I'm a widnes fan (don't laugh) and when we had hock I honestly wanted rid of him as soon as he started misbehaving as he was creating a bad atmosphere at the club,he created a divide amongst our fans as he was obviously a good player but his behaviour on and off the field imo had a adverse affect on the club in general which is far more important

What bateman has done is far worse than anything hock has done and it looks like your fans are thinking more of the success he could/would bring but you have to think of the great culture you lot have and by the sounds of it after this season you won't have him upsetting the applecart

There are lots of rumours about saying what might or might not have happened, but no facts to say 'what he's done'. I doubt any actual 'facts' surrounding the incident will every come out into the open as there are always 2 sides to every story. With this in mind, I don't know how anyone can say 'I would want them sacked' as everything is just hear say. Obviously it must be a serious incident due to the severity of the punishment handed out by the Wigan club. To imply also that Wigan have influence over what the police do or do not do is ridiculous. Unrest like this isn't good for any club, players or supporters, look at us with the Carney 'incident' (which bares no resemblance to this rumoured incident I grant you and so cannot be dealt with in the same manor). My only comment would be that its a real shame as I had Bateman down as top of the running for Man of Steel on this years form, but I'm a little relieved that he won't be playing against us in the cup as he tore us apart single handed earlier in the season. Whatever has happened, everyone makes mistakes and I doubt anyone on here is 'whiter than white' (I certainly haven't been) and I hope that he can move on from it as a player, be that at Wigan or elsewhere as he is a talented individual. Things do tend to get blown out of all proportion at times!

I have said it a few times, if what he has allegedly done is true i don't want him anywhere near the club. He has been involved in incident upon incident since he came here and the majority of it is fighting. The club have deemed fit to ban and fine him. I have no doubt this is on the advice of the police because if he went to a magistrate he would probably get a fine and community service so it's saved a lot of paperwork and media attention. If what has been alleged is not true then i can only guess that the fine and ban is for bringing the club into disrepute at Haydock racecourse and is a token gesture for the racecourse. Unfortunately i believe it is true. Some players don't have the intelligence to change their spots and will always be dumb, Bateman is one of these, Hock is another and so many more.

'If' true then that puts a different light on things. However, I was just trying to point out that, at this moment in time, everything is rumours and 'ifs/buts'. To say 'I would want him sacked if he was at my club' without knowing the facts is a little harsh in my opinion. A better way of putting it would have been 'If the rumours are found to be true then I would want him sacked' - Totally different.

Oh i wasn't being pedantic Caslad75, That is just my view of it

Sorry Cherry but no. Do u seriously think the police can advise a club on how to punish an employee? Not a chance in the world mate. The club have said they took independent advice and reviewed everything twice
to make sure they got it right. If there was genuine evidence of criminal behaviour then the police would have no choice but to present the evidence to the CPS for a charging decision. It appears this has not been the case. We simply don't know for sure what actually happened and we have to trust that the club have maintained their integrity and dealt with what ever happened correctly and hope that those involved learn from this whole sorry event.

Wigan have got rid of players in the past who were considered to be pernicious influences.

Gareth Hock and Martin Gleeson spring to mind immediately (both of whom were excellent players) so Wigan are not averse to showing stars the door if their behaviour is deemed to be completely intolerable. Past evidence like this suggests there is no culture at Wigan that bad boys can stay so long as they help us win matches.

Even so we have people, including some Wigan fans - who don't know exactly what happened, despite what they may think - and yet insist that this punishment is inadequate and that something much more public and draconian is called for.

I honestly do not understand this position when people don't have the full facts to hand.

Bateman may leave. It may be that he just can't accept he was in the wrong and resents being disciplined. If so, there is nothing the club can do about that other than seek a very decent transfer fee for him to get the best possible return on their investment. But aside from that, there's no other issue - people need to accept the club's judgement on the matter. It isn't going to change.

Gleason only turned up to training smashed though, he didn't have "fracas" with another player. Hock did but during training and it was settled quickly.

There was a lot more baggage with Gleeson and Hock, "apparently".

Those situations could certainly be described as a powder keg

I mention Gleeson and Hock as proof that there are lines at Wigan which can't be overstepped.

It is patently wrong for people to assume that a player's star status will protect him against repercussions for serious bad behaviour.

Why would we assume the same rigorous standards of assessment have not been applied to Bateman?

So share it then. If its 100% true, then you have no need to fear the legal eagles.

The police weren't involved in the incident only the damage to the gym, it's a separate thing altogether, people should really get their facts right.