Foran asks for cap exemption
SMH 24/6/2015
In the strongest indication Kieran Foran won't be at Parramatta next season, his management held a meeting with the NRL on Wednesday to ask for a salary cap exemption that will allow him to link with Manly or Canterbury.
Fairfax Media can reveal Foran's manager Paul Sutton met with NRL salary cap auditor Jamie L'Oste Brown at League Central on Wednesday to discuss Foran's options if he was to walk out on his four-year $4.8 million deal with the Eels.
It is understood Foran's management requested the meeting with L'Oste Brown to talk about the possibility of the NRL granting a club salary cap exemption to sign the five-eighth for next season.
Neither Manly or Canterbury has the available space in the salary cap to afford Foran for in excess of a million dollars, however his management made enquiries with the NRL about the possibility of an exemption.
Manly haven't got a lot of room to move having signed halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to an eight year $10 million deal, however Foran is believed to be keen to hear what the Sea Eagles can offer.
The Bulldogs don't have the salary cap space either, but the likely departure of Trent Hodkinson, who met with Newcastle Knights officials on Tuesday, could help free some room.
Parramatta Eels chairman Steve Sharp wrote a letter to Parramatta members on Wednesday afternoon, apologising to the long-suffering fans disillusioned by the Foran contract fiasco.
"The Board and I acknowledge that speculation around Kieran Foran's contract and other issues in the media have been unsettling for you; the Eels fans and Members, our club, our team and Kieran," Sharp wrote.
"For that, we apologise. However, we are conscious of our duty and obligation to ensure the long-term viability of our club and its effective governance. As has been reported, an irregular clause in Kieran's contract was detected and we are working to resolve this matter. We want to assure you we are responding to the challenges at hand."
