It is, officially. though, interestingly, it occurred behind closed doors in training.

I'll fill you in on Friday night. Afterwards, I'll tell you the gossip I've heard.

Does he deserve it?

Every player that is part of the squad deserve the "opportunity" to be "considered for" selection. To refuse to even consider for selection a paid employee would be stupid and, probably, illegal.

Illegal to drop a player for poor form? Jeez, RL really is screwed

Does anyone know whether he is being denied the opportunity? Or are we just speculating. Feel free to PM me if you have any actual info on this situation, otherwise I'll continue to believe he was injured in training

Well we've gone from McDermott being a pushover and playing players because the board tells him to, to McDermott being harsh and excluding players from playing because he doesn't like them.

Only on SouthStander.

Actually in reality those two points are a lot closer together than you have given credit for.

Firstly, you are talking about Player, not Players.

Secondly you are talking about something 12 months ago, when said player still had 12 months on his contract, and then 12 months later when said player was to become out of contract.

It is quite likley that any coach acts differently from one year to another with different circumstances.

Can you read?

Was it not Dean Lance's suggestion to Paul Sterling that he was unlikely to ever get picked and should leave which was the opening salvo to that whole unsavoury business 12 years ago?

Clearly. How else could I have replied?

It would be illegal to not pay a player under contract, but never illegal to overlook them. That's called a coaches parogative

Not selecting a player s very different to not considering a player for selection.

I think you'll find it's a coach's prerogative.

I don't think our coach will have taken such drastic measures without good reason. Either way, as long as any employee is receiving their contracted payments, I don't see any legal issues against the employer. It's called garden leave where I work.

Thanks kind sir, thats today's new thing learned!

Quite. Whilst AJC may be able to read it seems he or she is unable to comprehend.

You would also do well, AJC, to consider the point that MJM has made about a past coaches [sizerefusal to consider [/sizea player for selection and the fallout that came from that.