Thompson for axe

[gregstar]

Thompson for axe
By PHIL ROTHFIELD

November 03, 2005

ST George Illawarra last night took the first legal steps towards sacking forward Lance Thompson by sending the long-serving player a letter asking him to show cause why he should not be dismissed for misconduct.



The Daily Telegraph can reveal that one of the grounds for dismissal was a series of threatening text messages Thompson sent to teammate Justin Poore before the semi-final against the Wests Tigers in September.

Dragons CEO Peter Doust sent the letter to Thompson and his manager Khoder Nasser, demanding he appear before the club's board of directors in two weeks.

Doust spent several hours on Monday with the club's lawyers before briefing the Dragons board and getting the go-ahead to take the strongest disciplinary action.

Both Doust and Dragons coach Nathan Brown refused to comment on the development last night but a club source confirmed the letter detailed cases of alleged misbehaviour in recent months. Among them are:

 That he sent threatening text messages to teammate Poore before the Wests Tigers semi-final.


Officials claim Poore was so upset over the messages that he played his worst game of the season.

 That he has publicly criticised the club, officials and the coach for trying to sack him when Doust claimed he only wanted to sit down and discuss his future because of salary cap problems for next season.

Officials believe that while there is a group of supporters against the move to sack such a long-standing player, they have solid backing from players.

Not one of the Dragons players attended a supporters function last Saturday night in Hurstville where Thompson was honoured with an award for playing his 200th game this year.

A few players from other clubs, including Sonny Bill Williams, did attend.

On Saturday night Thompson told the gathering: "The hardest thing will be not being able to say goodbye to my fans one last time.

"A lot of great players have had the chance to leave with dignity and say farewell to their fans before they retire.

"If I don't play for Saints again, it will be hard to leave like this."

Thompson said last night he had not yet received the letter from the club.

"I'm not sure what I'm doing at the moment. My manager is overseas.

"I'll get some legal advice and talk to everyone."

Thompson has a long history of disciplinary problems at the club.

 He once turned up drunk for a training session on his birthday and had to be escorted from the ground by captain Trent Barrett .

 He was involved in a fight with former teammate Andrew Hart in the St George Leagues Club foyer.

Thompson's current situation turned ugly at the Dragons player awards night at Sydney's Town Hall three weeks ago when he stormed out of the function before Doust was to present him with an award for his 200th game. He claimed he was told by an official at the function that he would not be at the club next season.

edit: source: http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,17123519-5001023,00.html

 

[gregstar]

2 things

* i wish this crap would be resolved - in other words retire in england & earn a fortune!

* if you think you're on borrowed time - why give the club ammo to give you the flick?

thommo has given great service & the league should review how long-term club servants are accounted for under the slary cap, but he has been well treated by the club both financially & supported when in crisis or when his discipline was lacking.

if you have a choice between keeping thommo...... or creagh & young................

toodles thommo - thanks for the memories.

 

[drake]

The most disturbing revelation for me is the alledged SMS to Poore. I can understand having issues with management and the heirarchy, but bagging off a teammate before a preliminary final is f**king stupid and disgusting behaviour.

If he goes to the scum like some scummer fans are hinting, we will see how much St George is in his heart.

 

[Rexxy]

I think a lot of people conveniently think of footballers as some sort of celebrities. They can comment on their private lives, treat them like public property. But in actual fact they are mere mortals with a job to do. at the end of the day they live and die by one criteria. Was their performance a true indication of what they are a) capable of b) are remunerated for.

Did Lance give value for money last year? I believe he did.

Did he give 100% effort last year? I believe he did.

Does he fit the "new Illawarra new age man" as sanctioned by uncos like Paul Suttor? Who gives a toss?

Otherwise we would have to cut some real dead wood like Timmo, and that would not sit well with the Wollongong "Cognoscenti Illuminati" or the potato eating lump proletariat who buy their newspapers and watch their network.

 

[drake]

I don't buy that Rexxy.
Whilst I fully agree that Lance has given great service in his capacity as an individual footballer, his service as a team member has left a lot to be desired.
He is not a golfer where only individual performance matters.

The fact that he is a footballer is the pertinent one. If a footballer in a team I played with was sending one of my team mates threatening SMS as is alledged, and running to the media when things look shaky, I wouldn't want him in my team. How can you trust a bloke like that when the dice are being rolled. Will he pass you the ball, will he back you up, or will he tell you to f**k off and go for glory?

If 100% effort means trying to intimidate other members of your forward pack for some as yet unknown personal reason, I think I'll take the dead wood that crabs and doesn't f**k up other people's games.

Why is the Illawarra "illuminati" argument brought up every time Lance f**ks up. Did a consortium of Illawarra stakeholders hold a gun to his head and force him to get himself in the news for all the wrong reasons on various occasions? it's all a conspiracy to remove the St George from St George Illawarra, the Ilawarra aliens took control of Lance's brain and made him act like a turd to his colleagues.

If the club is anti St George and pro Illawarra, why is Browny the coach? Don't ever recall him dressed as a tampon. Always a Red V. Why the big props on Wes, if he's going to be axed in favour of an Illawarra junior?

Even if the Ilawarra Freemasons are out to get Lance, he has loaded their gun and given them a spare clip.

I would have liked to see Lance finish his career at Saints, but I would have preferred to never have had my idea of him as a bloke and member of the mighty Dragons tarnished so much in the first place.

 

[Southernsaint]

More spin than Warnie, this article...

Phil, do you think that no Saints players came to the Presentation because:

a) They weren't invited or made aware; or

b) They didn't attend for fear of reprisals from the Dragons board

 

[Willow]

"Officials claim Poore was so upset over the messages that he played his worst game of the season."

Which "officials" would they be? An unnamed source / spokesperson perhaps?

How could a few SMS messages make Poore play his worst game of the season?

 

[drake]

I suppose it depends on the context of the messages.

I don't know if you've ever had a work/school mate who is a known fighter threaten you, but I have and it throws you off everything, not just fear, but the confusion and distraction it brings with it.

 

[Snorkleburger]

"Officials claim Poore was so upset over the messages that he played his worst game of the season."

Which "officials" would they be? An unnamed source / spokesperson perhaps?

How could a few SMS messages make Poore play his worst game of the season?

I think the episode on the team bus on the way to the Semi - Final against the Tigers was the nail in the coffin for Thommo. Cost the Dragons their season and Thommo his contract. Remember Willow??

 

[Willow]

I know its not 'nice' but text messages are no excuse or failing to show up to work.

Are the 'officials' trying to blame Thompson for Poore's onfield performance. Are they trying pin blame on Thommo for the loss?

Its the 'officials' quote that makes it tabloid. Bringing up two ancient incidents and then calling it a 'long history of problems' also makes it tabloid.

Like everything there's another side to the story.

Quite frankly, I don't care about silly text messages. If they're going to sack him, then get on with it. But this business of dirtying his name in an effort to pave the road ahead isn't good for anyone.

 

[Willow]

I think the episode on the team bus on the way to the Semi - Final against the Tigers was the nail in the coffin for Thommo. Cost the Dragons their season and Thommo his contract. Remember Willow??

Right on cue. LOL.
What you did was unsourced. Nothing has changed in that regard.
You still haven't worked it out.
And you're still a scummer going under a sockpuppet name to disrupt discussion.
'Cost the Dragons their season' - :lol:

 

[Rexxy]

Which "officials" would they be? An unnamed source / spokesperson perhaps?

They all sing like canaries when they are drunk.

 

[Father Ted]

Poore's not much use to us if a little text message made him drop his bundle . Whats he going to do in a crunch game or generally in life when real tragedy confronts him ?

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

I'd imagine Justin Poore is going to get more than text messages from opposition forwards next year if that upset him.

Thommo leaving Saints just don't seem right....

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

The thing that concerns me is;

"ST George Illawarra last night took the first legal steps towards sacking forward Lance Thompson by sending the long-serving player a letter asking him to show cause why he should not be dismissed for misconduct."

"Thompson said last night he had not yet received the letter from the club. "

So, Saints let Phil Rothfield know before they let Thommo know?

 

[drake]

Poore's not much use to us if a little text message made him drop his bundle . Whats he going to do in a crunch game or generally in life when real tragedy confronts him ?

Have you ever had a 103kg amatuer boxer sending you threatening texts? Or generally had someone you look up to who could beat the crap out of you give you the message they don't like you?

If so, how was your day? Did you do well at your assigned tasks? Or did you spend most of your day thinking of the fact that someone older, meaner and tougher than you is after you?

And was your day culminating in a preliminary final where the person who had a beef with you was packing the scrum behind you?

We don't know what was sent in the alledged SMS, but if we are going to abuse Poore for being disturbed by it, it goes to reason that it was hreatening or abusive.

 

[koslecki]

it didnt just start on the bus, its been going on for a while. I think I made some of you aware of thompons behaviour only to be deleted. But thats Ok. As i said before its all true about thompson. Thomo has not friends inside the club, the only person he has made friends with from footy and st george is mundine, now thats a stable relationship!!! The board to have the full support of the players and staff

 

[Snorkleburger]

it didnt just start on the bus, its been going on for a while. I think I made some of you aware of thompons behaviour only to be deleted. But thats Ok. As i said before its all true about thompson. Thomo has not friends inside the club, the only person he has made friends with from footy and st george is mundine, now thats a stable relationship!!! The board to have the full support of the players and staff

Yes it has been going on for a while. This culminated with the incident that happened in the bus (refer my post 21/10/2005 that ended up in the 'Rumour Section') has put Thommo positioned in Antactica as far as the Club is concerned.

 

[The Colonel]

Have either of you the source to back this allegation up?

 

[Slippery Morris]

The article also states that other players from the club want him gone as well. Interested to see how many want him out. If it's a big majority then they should send him packing quick smart.

It will be a sad way to end his career at the Dragons. Does not even get to play 1 last farewell game in front of his fans.

I would rather keep Young, Creagh etc at the expense of Thommo any day. If he is very well liked and respected by Young, Creagh and co it could be a disaster if not it could be a blessing.

Interesting to see the aftermath of his sacking and what effects it has.

Alot of people have bagged Dousty but if you look at his past he has been able to hold onto our juniors. The only players he let go were other teams juniors e.g Riddell, Linc, Firman, etc.

He did the best thing for our club and that was get rid of Farrah and put Browny as head coach.