Salary Cap bites...

[bartman]

So three clubs at risk of a points deduction and fines... will be interesting to hear the outcomes of the tribunals.

If clubs can lose between 4 and 12 points depending on the amount/percentage of a proved salary breech, then that could make the table very interesting, especially with regard to Wigan...

http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=14276

St Helens, Bradford and Wigan have been charged with breaching the Super League salary cap during the 2006 season.

Saints and Bradford will appear in front of an independent tribunal on 12 July, with the hearing for Wigan taking place on 16 July.

Last year Wigan and Bradford were both deducted two points and handed fines for overspending in 2005.

But punishments have been increased and clubs now face a loss of between four and 12 points if found guilty.

Bradford chairman Peter Hood said: "Since March 2006, Bradford Bulls has kept the Rugby Football League in the picture as regards its salary cap position and has at all times co-operated fully with the compliance commissioner's investigation.

"Insofar as the detail of any alleged breach is concerned, Bradford Bulls reserves its position for the appropriate tribunal and in the meantime will be making no further public statement."

St Helens and Wigan have so far declined to comment.

Castleford, relegated from Super League last season, could launch a legal challenge if Wigan are found guilty.

The Warriors finished just three points above Cas after winning nine of their last 11 matches following the signing of Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden.

"We raised concerns at the end of last season about the possibility of this situation arising and, if a breach of the games rules has contributed to our relegation, then it will leave the club and its loyal supporters feeling very bitter," said Castleford chief executive Richard Wright.

"We are watching the situation very closely and will, if appropriate, consider what steps we may take."

Clubs are permitted to spend no more than 50% of their income, up to a maximum of £1.7m, on players' wages.

Last year, the Warriors and the Bulls were found guilty for spending between 52% and 55% of their income on wages in 2005.

Wigan were fined £50,000 while Bradford were handed a £25,000 fine, of which £15,000 was suspended for two years.

At the same time, Hull and St Helens were fined £1,000, with another £4,000 suspended, for minor breaches while Wakefield and Castleford were given warnings.

But the punishments have been increased to four points for a breach of 52-55%, eight points for 56-60% and 12 points for over 60%.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Not sure what recourse Cas would have about last year once the horse is bolted, glad the league is shifting to the "live" salary cap next year, where moves can't happen before it is shown to be within the club's cap.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

Yeah it is a strange arrangement where I imagine these things are more likely to happen than under the NRL cap for example.

In regards to Cas I have no idea what compenation could be afforded to them other than monetary (lost income, etc). I imagine that is what they would be after as they are just about certainties to be promoted.

 

[bartman]

Yeah, and obviously some big clubs there just pushing the current system to it's limit.

A bit of financial might be all Cas can hope for if they can show what it is they've lost this season. They're far from certainties to go up though - Widnes is sitting above them, and Whitehaven (who were refused on ground criteria last season) are also thereabouts.

 

[deluded pom?]

Apparently because the new rules regarding the doubling of the points deduction wasn't voted in until the after Wigan signed Fielden then Wigan are talking about contesting any doubled points loss in court. That' Wigan for you. Feck the image of the game, it's what's right for Wigan that matters.

 

[roughyedspud]

i reckon.....

st'helens will get 4 points off

bradford will get 4 pts off

wigan will get 8 or 10 points,enough to put them bottom but they'll have enough time to save themselves from relegation.....thats if wigan would ever get relegated.i doubt the RFL have the balls to take the full 12 points off them..

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

Yeah, and obviously some big clubs there just pushing the current system to it's limit.

A bit of financial might be all Cas can hope for if they can show what it is they've lost this season. They're far from certainties to go up though - Widnes is sitting above them, and Whitehaven (who were refused on ground criteria last season) are also thereabouts.

'Just about certainties'. They aren't certain, based on the table and results (that is all I can really base my opinion on) though it is them or Widnes. I'd back them over Widnes.

 

[bartman]

I don't know, I'm 50-50 either way at this point, based on table and results...

 

[roughyed8]

At last nights hearing, St Helens were fined £18,000 plus £4,000 that was suspended from a previous cap breach for being 0.8% over the cap, Bradford Bulls were deducted 2 points and ordered to pay costs for being 4% over.
Wigan's hearing was put back to next week.
Prior to the meeting Wigan sucessfully argued that any breaches of the cap last year should be dealt with under the rules in place at the time, so instead of a maximum 12 point deduction there is only a maximum 6 points that can be taken from a team.

 

[deluded pom?]

An article about the SC in UK mag RLW suggested that EVERY SL team goes over the cap in some shape or form. It's just a case of by how much and in what way. The article reckons that when Shaun Briscoe met Hull F.C. officials to negotiate a contract he turned up with two payslips One from Wigan and one from Orrel RU. He had never played for Orrel in his life. Dave Whelan owned both clubs at the time. After this scam was supposed to have been sorted out some Wigan players who signed for Widnes a while later also turned up with two payslips. And poor Mr Whelan thinks his club is being persecuted. Aww.