Teegy
15-11-05, 09:45 AM
By JEFF DUNNE
November 15, 2005
ST GEORGE Illawarra chairman Warren Lockwood has declared the club will not breach the salary cap next season regardless of what happens to veteran forward Lance Thompson.
Thompson must front the Dragons board today to show cause why he should not be cut from the club.
He has been accused of sending threatening text messages to teammate Justin Poore.
The Thompson case has caused tension in the Dragons camp with supporters split on the push to get rid of such a long serving and loyal player.
There have been suggestions from those opposed to the Thompson sacking that the case is linked to the club's salary cap problems for next season.
The Dragons have already forecast they will be over the cap unless they release a number of players.
When asked if the case was related in anyway at all to the issue, Lockwood gave a strong denial.
"No not at all. We will manage the salary cap regardless of the outcome of the Lance Thompson case," Lockwood said.
"Ever since my association with the club, which is 20 years with St George and seven years with the joint venture, we have never broken the salary cap.
"We had a minor offence in the second tier (last year) and that was it. We will not breach the salary cap regardless of what happens to Lance."
Lockwood did not want to comment on issues raised by Thompson's lawyer Chris Murphy in The Daily Telegraph yesterday.
Murphy has threatened to take the case to court if Thompson is sacked and he also questioned Dragons chief executive Peter Doust's right to sit on the board and hear the case.
Murphy claimed Doust's strong criticism of Thompson in the press for walking out on the club's awards was a problem.
"Mr Doust should sit out considering the bias press comments he has made," Murphy said.
Lockwood said there had been no discussion of that taking place.
Doust did not want to comment on the matter last night.
November 15, 2005
ST GEORGE Illawarra chairman Warren Lockwood has declared the club will not breach the salary cap next season regardless of what happens to veteran forward Lance Thompson.
Thompson must front the Dragons board today to show cause why he should not be cut from the club.
He has been accused of sending threatening text messages to teammate Justin Poore.
The Thompson case has caused tension in the Dragons camp with supporters split on the push to get rid of such a long serving and loyal player.
There have been suggestions from those opposed to the Thompson sacking that the case is linked to the club's salary cap problems for next season.
The Dragons have already forecast they will be over the cap unless they release a number of players.
When asked if the case was related in anyway at all to the issue, Lockwood gave a strong denial.
"No not at all. We will manage the salary cap regardless of the outcome of the Lance Thompson case," Lockwood said.
"Ever since my association with the club, which is 20 years with St George and seven years with the joint venture, we have never broken the salary cap.
"We had a minor offence in the second tier (last year) and that was it. We will not breach the salary cap regardless of what happens to Lance."
Lockwood did not want to comment on issues raised by Thompson's lawyer Chris Murphy in The Daily Telegraph yesterday.
Murphy has threatened to take the case to court if Thompson is sacked and he also questioned Dragons chief executive Peter Doust's right to sit on the board and hear the case.
Murphy claimed Doust's strong criticism of Thompson in the press for walking out on the club's awards was a problem.
"Mr Doust should sit out considering the bias press comments he has made," Murphy said.
Lockwood said there had been no discussion of that taking place.
Doust did not want to comment on the matter last night.