Quote inside_man="inside_man"Doesn't count on the cap at all I don't think, as long as it was before this season started you can pay off a player, it's exactly what Warrington have done with Hicks, people were sceptical about it being allowed but then someone found it stated in the rules somewhere.'"
Its set out in section 6.1 of Part E1 of the Jan 2010 Operational Rules.
The clause that MAY have a bearing on this is E1 6.1.4. This provides that where termination takes place before the first salary cap relevant match of the salary cap year, then the termination payment may be disregarded for salary cap purposes for "subsequent" salary cap years. HOWEVER, when you go on to read the explanatory notes, it is not completely clear whether you have to still hold a salary cap value for the CURRENT salary cap year - and remember, the salary cap year starts 1 December. It also clarifies this exemption by saying "i.e before the club has had the opportubnity to receive ANY playing services from the player" (my emphasis). I have always read this as meaning that you can discount any termination sums paid if the guy has NOT YET PLAYED for you - and therefore Hall would not fall within the terms of this exemption. But it is not at all clear whether this provision applies anew each salary cap year, or applies only at the start of a playing contract. I have read it as being the latter, but maybe someone else can go read this whole section and comment? I think this is the provision to which you refer. And I am not convinced with how it is being interpreted, to be honest.
What 6.1.2 DOES make clear is that where you terminate a player part-way through a contract, then you disregard his original salary cap value but replace it with the value of his termination settlement (or the compensation award if it goes to tribunal - 6.1.5), spread over the rest of his contract. Even though he is no longer registered with the club. That was why all those who shrieked that we should just sack the Unspreakable One did not know what they were saying.
it gives us some flexibility to recruit using the quota if required.
