Matthew Notman has applied for a clearance from Melton South to Melton.
Picture: Kylie Else Source: Leader
MELTON South ace Matthew Notman has denied suggestions he has sought a clearance in a bid to chase money.
Notman, the Ballarat Football League club's best-and-fairest last year, has declared he wants to defect to rival Melton.
A contracted player, his clearance so far has been denied.
Panthers football operations manager Shane Geddes said Notman had fled the club after Panthers' players pledged to take pay cuts in a bid to give South more power at the recruiting table.
"Our budget hasn't changed. 'Sutts' (coach Matthew Sutton) met with the players at the end of the season and they all decided that they would forego a little bit so we could go out and recruit," Geddes said.
"There were some who didn't want to do that, which is OK. He obviously wants to make a move and we are trying to get our heads around what his reasoning is."
Notman accused his club of 14 years of trying to discredit him, saying he was likely to play for less money at Melton, where his younger brother and cousin play.
"It's very unfair. You don't ask your best-and-fairest winner to take a pay cut," he said.
"It annoys me from a respect point of view. I thought I'd earned my respect there.
"I don't play football for money. I'm on less at Melton anyway. I think they're just trying to find ways to make me look bad."
While Melton grapples with Notman's blocked clearance, South has to do some negotiating of its own after Bloods stopper Craig Searle indicated his request to join the Panthers.
"He just turned up to training out of the blue. He's in a similar boat to Notman in that he's contracted at Melton," Geddes said. "None of us chased him. He's mates with the guys, he's looking for a change and we're pretty happy to accommodate him."
