Steffon Armitage’s move to Bath off

Steffon Armitage will not be joining Bath according to head coach Mike Ford.
Reports in France suggested the Toulon flanker was considering a switch to Bath in a bid to become eligible to play for England and take part in the World Cup but Ford today revealed that finances meant the move was off.
“Bruce (Craig) and Mourad (Boudjellal) the Toulon president have been chatting away but inevitably it’s about finances and we’ve not been able to cross the line,” said Ford.
“It’s unfortunate, all England and Bath fans alike were excited and we were close to signing a great player which would have helped club and country.
“We tried our very, very best. Bruce came up with a lot of solutions for everybody involved but it has not happened, not for the want of trying. Obviously we are gutted but from a Bath Rugby point-of-view, we still need a player in the back-row and we will still be looking.”
“If Steff plays for Toulon in the Champions Cup this weekend, I’d be stupid to sign him as he wouldn’t be able to play for us. If that happens then it’s dead in the water.”
“I spoke to Steff at the weekend and he from his point-of-view he just wanted to come and play for Bath and have a shot at the World Cup.
“I feel a bit sorry for him that it hasn’t happened but that’s the way life works sometimes. It is what it is and there was no other club, from what I can see, talking to him.”