THE architects of the Kieran Foran $1 million get-out clause must have been watching re-runs of Dr Evil out of the Austin Powers flicks when they cooked-up the absurd element of the contract.
Even better, they must have been laughing like they’d just won Lotto when ex-Eels CEO Scott Seward popped the top off his pen and signed on the dotted line.
The agents who designed the clause are Foran’s manager Paul Sutton and experienced negotiator George Mimis. As of Thursday night, negotiations between Sutton and the Eels to have the clause removed were ongoing.
The catch? There’ll be a new clause stipulating if Brad Arthur is no longer the coach, Foran is free to walk away from the Eels.
Parramatta was attempting to haggle the point on Thursday but given how important Foran is to the future of the club — blue and gold icon Peter Sterling has labelled it the club’s most important signature in “living memory” — the Eels are hardly in a position to barter.
From a player’s point of view, the $1 million clause was a masterstroke and one of the greatest gets in the history of NRL contract negotiations. Or as one official at NRL headquarters told us: “It’s the best clause of all time and that’s saying something.”
From a Parramatta perspective, it was a desperation play designed to get a notoriously politically-factionalised club a marquee signing leading into another toxic election campaign.
Thankfully, somehow, the Eels appear set to put Humpty Dumpty back together after all but ripping his arms and legs off and flogging him to within an inch of his life. And it is only the loyalty of Foran, an old-school character where a handshake agreement means your word, which has salvaged the deal.
The Eels deal smacks of Canterbury-Bankstown’s breakdown with Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita last year, where after agreeing to terms the club attempted to change the fine print of how the contract was structured.
For the legion of Eels fans, thankfully, the Foran deal appears poised to be resuscitated. Fingers crossed the blue and gold faithful will get a dose of positive news in the next 24 hours.
WE don’t want to just continually line-up and sink the slipper into Parramatta but the club’s salary cap situation is beyond embarrassment.
The Sydney Roosters have secured the buy of the season in the under 20s, snaring Joey Lussick, younger brother of Eels forward Darcy, for around $2000.
It’s an absolute steal for the young gun Australian Schoolboys hooker, with the catch being the Eels are paying the rest of his $40,000 contract for the rest of this season.
Replies
Well at least he's being honest lol.
I normally would refrain from commenting on some of the bile that comes off your lips as you practice your stupidity in words Frankie Fong.
Who's side are you on idiot?
Signing Foran the way they did may have been foolish, but actually signing him was tremendous for our club and a masterstroke by BA and Steve Sharp.
lol, are you serious Rowdy??? That clause shows what a desperate joke of a club we are.
It showed that Sharp was willing to do anything to land a big name just to get re-elected. Showed he is full of shit as well. It's embarrassing the lengths people on here are willing to do defend their man Sharpy.
By Sharp you mean Seward, yeah? The one who negotiated the contract?
lol Bart/ Phantom Dame good to see you still kicking. If you still believe Sharp and his board had no idea you are dumber then i thought. Even if they didn't it shows how incompetent they are to allow a wet behind the ears CEO Negotiate such a big deal without anyone looking over his shoulder. Last night he even stated the board is involved with all signings lol.
No more clauses either he told us, so glad we now have good governance and stuff.
Incompetent, yes. The club needs the NRL Governance Review badly.
But botching up a key signing as an election strategy? No.
At least you will admit they are incompetent, but thats ok if your heart is in the right place i suppose........
"WE don’t want to just continually line-up and sink the slipper into Parramatta..."
Yeah, right!
Well said Panto.
My point precisely, it shouldn't matter if the bloke/blokes or women we wanted elected were or were not elected.
In a democracy we can have another go later.
In the meantime we should not do anything to undermine the elected board or appointed executive publicly and this is a public forum!
The mad house is only as mad as it's inmates. that's us fellas.
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