By ComeOnYouSaints.com
August 16 2012

Northampton Saints today released the following statement regarding Cameron Shepherd and yesterday's media announcement by the player's Australian agent that Shepherd is to take legal action against the club.

Northampton Saints strongly refutes the allegations made by Nick Fordham, Cameron Shepherd's agent, on Wednesday, August 15th, 2012.

Mr Fordham has made a number of baseless assertions on the events surrounding Cameron Shepherd signing a deal with Northampton Saints and the club's subsequent decision not to proceed with the contract, something which the club believes it was well within its rights to do.

Northampton Saints had been prepared to sign Shepherd, who when fit is a talented player, on a generous three-year contract. Once terms had been agreed, the club flew lead physiotherapist, Matt Lee, to Melbourne to conduct the player's medical.

During this medical, material information about Shepherd's left ankle came to light, about which the club had not been aware during the contract negotiation process. The player's ankle joint was scanned and the results sent to one of the UK's leading ankle specialists. Relying on his expert opinion, the club concluded that it was unlikely that Shepherd would be able to contribute fully to the club's squad throughout the three-year term, and decided not to proceed with the contract.

It should be noted that while Shepherd has subsequently signed for Sale, it has been widely reported that this is for one year and not three, with the Sharks' director of rugby Bryan Redpath commenting: "We're hoping to get him fully fit".

After the medical, Shepherd's agents in the UK and Australia were kept fully informed of the club's concerns. While the final decision regarding Shepherd's contract was made shortly before the player left Australia on a long holiday prior to his scheduled arrival in the UK, the club's initial concerns were raised several weeks beforehand.

It is the club's standard practice to communicate with agents regarding contractual issues, with Jim Mallinder and other members of rugby management talking to and emailing Shepherd's representatives regularly throughout the process; there was also direct communication with the player from Mallinder (contrary to the claim made by Mr Fordham).

The Northampton Saints management is in particular surprised to note that Mr Fordham, with whom the club has had no dealings prior to the termination of the Shepherd deal, has taken it upon himself to question the integrity of what is regarded as one of the best run Premiership rugby clubs.

Although the Northampton Saints management feel it necessary to make this statement to refute Mr Fordham's allegations, the club does not anticipate making any further comment until the matter has been concluded. The club will vigorously defend any legal proceedings which are served.

News: Saints Release Statement on Cameron Shepherd

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 16/08/2012 17:30

ComeOnYouSaints.com
16/08/2012 17:30

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

St Crispin
16/08/2012 17:34

Whilst the clarification and information on Mr Shepherd's situation is interesting.......there's a game on Saturday!!

Come on Jimmies.

Spoke to Mr Burrell today and his genuine enthusiasm for getting in front of a gardens crowd was great to see.

Reply Quote Report

smitferbrainz
16/08/2012 18:24

A very strong statement which tends to show the club in a far better light than has been suggested IMO. Tends to discredit the agent (there's a surprise!). Perhaps we can think about the playing stuff now. I hope the club is successful in defending its position. This statement suggests that the club is more than confident.

Reply Quote Report

Paul Flatt
16/08/2012 18:32

Some useful advice to armchair lawyers and sofa pundits -




All copyright gratefully acknowledged (Lord Beaverbrook, 1940)

"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."

-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:08:16:18:34:14 by Paul Flatt.

Reply Quote Report

Howlin
16/08/2012 20:24

Well Choppa what have you got to say now ?

Saint til I die

Reply Quote Report

St Marlowe
16/08/2012 20:43

Quote:

Saints
Mr Fordham, with whom the club has had no dealings prior to the termination of the Shepherd deal,

Quote:

Choppa
"profanity!" what is going on at the Gardens??

With apologies to Bernard Cribbins:
"I said to Charlie we'll just have to leave it standing on the lawyer's landing that's all
You see the trouble with Choppa is he's too hasty
Now you never get nowhere if you're too hasty."



David L

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

- Live wrong and preposterously



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:08:16:23:32:30 by St Marlowe.

Reply Quote Report

saintian
17/08/2012 08:35

Quote:

St Crispin
Spoke to Mr Burrell today and his genuine enthusiasm for getting in front of a gardens crowd was great to see.

"...and I said to Lammy...."

Reply Quote Report

St Owen
17/08/2012 09:02

Quote:

Paul Flatt
Some useful advice to armchair lawyers and sofa pundits -



All copyright gratefully acknowledged (Lord Beaverbrook, 1940)

Great poster.

You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.

Richards/Jagger

Reply Quote Report

Bob Stainsby
17/08/2012 09:04

Quote:

Saints management
the club flew lead physiotherapist, Matt Lee, to Melbourne to conduct the player's medical.

No mean investment and 'before Mr Cameron left on a long holiday'

Wise words from Mr Flatt and also from Andy McGloss on the original slightly hysterical thread.

Well said Saints!

Top of the League 2014-2015 Season

Reply Quote Report

choppa
17/08/2012 10:16

Obviously I hope the Saints come out on top, just like I do every Saturday afternoon. We'll see.

The whole thing is a bit sleazy but has left nowhere near as bad a taste as the racism thing did, I think I'm still a bit jaded by that.

Reply Quote Report

Stockers
17/08/2012 13:10

Quote:

choppa
Obviously I hope the Saints come out on top, just like I do every Saturday afternoon. We'll see.
The whole thing is a bit sleazy but has left nowhere near as bad a taste as the racism thing did, I think I'm still a bit jaded by that.

Choppa, you seem to have a continuing problem about the actions this board took over a comment by a player that you consider to have been unacceptable. I think we also felt that the player had overstepped the line but if you feel that strongly about the comments made, you could make a formal complaint to the police or to the chief executive of Saints.

Making obscure references on here doesn't help anybody.

Plus I don't understand what is "sleazy" about the club's actions re Shepherd. Keep an open mind: what will be will be.

Reply Quote Report

MoANjAm
18/08/2012 12:56

Dear Cameron,

We all wish you well in your career at Sale (bar two games each season) and we hold no ill feeling towards you in this matter. We hope that you and your family settle well in our wonderful country.

Dear Mr Fordham,

kindly go and 'do one'.

"sup·port·er"

Noun:
1.A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement or party, or a policy).
2.A person who is actively interested in and wishes success for a particular sports team.

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net