Thomas, Saints in stalemate over payment dispute

my les foote · Thu 20 Dec 2007 12:22am

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

Huzzad · Post: # 504366Post **Huzzad** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 2:22am

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.

Snakeman66 · Post: # 504377Post **Snakeman66** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 5:18am

Huzzad wrote:............... Sell your $1million dollar house, .........

Would guess probably closer to $3Mill.

mischa · Post: # 504380Post **mischa** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 6:37am

That article sounds like a word for word copy of the crap written on here

No bias there

No wonder they're a major sponsor! At least RL has nothing to fear from 'The Age'!

saint66au · Post: # 504384Post **saint66au** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 7:14am

* Gets on his knees and says a silent prayer of hope that b4e's internet access is down *

snippa · Post: # 504388Post **snippa** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 7:50am

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

saintly · Post: # 504391Post **saintly** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 8:03am

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"

rodgerfox · Post: # 504394Post **rodgerfox** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 8:32am

saintly wrote:
the one good thing was stkilda's comment

" no comment"

Bingo.

Best thing I've read in a while.

chook23 · Post: # 504396Post **chook23** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 8:36am

mischa wrote:That article sounds like a word for word copy of the crap written on here No bias there No wonder they're a major sponsor! At least RL has nothing to fear from 'The Age'!

just maybe there is some truth in that crap.

Selhurst Saint · Thu 20 Dec 2007 8:56am

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.

SENsei · Post: # 504402Post **SENsei** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 9:18am

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.

joffaboy · Post: # 504404Post **joffaboy** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 9:27am

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.

Agreed, would be good to pay the "great St.Kilda man"

the $100k and ask the clown to never darken the door again.

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

What a sham

Saints94 · Post: # 504405Post **Saints94** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 9:28am

He might be still pissed-off

with Bakes for going out with

his daughter LOL

Oh When the Saints · Thu 20 Dec 2007 9:53am

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.

Thomas got PWND.

rodgerfox · Post: # 504419Post **rodgerfox** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 9:57am

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.

It was Rod Butterss that made the statement that Thomas 'ate pressure for breakfast'.

Saints94 · Post: # 504421Post **Saints94** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 9:59am

rodgerfox wrote:
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.
It was Rod Butterss that made the statement that Thomas 'ate pressure for breakfast'.

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"

Bevan Shorluey · Thu 20 Dec 2007 10:12am

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.

Is that what you'd do if your employer shafted you and held onto your entitlements?

JeffDunne · Post: # 504426Post **JeffDunne** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 10:22am

joffaboy wrote:A leach and parasite just like Peter Everitt.

Big difference.

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.

savatage · Post: # 504429Post **savatage** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 10:30am

Once an arsehole, always an arsehole.

Saints94 · Post: # 504430Post **Saints94** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 10:36am

savatage wrote:Once an arsehole, always an arsehole.

He was once our coach, a decent one

savatage · Post: # 504432Post **savatage** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 10:40am

homework wrote:
savatage wrote:Once an arsehole, always an arsehole.
He was once our coach, a decent one

You can keep him champ!

snippa · Post: # 504433Post **snippa** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 10:46am

homework wrote:
savatage wrote:Once an arsehole, always an arsehole.
He was once our coach, a decent one

Not too decent now.......

Go away Grant

SENsei · Post: # 504434Post **SENsei** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 10:46am

homework wrote:
savatage wrote:Once an arsehole, always an arsehole.
He was once our coach, a decent one

Doesn't mean he wasn't an arsehole though. Or still isn't.

st_Trav_ofWA · Thu 20 Dec 2007 11:00am

Bevan Shorluey wrote:
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.
Is that what you'd do if your employer shafted you and held onto your entitlements?

if i signed a declaration saying i got payed the monies owed i would

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"

savatage · Post: # 504456Post **savatage** » Thu 20 Dec 2007 11:38am

st_Trav_ofWA wrote:
Bevan Shorluey wrote:
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.
Is that what you'd do if your employer shafted you and held onto your entitlements?
if i signed a declaration saying i got payed the monies owed i would

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"

Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.

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.