so did wire have permission to approach westerman before he was offered the 3 year deal?

if he had a year remaining on his contract andwe offered him another, surely Adam wont have allowed another club to offer a contract?

Maybe they think they can turn him into a great player, we haven't over ther past 4 years for whatever reason and aren't in the position due lack of success to wait and find out. Leeds were after Houghton, who a lot of fans think isn't good enough. Just because these are so called top clubs doesn't mean they always sign the right players or don't make mistakes when it comes to recruitment, look at Lauaki who signed a 4 year deal with Wigan.

Maybe he will prove me and others wrong, but he will have to improve his attacking game massively and become more consistent. I honestly think they are signing him on reputation only.

Not a criticism Dave, but I see this comment a lot about some of our emerging players. At what point do they become ready?

I would have thought that having being drip fed into the team then given a decent run of matches at the end where it was not win at all costs was the ideal preparation to train the house down in the off season and come back demanding a position in the starting line up.

Really looking forward to seeing Adam explain this one away.

And, if the intention was to keep Westerman all along, presumably the club now has a hefty chunk of salary cap to play with, not to mention a six-figure transfer fee!

Anyone else not totally convinced?

In a salary cap sport I guess we should be asking does his salary reflect what he gives us on the pitch? I'd suggest baring 1 season he has been poor value for money. I'd be very disappointed if we signed him on a longer and improved contract

This is why I mentioned those who are over analysing this situation. Why the big interest in how the owner is going to explain this? What exactly are you not convinced about?

I was under the impression that we were supposed to support the club, not look for ways to attack it

Probably.


Wrong.


Correct.


You think two top coaches haven't bothered to look past his reputation?

Not hard to explain really, is it?
Pearson says he made an extension offer to Westerman who said No, and I'm leaving at end of current contract. Another club makes an offer which in the circumstances is too good to refuse. Pearson accepts.
Where's the drama? Things change. IF, he's gone, we move on without him, but with, potentially, a very good squad.

Couldn't agree more the guy may have been promised a very good improved deal at wire if he signs or just wants a fresh challenge and has told the club this you can not blame the club for cashing in and his form in my opinion has been very inconsistent its not like where short of very good back row forwards or good young kids knocking on the door good bit of business if its true and he's away hope this gives us cap space to improve in other vital areas

Just needs to improve his fitness and defence in order to play at LF. We have lots of people to play there, so there is no rush.

I'd have Logan starting next season at centre though.

I dont think we could afford to keep Westerman anyway given who we've brought in and AP probably needed to offload him.
. I also read that we got more like 50k for him, considering Leeds were reported as not wanting to cough a fee (maybe player exchange?) It wouldn't surprise me.
I honestly can't see us getting £100k never mind £150k given how he performed this season gone, not that it was bad just not good enough to justify aa huge fee for a player with only one year on his contract left.

This is the crux of the issue.

Has Adam strung everyone along, knowing Joe was always going?

Why has he strung people along??

This is the bit your are not explaining.

As has been mentioned, circumstances change and we are loaded up in the forwards. We play in a salary capped sport, something has to give. We have no idea as to when Warringtons interest became a genuine bid. For all we know this could have been 3 months ago or 2 weeks ago.

ATEOTD, it really doesn't matter. If you base a decision whether to attend or not based on what the owner comes out with then that puts you in a fairly unique position.

Leeds agreed terms with Westerman but wouldn't agree to £150k transfer fee Hull were demanding. Leeds were hoping Hull would lower their fee but in meantime Warrington agreed to meet your £150k transfer fee valuation so that's where he's ended up. Leeds wanted Westerman for some reason (I can't work out why) but not at the price Hull were demanding.