Storm boss Brian Waldron wanted $100k to sell story
* Phil Rothfield
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* April 26, 2010 6:21PM
The official at the centre of rugby league’s salary cap scandal, former Melbourne Storm chief executive Brian Waldron, asked for more than $100,000 to tell his story about the biggest rort the game has seen.
Waldron, dubbed the architect of a $1.7 million scam over the past five years, has emerged from hiding to speak for the first time about his involvement in the affair.
Waldron hired a Melbourne-based PR consultant at the weekend, former Fairfax editor Mike Smith, to conduct dealings with the media.
Seven network sources have confirmed that Smith, acting on behalf of Waldron, had been involved in discussions over a six-figure sum to appear on its current affairs program Sunday Night.
But Sevens head of news and current affairs, Peter Meakin, immediately rejected the approach when he learned about the talks.
"There was a discussion that then took place where Waldrons people acknowledged that it would be a bad look one source said last night.
"Waldron initially agreed to participate in the program and the network sent a crew to Melbourne on Sunday. But Waldron pulled out at the last minute on the advice of his Queens Counsel.
It is believed he has decided to speak to another media outlet.
The man accused of being the architect of the $1.7 million scandal is expected to reveal details of who else had knowledge of the illegal player payments.
NRL boss David Gallop has been made aware of Waldrons interview, which is expected to be released within hours.
Waldron has already told the The Daily Telegraph:
"There were people on the board who knew about everything that was going on. It's happening everywhere.
"What about [name withheld] leaving us and getting paid $200,000 by [sponsor withheld] outside the cap by the [team name withheld].
"This is a joke. All clubs do it. I can't say any more.
