Last Updated: Thu, 01 May 2008 12:37
Wigan have reluctantly agreed to release star player Trent Barrett from the final year of his contract.
Speculation had been rife in his homeland Australia that Barrett's pregnant wife Kylie is homesick and Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan has confirmed the 30-year-old will not see out his third contracted year at the JJB.
Lenagan, who met with Barrett's agent last Friday, added Wigan had no intention of keeping the former Kangaroo stand-off against his wishes.
"The outcome of the informal meeting is that Trent will definitely complete this season with Wigan - which was never at issue with Trent - but will almost certainly leave then and not complete his third contracted year," said Lenagan in a statement on the club's official website.
"The uncertainty arises from the fact that we have not yet received a formal release request from Trent's agent, that discussions on compensation have not yet even started and that changes of mind can sometimes occur in these situations.
"In these particularly genuine circumstances, the Wigan club does not believe that forcing the player to honour his contract would be sensible, since an unsettled player can result in poor performances which are of no benefit to either party."