Burgess' return to rugby league and the NRL's South Sydney Rabbitohs - who he left to join Bath after winning the 2014 Grand Final - was confirmed late last week.
The 26-year-old left Bath having made only 21 appearances for the club and after his inclusion in England's squad was heavily criticised following the hosts' elimination from the World Cup in the pool stage.
Ford's men put the fall-out from Burgess' exit to one side to beat London Irish 45-14 in the Premiership on Saturday.
After the game Ford said: "Late Wednesday, Souths started negotiating with Bath Rugby and it surprised me how it accelerated and how quickly the deal was done.
"The deal was done on Thursday. I'm gutted. I'm disappointed because I think he could have been a very good rugby union player.
"For me, it was just the start of his career at Bath. He only played back row six or seven times at Bath Rugby at the end of last season.
"It's a pity he didn't have a pre-season with us so he could learn.
"For me it was a time for him to roll up his sleeves and crack on, but for family reasons he decided to move back to Australia.
"He suited the style we wanted to play at Bath Rugby, but he's gone now so we move on.
"Myself and [captain] Stuart Hooper spoke to [Burgess] on Monday. He said he would address the team and at no point did he mention he wanted to leave.
"Whether I was naive or not, I was hoping he'd get through this week and we'd play and win, then go to Toulon [in the European Champions Cup] and he'd get excited again. But we never got that chance.
"Hypothetically if he'd stayed with us, he might still be here. That's not having a go at England. He could have learned his stuff with Bath Rugby.
"I think England knocked him hard – the disappointment that is – and ultimately he missed his family too much and has gone back home."