If it existed would the Eagles clause amount to a restraint of trade and perhaps be illegal anyway?

No, conditional endorsements from early contractural release are NOT a restraint of trade if both parties agree and sign up to it!

Slap a print out of Aston's text messages on their lawyers desk and bring an immediate end to this sham stand off.

Or publish them in league express like Mr Aston has with everything in this saga.

May give some insight into the character of Mr Aston with his integrity and honesty.

thats the legal point - they cannot prove a direct or even an indirect loss - i would imagine the journalists will get bored with this very soon

Again, by taking on the case, Sheffield will believe they CAN prove that Barlow broke a contract, Fax knowingly played him and as a result Sheffield were 'disadvantaged'!
How great or how little a loss would be decided by the court.

And you are correct. I guarantee that quite soon this case will be forgotten. Another topic will be the vogue!

Don't think it's a sham Rich. I think Aston might not be as confident as perhaps he thought he was - I'm not sure, but I think the process has actually started.
Can't see it as a sham!

I think if the threats that have been made by txt message were exposed, he'd lose a lot of credibility

Already has, as far as I am concerned

by focusing on this subject in his post match interview instead of biging up his team and season, after what was a good run for them, shows he has lost it

he should have been the big man he thinks he is and done any legal stuff in a better mannor

very narrow performance in my opinion, he is trying to be a bully and it has back fired!

His credibility may already be flushed down the gary glitter, that's down to personal judgement - it doesn't mean any intention to persue the matter through the legal process is unjust or a sham. A judge will decide that if it gets that far!