - surely thats down to your strength and conditioning coach?

Whatever the facts of the matter, I wish him ever success in the future, and hope he manages to have a great career for himself and his family.

How many years?

Next year - yes, certainly (I'd be amazed if Potter can bring a change-around of that magnitude, if Maguire couldn't).

However, there's nothing to say that Ainscough, given much more first team exposure, won't blossom significantly in due course.

At the end of the day, I agree with all those who felt that Ainey was a very effective attacking player. And I never felt he was a huge liability in defence, though I don't feel those who say that Pryce is just as bad are accurate - Pryce, simply because of his size, was targeted less. But as I said before, we have to assume that the Wigan coaching staff have made this decision on the basis of the best info available - info that we are denied.

Absolutely brilliant and well constructed post.

Will I be surprised if Ainscough gets picked or England, yes.
Will I be pleased, yes, for the lad himself.
Do I think Wigan have made a mistake in letting him go, no.

I for one think that its just same old wigan again.We seem to sign all these so called aussie stars and yes with the exception of richards who has been an outstanding player for wigan we always seem to let most young home grown players that shows any talent gets sold and I no that ainscough hasnt been able to get into the team with richards and roberts playing on the wings and more recently goulding who has been brilliant this season.I for one would get rid of roberts and have ainscough on his wing.I no ainscough's defensive skills weren't that hot but neither were offiahs's and he went on to be one of the games top stars and you cant question ainscough's attacking ability and enthusiasm for the game.It was only a few weeks ago that maguire said they hadn't given up on ainscough so its complete u turn from what maguire said.I wouldn't be surprised if ainscough went on to be a really good player like most of the other young wigan players that have left and been given regular first team places that they weren't getting at wigan.

Tomkins x 2
Hansen
Goulding
Mossop
O'Carroll
Prescott
Farrell
Davies
Marsh
Tuson
Charnley

When did these leave then

name one who would make this wigan side better ????

No doubt the usual "You let Luke Robinson leave, you let Kevin Brown leave...etc" will be spouted here..!!

Luke Robinson left Wigan FIVE Years ago.
Kevin Brown left Wigan FOUR Years ago.

Oh then there's Lee Gilmour (left NINE years ago), or maybe Stephen Wild (left FIVE years ago)??

One thing you can't say about Wigan since the arrival of IL is that we have sold our young stars other than those poached by RU. (Ashton and now Thornley).

I wouldn't go comparing Ainscough to Chariots mate