Thomas, Saints in stalemate over payment dispute
Moderators: Saintsational Administrators, Saintsational Moderators
- my les foote
- Club Player
- Posts: 1024
- Joined: Tue 12 Dec 2006 6:03pm
- Location: Beside the seaside
- Been thanked: 2 times
Thomas, Saints in stalemate over payment dispute
Stephen Rielly | December 20, 2007 "The Age"
HE HAS been gone for more than 12 months but it will be some time yet before St Kilda and Grant Thomas disentangle themselves.
Notwithstanding the change of leadership that occurred at Moorabbin in October, the terms of the divorce between the former coach and club remain contested, with two recent attempts by the board of new president Greg Westaway to resolve the dispute failing.
It is understood the Saints offered Thomas approximately $100,000 two weeks ago to settle his claim against the club; a two-part writ asking for a total of $276,000 which was served in September.
The approach, which was rebuffed, is believed to have been made on the club's behalf by former director and player Michael Nettlefold who has made a return to Moorabbin and may yet rejoin the board.
Yesterday morning, a further attempt to settle the claim and finally turn the page on a controversial period in the club's history failed, when representatives of both parties were brought together but parted without a deal.
The writ, which was served on the then St Kilda administration of Rod Butterss on September 5, includes a demand for $100,000 that Thomas claims was promised to him upon his sacking in 2006 on the condition that he did not criticise the club or anyone representing it.
The $100,000 settlement, which was meant to be paid last March, was allegedly offered by Butterss, then football director Mark Kellett and chief executive Archie Fraser, who remains with the club.
A further $167,000 is being sought for what Thomas has claimed are annual leave and public holiday entitlements, although the former coach signed a statutory declaration while he was still at the club which stated he had taken all the annual leave he was owed. Thomas has since claimed that he was pressured to sign that declaration.
Thomas said at the time of his unexpected departure almost 15 months ago that he could never hurt St Kilda and vowed to maintain a dignified silence but the Butterss board argued that he failed to honoUr this promise and engaged lawyer Nick Stretch to defend its decision to withhold the money.
On one occasion, Butterss publicly accused Thomas of attempting to undermine the club through a whispering campaign against members of the board and said the ex-coach had sought to interfere in the affairs of a number of players.
The then president, who spectacularly fell out with the coach in 2005 and later pursued the return of more than $1 million he personally loaned to him in 2001, was then ousted himself by Westaway and his Footy First ticket, who are understood to have allocated funds for a settlement with Thomas in the 2007 accounts.
St Kilda would not comment yesterday and Thomas could not be contacted.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/s ... 82305.html
HE HAS been gone for more than 12 months but it will be some time yet before St Kilda and Grant Thomas disentangle themselves.
Notwithstanding the change of leadership that occurred at Moorabbin in October, the terms of the divorce between the former coach and club remain contested, with two recent attempts by the board of new president Greg Westaway to resolve the dispute failing.
It is understood the Saints offered Thomas approximately $100,000 two weeks ago to settle his claim against the club; a two-part writ asking for a total of $276,000 which was served in September.
The approach, which was rebuffed, is believed to have been made on the club's behalf by former director and player Michael Nettlefold who has made a return to Moorabbin and may yet rejoin the board.
Yesterday morning, a further attempt to settle the claim and finally turn the page on a controversial period in the club's history failed, when representatives of both parties were brought together but parted without a deal.
The writ, which was served on the then St Kilda administration of Rod Butterss on September 5, includes a demand for $100,000 that Thomas claims was promised to him upon his sacking in 2006 on the condition that he did not criticise the club or anyone representing it.
The $100,000 settlement, which was meant to be paid last March, was allegedly offered by Butterss, then football director Mark Kellett and chief executive Archie Fraser, who remains with the club.
A further $167,000 is being sought for what Thomas has claimed are annual leave and public holiday entitlements, although the former coach signed a statutory declaration while he was still at the club which stated he had taken all the annual leave he was owed. Thomas has since claimed that he was pressured to sign that declaration.
Thomas said at the time of his unexpected departure almost 15 months ago that he could never hurt St Kilda and vowed to maintain a dignified silence but the Butterss board argued that he failed to honoUr this promise and engaged lawyer Nick Stretch to defend its decision to withhold the money.
On one occasion, Butterss publicly accused Thomas of attempting to undermine the club through a whispering campaign against members of the board and said the ex-coach had sought to interfere in the affairs of a number of players.
The then president, who spectacularly fell out with the coach in 2005 and later pursued the return of more than $1 million he personally loaned to him in 2001, was then ousted himself by Westaway and his Footy First ticket, who are understood to have allocated funds for a settlement with Thomas in the 2007 accounts.
St Kilda would not comment yesterday and Thomas could not be contacted.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/s ... 82305.html
Win it for HIM!
Read this a few minutes ago and was dissapoitned to hear that this is still not resolved. For goodness sake Thomas, you are not homeless. Sell your $1million dollar house, get one you can actually afford and stop draining money away from the club. True men cop it on the chin and move on. Things end badly, get over it. I'm sure you make enough from the media now.
www.wikisaints.com - Your Online St Kilda Encyclopedia!
www.truesainters.com - A Friendly Forum Alternative
http://truesainters.wordpress.com - Player of the Round articles, match previews and reviews
www.truesainters.com - A Friendly Forum Alternative
http://truesainters.wordpress.com - Player of the Round articles, match previews and reviews
- Snakeman66
- Club Player
- Posts: 993
- Joined: Fri 28 Jul 2006 7:50pm
- Been thanked: 2 times
I used to respect ths bloke, but now it seems he shows his true colours.
FFS, he's been offered 100K for nothing more than refraining from criticism of the club. A 100K golden handshake. 100k of the clubs funds that I and many other people has contributed to...most of us not living in Brighton.
I am very disappointed and whilst he may be twice my size, if I saw him in the street, I would have no hesitation in telling him so.
St.Kilda person indeed![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
FFS, he's been offered 100K for nothing more than refraining from criticism of the club. A 100K golden handshake. 100k of the clubs funds that I and many other people has contributed to...most of us not living in Brighton.
I am very disappointed and whilst he may be twice my size, if I saw him in the street, I would have no hesitation in telling him so.
St.Kilda person indeed
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
I am the king of the divan
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 5410
- Joined: Tue 09 Mar 2004 10:29am
- Has thanked: 33 times
- Been thanked: 47 times
what i don't understand, is why is he disputing the $167k. he signed an agreement saying he got paid for it all. now he says he was coerced into signing. How will that be proved? one person's word against another. i wish he would go away!
the one good thing was stkilda's comment
" no comment"
the one good thing was stkilda's comment
" no comment"
Last edited by saintly on Thu 20 Dec 2007 11:11am, edited 1 time in total.
- Selhurst Saint
- Club Player
- Posts: 1764
- Joined: Thu 19 Aug 2004 9:09am
- Location: I do like to be beside the seaside
- Been thanked: 40 times
Thomas is starting to annoy me now and the graceful exit appears to be just a charade.
He says he signed the stat dec under pressure.
I thought he ate pressure for breakfast.![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
He says he signed the stat dec under pressure.
I thought he ate pressure for breakfast.
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
"...If there has been one recurring theme through this whole shocking mess, it has been the misguided, inflated egos and their ill-judged determination to cling to long-standing old boy friendships. The bad advice that has guided the selfish and culpable James Hird has not only punctuated this saga but symbolised it..."
Settle now Thomo for your $100K and be done with it.
I agree with Selhurst Saint. Grant Thomas 'pressured' into signing? Grant Thomas would be pressured into nothing at any time. Never. Nup. Not a chance.
Take your $100K (stupidly agreed by RB, MK & AF by the way) and go. Go now.
I agree with Selhurst Saint. Grant Thomas 'pressured' into signing? Grant Thomas would be pressured into nothing at any time. Never. Nup. Not a chance.
Take your $100K (stupidly agreed by RB, MK & AF by the way) and go. Go now.
Poster formerly known as SENsaintsational. More wisdom. More knowledge. Less name.
Agreed, would be good to pay the "great St.Kilda man"SENsaintsational wrote:Settle now Thomo for your $100K and be done with it.
I agree with Selhurst Saint. Grant Thomas 'pressured' into signing? Grant Thomas would be pressured into nothing at any time. Never. Nup. Not a chance.
Take your $100K (stupidly agreed by RB, MK & AF by the way) and go. Go now.
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
A leach and parasite just like Peter Everitt.
true Colours have been shown by this bloke and they aint red, white, and black.
$267k straight out of the paying members pockets.
Yup would never harm the Saints - pfft
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
What a sham
Lance or James??
There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in <redacted>. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a <redacted>investigation followed by <redacted> witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for <redacted>and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. (Oops just got a spontaneous errection <unredacted>)
There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in <redacted>. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a <redacted>investigation followed by <redacted> witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for <redacted>and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. (Oops just got a spontaneous errection <unredacted>)
- Oh When the Saints
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 5621
- Joined: Wed 29 Mar 2006 4:25pm
- Location: QLD
- Contact:
Selhurst Saint wrote:Thomas is starting to annoy me now and the graceful exit appears to be just a charade.
He says he signed the stat dec under pressure.
I thought he ate pressure for breakfast.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Thomas got PWND.
They should only play AFL games now when it's raining. Slow games of footy are so much better to watch.
- Saints94
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3443
- Joined: Wed 31 Jan 2007 10:47am
- Location: NSW
- Has thanked: 5 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
I remember an article about Ross Lyon before our rd 6 match saying " Grant Thomas eats Presure for breakfast, guess what Ross Lyon does to"rodgerfox wrote:It was Rod Butterss that made the statement that Thomas 'ate pressure for breakfast'.Selhurst Saint wrote:Thomas is starting to annoy me now and the graceful exit appears to be just a charade.
He says he signed the stat dec under pressure.
I thought he ate pressure for breakfast.
-
- Club Player
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Thu 22 Feb 2007 12:38pm
Is that what you'd do if your employer shafted you and held onto your entitlements?Huzzad wrote:Read this a few minutes ago and was dissapoitned to hear that this is still not resolved. For goodness sake Thomas, you are not homeless. Sell your $1million dollar house, get one you can actually afford and stop draining money away from the club. True men cop it on the chin and move on. Things end badly, get over it. I'm sure you make enough from the media now.
Big difference.joffaboy wrote:A leach and parasite just like Peter Everitt.
One chose to leave, one was sacked.
TBH, given GT had a contract in place and the circumstances under which he was sacked, his claim is probably modest compared to what he could be entitled.
It's no suprise he didn't accept just the 100K since that amount seems to be held over from what he was already owed. The club should have paid him the amount there and then and severed all ties. This BS agreement simply clouded what should have been a straight forward settlement.
- st_Trav_ofWA
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 8886
- Joined: Wed 13 Sep 2006 7:10pm
- Location: Perth
- Contact:
if i signed a declaration saying i got payed the monies owed i wouldBevan Shorluey wrote:Is that what you'd do if your employer shafted you and held onto your entitlements?Huzzad wrote:Read this a few minutes ago and was dissapoitned to hear that this is still not resolved. For goodness sake Thomas, you are not homeless. Sell your $1million dollar house, get one you can actually afford and stop draining money away from the club. True men cop it on the chin and move on. Things end badly, get over it. I'm sure you make enough from the media now.
seriously its money grubbing at its worst , and without making my self sound like B4E its a absoulute slap in the face to all the st kilda players who took only a % of their wages while we were in the hole of almost bankrupty who still today havent recived their full payments
Grant Thomas you serioulsy are making the suporters of the club you say you love hate you .
pay the bastard off then errect a sign with his face on it saying "NOT WELCOME ANYMORE"
"The team that wins in the most positions and makes the least amount of mistakes, usually wins the game." -- Allan Jeans
http://westernsaints.wordpress.com/
http://westernsaints.wordpress.com/
Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.st_Trav_ofWA wrote:if i signed a declaration saying i got payed the monies owed i wouldBevan Shorluey wrote:Is that what you'd do if your employer shafted you and held onto your entitlements?Huzzad wrote:Read this a few minutes ago and was dissapoitned to hear that this is still not resolved. For goodness sake Thomas, you are not homeless. Sell your $1million dollar house, get one you can actually afford and stop draining money away from the club. True men cop it on the chin and move on. Things end badly, get over it. I'm sure you make enough from the media now.
seriously its money grubbing at its worst , and without making my self sound like B4E its a absoulute slap in the face to all the st kilda players who took only a % of their wages while we were in the hole of almost bankrupty who still today havent recived their full payments
Grant Thomas you serioulsy are making the suporters of the club you say you love hate you .
pay the bastard off then errect a sign with his face on it saying "NOT WELCOME ANYMORE"
If he's so desperate for money, he should've hung onto his Age "writer's" job. $1,000 a week that he arrogantly said he didn't need.