Heaven knows. Considering the kid's 18 and has publicly said he doesn't want to leave it is extremely poor form.

It's basically the rumour that has been around for months with Hoods name in. I would prefer something a bit more concrete to call it news.

Hood's communications skills make me despair. Here we all are desperate to hear what's going to happen to the club in the future and the Chairman's main reported comment is this.

The rumours were already gathering pace at the weekend that Batemans agent had said that a deal had been agreed with Warrington. With needless statements like that it could be that he is preparing the fans for the news. Mind you that isn't the only rumour going round to be fair and most of them will probably be a load of rubbish. They certainly don't help though.

It not rumour that wire want Bateman, they do. But why we should even entertain it and encourage the talk in public is beyond me.



The club may well have to deal with the prospect of selling assets privately I'm sure, but no preparing of the ground will help the fans reaction, so if I was a chairman on his way out wthin days/weeks if I couldn't give out only constructive vibes I'd keep my bloody mouth shut when a sun journo rings up.

It dosn't say when Hood made these comments

No it doesn't, and to be fair the headline is quite a spin for the angle they want from the probably honest quote which does say we are resisting offers.

Exactly. Didn't he make a similar (or even identical) statement to this effect several weeks ago? The only 'news' here appears to be the rumour of Huddersfield showing an interest. Looks like a non-story to me.

That's what I mean. Just as it is still a rumour. The line of 'considerable interest' has been around for months

From his twitter account just now -



"Paper talk nowa days, lol love to no who's writes these things"

Yes it's no secret that Warrington want John Bateman and it's also no secret that Bateman's agents are the Clarke brothers.



Hence Phil using Sky Sports to inflate the contract value - although John's performances have seemingly done that without the need for Phil to compare John to a young Andy Farrell.



The problem with selling yet another crown in our jewels is obvious - it disengages the clubs core support.



Although I'd ask everyone to think about this:



"If selling John Bateman to Warrington for the rumoured £250,000+ secured the long term future of the club while categorically meaning the club also avoided administration, could you live with such a decision to sell John Bateman?"

Heartbreakingly I could live with such a decision.