Mr Steele sums it up perfectly here-

"Given that Sheffield are intimating they are preparing to take court proceedings, the right place to deal with this is in private rather than in the media," said Steele.
"As such, we will be making no further comment at this time."

Why Mark Aston is so keen to go running to the media I don't know, but he certainly doesn't seem to want to keep it a private matter

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