THE Men in Black's inability to keep hold of their top front-row stars reared its head again this week after the news that David Flatman is poised to sign for Bath.

Flatman, the 22-year-old England prop, has rejected a sizeable contract off from the Saracens and is expected to put pen to paper on a lucrative two-year contract with Bath once they haved preserved their status in the Zurich Premiership.

"You are obviously disappointed to lose any player," said Sarries' chief executive Mark Sinderberry, "but we are very disappointed to lose David. I think money is part of the reason and with him being injured for the most of the season we have not seen the best of him."

Sinderberry's feelings were achoed by Saracens' owner Nigel Wray.

"I'm very disappointed in David Flatman as we have supported him in the last two years when he has been injured but these things happen."

The loss of Flatman comes as a crippling blow to a light-weight Saracens' front row, painfully out-muscled this year, which has struggled to keep hold of it's prized assets in recent years with Julian White, Paul Wallace, George Chuter and Roberto Grau all having moved on to pastures new.

Flatman, who broke into the England side at the age of 18, has made just five appearances this season after requiring surgery on a neck injury and his attempts of a comeback at the end of the season have been hit by a hamstring injury which is unlikely to see him add to the 104 appearances he has made for The Men in Black.

Sinderberry is also currently reviewing the contracts of Matt Cairns, Ben Johnston, Kevin Sorrell, Brett Sparg, Mike Storey, Richard Haughton and Dan Kirton.

April 28, 2003 10:30