The Courier |
REGIONAL football chief Rod Ward is uncomfortable with a financial battle for the services of Melton South playing assistant coach Leigh Burke.
Melton South is refusing to clear the star player unless it receives significant financial compensation from his destination club, South Bendigo.
Burke will not play for the club again this year after expressing his frustration about the apparent lack of professionalism at the club.
He is desperate to return home to his former club in South Bendigo but will not be granted a clearance by the Panthers unless they receive something in return.
Ward, who is the AFL Goldfields chief executive officer, said monetary negotiations between the two clubs remained a private matter, but urged clubs and players to be well aware of contracts that were signed.
Although he did not comment on the Burke case in particular, Ward also discouraged clubs against adopting sign-on or departure fees.
“Players need to be aware that the contracts they sign are binding and cannot be easily opted out of,” Ward said.
Melton South president Peter Earl said rushed negotiations were under way this week between his club and South Bendigo, as the two clubs figured out an agreement to allow the clearance to be approved.
He said it was highly unlikely his club would receive a player of Burke’s calibre in return, meaning financial payment would probably be the bargaining point.
“He’s certainly not going to play with us for the rest of the year,” Earl said.
“It’s about negotiating with South Bendigo and getting some sort of monetary agreement.”
One of Melton South’s best players this year, Burke approached the club last week and asked to leave after claiming the club was not professional enough in its training and playing standards.
An assistant coach, the 27-year-old played against a number of former teammates and friends from Bendigo when he represented the Ballarat Football League in the AFL Victoria Country Championships in May.
Earl said the interleague match was probably a catalyst behind Burke’s desire to return to South Bendigo, but said he would not accept claims the club was unprofessional.
“It’s a wee bit of a cop out and an easy way out, I think,” he said.
“Leigh is an assistant coach and if he sees things that aren’t right, it’s up to him to address the changes. That’s why we employ these people.
“I think off the field we’ve got very professional people doing great things for the club.”
The AFL Victoria cut-off for clearances to be approved is on Sunday and Earl said he hoped negotiations would be settled by Friday.
South Bendigo president Jim Reid said he could not comment until later in the week.
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