Cleared agent chases Giteau for fees
Cleared agent chases Giteau for fees
Rupert Guinness | August 16, 2008
The Rugby Union Players' Association has cleared the former manager of Wallabies Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell over a complaint understood to involve alleged secret payments.
At the time of the complaint, RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey would not elaborate on the complaint lodged by the players against agent Greg Keenan, other than to say that "it mentions an alleged breach of code of conduct" by which all RUPA-accredited player agents must abide. But the complaint was understood to include an allegation by the two players that Keenan had received a direct inducement from former Western Force sponsor Firepower to procure their move to Perth, and that he failed to disclose it to them. That payment was allegedly on top of any percentage fee he received as part of their agent-player agreements.
However, a RUPA investigation has finally dismissed the complaint.
While happy for the verdict, Keenan said that he was still intent on pursuing Giteau and Mitchell for management fees he says they owe his company.
"I was extremely disappointed when this complaint was made. I always maintained the real issue was the substantial management fees owed by both players to my company," he said.
Keenan learned of the RUPA's verdict in an emailed letter to him dated July 29, which he forwarded to the Herald.
The letter reads: "In relation to the complaint lodged by Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell, the RUPA Agent Accreditation Board has met on numerous occasions to discuss the issues raised, and can confirm that the complaint is now dismissed and the matter declared closed."
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