In my opinion Batchelor has come on leaps and bounds.

Let's slightly tweak the question.... are we weaker for not having batch in our team?

Do you read the same words as me?
Agreement means both parties need to agree. Batch didn't.

Maybe we could have offered more I don't know but both coach and CEO are on record saying we wanted him to stay.

And yes I think the agent is the one he fell out with.

Wakefield have developed plenty of lads throughout the SL era and have unfortunately lost some to lazier clubs with bigger cheque books. Was Shudds in the early days, now its Rovers who choose to buy-in a squad.

Maybe things will change when the money man finally arrives. It would be nice to both develop and retain.

Absolutely correct, we do leave ourselves vulnerable because we have a history of paying Youth products the barest of minimums until forced to do otherwise and sometimes it’s too late

Indeed, it seems a bizarre policy after spending so much time and effort into getting them to a stage where they are ready to become regulars in the first team.

Maybe a "policy" in the days of Ellis and Wright but I don't think that is current as we get no cash benefit.

Victims of our own success at one end of the scale whilst not having the resources to match it at the other end.