Tigers fined almost £310,000 for salary cap overspend

[wasps]

If they banned the players that were involved for half a season that may concentrate the mind about too good to be true contracts.

Really?

The overspend margin is primarily there to offer a get out to clubs if their players suddenly aren't selected for England and therefore don't qualify for the international credits..... As happened to us with Sam Jones.



As for the players being penalised, how are they supposed to know in a case like this at Leicester?
The highest overrun was nearly £150k.
If that was an extra £150k for a single player, then maybe there'd be an argument that they should be surprised about what they're earning.
However, if it was spread across 10 players, it's £15k each.
Given that the players are in the dark as much as we are about salaries and financies, I can't see how any of them are meant to know what's up.


Leicester clearly weren't reaping any of the benefits of an overspend for the last few seasons.
It's only now that they've hit bottom, restructured their squad and rebuilt that they've turned it around.
If it's turns out that they're way over the cap this season, then there should be hell to pay.... But to me, this feels like a genuine admin error - competently different to the Saracens situation (which I feel was worse than reported)

[backdoc]

I was referring more to the Saracens situation where the spending was very specifically on high-profile players.

[wasps]

I was referring more to the Saracens situation where the spending was very specifically on high-profile players.

I accept that's a different case.
I still don't believe the numbers reported for Saracens overspend is right... But hey ho.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

Small wonder that two Clubs that have cheated are in the top two places of the Premiership.  This does not seem like justice however it is twisted. But it appears to pay off.

I absolutely agree with this.

The two clubs who have been shown to have cheated the system for years to build a squad that they shouldn't have been able to afford are now the top two in the league.

Is that a coincidence?

Whether they are cheating now or not they still have the benefits of their overspend in the club. The way we have dominated the jackalling stats for years is purely down to the influence George Smith had on our squad. Beale lifted our ball handling skills just by being here. Being able to spend just a little more year after year has an effect that lasts for a long time. Sarries had been cheating for years before they started winning.

And is it pure chance that they fall just below the level for points deduction? I strongly suspect not.

From now on I shall be referring to them as the Leicester Cheetahs.

[Rossm]

And is it pure chance that they fall just below the level for points deduction? I strongly suspect not.


Gibbs' Rule #39: There is no such thing as a coincidence.

[Neils]

And is it pure chance that they fall just below the level for points deduction? I strongly suspect not.


Gibbs' Rule #39: There is no such thing as a coincidence.

Too right

[Neils]

From now on I shall be referring to them as the Leicester Cheetahs.

Nice one

[WonkyWasp]

Absolutely and totally agree with all the previous 6 postings.

[DGP Wasp]

It does appear that they have played the system, knowing what they could get away with resulting in just a financial penalty that may or may not be offset by the financial benefits of reaching the playoffs.  If that's the case, then it's the system that needs looking at (again) to ensure that the penalties for non-compliance are enough of a deterrent.  Not saying the Cheetahs (like that one!) are blameless, but if there is a system in place that is open to manipulation, then it is inevitable that some will choose to do so.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Small wonder that two Clubs that have cheated are in the top two places of the Premiership.  This does not seem like justice however it is twisted. But it appears to pay off.

I absolutely agree with this.

The two clubs who have been shown to have cheated the system for years to build a squad that they shouldn't have been able to afford are now the top two in the league.

Is that a coincidence?

Whether they are cheating now or not they still have the benefits of their overspend in the club. The way we have dominated the jackalling stats for years is purely down to the influence George Smith had on our squad. Beale lifted our ball handling skills just by being here. Being able to spend just a little more year after year has an effect that lasts for a long time. Sarries had been cheating for years before they started winning.

And is it pure chance that they fall just below the level for points deduction? I strongly suspect not.

From now on I shall be referring to them as the Leicester Cheetahs.

That's an oft overlooked point in these discussions. Certainly when the Cheats were being excused by their cronies in the MSM.

Its not just winning trophies and a bit of extra prize money. Successful sides get more TV exposure which attracts more sponsorship and fans to games. The surplus revenue can then be invested in extra/better coaching staff, better training and other facilities and top players want to play for winning sides - I'd bet some would take a lower salary for the on field glory rather than be better paid at an also ran club.

That surplus revenue doesn't disappear just because a club has been fined or is even relegated. The cheats are back to getting more TV appearances and non of their sponsors seem to think there's a downside to being linked to cheats. So they still have that surplus revenue to invest in maintaining their advantage.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

And is it pure chance that they fall just below the level for points deduction? I strongly suspect not.


Gibbs' Rule #39: There is no such thing as a coincidence.

Occam's razor.

[Skippy]

Spread across a squad of, say 36 players, the overspend if £4k per head before tax or c£350 a month. After tax that's around £165-240 a month.  Useful, but not likely an amount that is likely to swing a players decision to stick at a club.

If it was a case of the jam spread thinly, then it's much more to be a cock-up rather than a conspiracy. Given the way the club was being run at the time, this is at least a possibility.

However, if the money was focused on just a few players, then it's clear they were gaming the system. To little effect given their results. Surely the investigation could have found out if this was the case or not, published the outcome and applied the appropriate penalty.

Over to the Daily Mail to find the actual answer...

[Shugs]

Just in case anyone was wondering BT have really put this to bed tonight. “Bayfs” has rushed through the charges recognising they are just a trivial inconvenience and the totally unbiased Healey and Kay have confirmed it’s all just admin. There’s no problem anywhere. We can all rest easy - let’s face it they didn’t win anything and we should all just move on and celebrate them being back at the top where they belong……………I feel a bit sick.