|
Bok coach to abandon ship?
13/03/2008 22:01 - (SA)
Stephen Nell, Die Burger
Cape Town - A deeply divided South African Rugby Union will have to unite and support, unanimously, a resolution that could resolve the dispute about Springbok coach Peter de Villiers's contract.
De Villiers, who was appointed as national coach in January, has not signed a contract with Saru's business division, SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd.
The big stumbling block is that SA Rugby won't agree to a clause in the contract that will give De Villiers the final say in the selection of teams.
SA Rugby's views are that such a clause will be contrary to its constitution, which will have to be amended.
However, it was said in a media release this week that SA Rugby fully supported the principle that De Villiers should have the final say.
SA Rugby has proposed a conditional clause to be put in place until the constitution can be changed.
However, hopes that the matter would be resolved at Saru's annual meeting on March 28 by way of a 75% vote in favour of a change subsided on Thursday.
Saru's constitution stipulates that 20 days' notice must be given for a proposal of that nature.
Christo Ferreira, manager of legal affairs at Saru, said the only way to solve the problem was by way of Clause 13 of the constitution.
Caused a rift
"If everyone (who is eligible to vote) at the meeting signs the resolution, it will amount to an amendment of the constitution," Ferreira explained.
De Villiers's agent, Jonty Goslett, confirmed that they had been informed of the situation.
Goslett was unwilling to comment on a meeting with legal advisers that was held on Thursday and at which a decision was taken about De Villiers's position.
"We have taken a decision but we first want to convey it to SA Rugby. Until we have done so it would be unprofessional to discuss it in the news media," he said.
Each of the 14 unions will have three delegates at the AGM. The president, deputy president and vice-president are also eligible to vote. To change the constitution, Saru will have to obtain the signature of every one.
But the appointment of De Villiers has already caused a rift in Saru. He was recommended by a committee that conducted the interviews with candidates.
The presidents' council then decided to vote on the matter and De Villiers received ten votes to the nine of Heyneke Meyer.
It is therefore unlikely that all delegates will now support a proposal.
De Villiers's viewpoint will be known on Friday but it has been said unhappiness exists because he will be paid less and have fewer benefits than his predecessor, Jake White.
Rumours have been doing the rounds that De Villiers may abandon the position of Springbok coach if the matter is not resolved.
|
