Tweet
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018866,00.html
North Queensland Cowboys officially make Willie Mason an offer
February 03, 2010 North Queensland Cowboys have made an offer to former Test forward Willie Mason on the same day Newcastle Knights officially expressed an interest in the 29-year-old.
The Cowboys said after unanimous support of the players and coaching staff, the board decided to make Mason an offer, but they refused to release any further details.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Knights confirmed their interest in Mason by recommending him to the club board.
Newcastle's football committee held a meeting on Wednesday morning over whether to pursue the former representative player, and Knights chief executive Steve Burraston said the response was strongly in favour.
"The overall majority felt it was the right decision and believed we can provide the best environment for Willie to return home, rebuild his career and shake off the negative perceptions," Burraston said in a statement.
Cowboys coach Neil Henry, who met with Mason over dinner on Tuesday, said Mason would be a welcome addition to the Townsville club.
"It was a fairly positive conversation, I know Newcastle have weighed in fairly heavily for him too and he is from that area and he's got family up there so he'll have to make a decision but it is looking positive for us."
Henry also ruled out any chance of a bidding war between the Cowboys and Newcastle, saying the club wasn't in the financial position to do so.
Burraston said several opinions had been sourced before deciding to ask the board to open negotiations with Mason.
"We considered all feedback from club stakeholders ... we also contacted our 10 major sponsors and received their feedback.
"While there were a couple who were 50-50, the overall majority felt it was the right decision.
"The emails sent to us were slightly in favour of Willie Mason coming here so we decided to run a poll on our website to give our members and supporters a say.
"The poll results were overwhelming with 83 per cent in support of having Willie Mason at the club in 2010."
Burraston stressed the board must give approval before any negotiations can actually get underway between the club and Mason's management.
And he said any agreement will be subject to strict guidelines for the Hunter Valley product.
"Any contract that we draw up will have strict behavioural clauses included and we will have the availability to terminate if the need did arise,'' he said.
"Having said that we are extremely buoyed by the feedback we have received from club stakeholders during the last week."
AAP
North Queensland Cowboys officially make Willie Mason an offer
February 03, 2010 North Queensland Cowboys have made an offer to former Test forward Willie Mason on the same day Newcastle Knights officially expressed an interest in the 29-year-old.
The Cowboys said after unanimous support of the players and coaching staff, the board decided to make Mason an offer, but they refused to release any further details.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Knights confirmed their interest in Mason by recommending him to the club board.
Newcastle's football committee held a meeting on Wednesday morning over whether to pursue the former representative player, and Knights chief executive Steve Burraston said the response was strongly in favour.
"The overall majority felt it was the right decision and believed we can provide the best environment for Willie to return home, rebuild his career and shake off the negative perceptions," Burraston said in a statement.
Cowboys coach Neil Henry, who met with Mason over dinner on Tuesday, said Mason would be a welcome addition to the Townsville club.
"It was a fairly positive conversation, I know Newcastle have weighed in fairly heavily for him too and he is from that area and he's got family up there so he'll have to make a decision but it is looking positive for us."
Henry also ruled out any chance of a bidding war between the Cowboys and Newcastle, saying the club wasn't in the financial position to do so.
Burraston said several opinions had been sourced before deciding to ask the board to open negotiations with Mason.
"We considered all feedback from club stakeholders ... we also contacted our 10 major sponsors and received their feedback.
"While there were a couple who were 50-50, the overall majority felt it was the right decision.
"The emails sent to us were slightly in favour of Willie Mason coming here so we decided to run a poll on our website to give our members and supporters a say.
"The poll results were overwhelming with 83 per cent in support of having Willie Mason at the club in 2010."
Burraston stressed the board must give approval before any negotiations can actually get underway between the club and Mason's management.
And he said any agreement will be subject to strict guidelines for the Hunter Valley product.
"Any contract that we draw up will have strict behavioural clauses included and we will have the availability to terminate if the need did arise,'' he said.
"Having said that we are extremely buoyed by the feedback we have received from club stakeholders during the last week."
AAP
Comment