I know it's a bit far east, but is there any liklihood of ath becoming a gateway?
Sorry, not for the forseeable future.
Also if i chose my gateway as man and had to get there via lhr/lgw etc on my way home, could i get a train to my home town rather than fly to man if it was cheaper for them?
Tricky - lots of direct flights to MAN. Train elsewhere? Also tricky, as flights often booked well in advance, often part of a "through-ticket" deal. The more crew, less opportunities for "special" arrangements unfortunately.