THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
GARETH BLACK
THE Scottish Rugby Union reacted with anger last night after Edinburgh confirmed that Chris Paterson is leaving the club to join Gloucester, where he will move to the stand-off role that has long been considered to be his best position.

The union immediately demanded an explanation from Edinburgh about how and why one of the club's best players had been allowed to go. There is a strong probability that his decision will accelerate moves within the ruling Scottish Rugby Board to bring matters to a head, fearing that if they sit back and do nothing then he will be followed out the door by more key players.

"Scottish Rugby is dismayed that Chris Paterson is to leave Edinburgh with immediate effect to join the English Premiership club Gloucester," said a statement from the governing body. "Scottish Rugby has written to Edinburgh asking for their explanation and how this affects their obligations to Scottish Rugby. An urgent response has been requested."

Paterson's departure also raises fresh doubts over whether Stephen Larkham will ever join Edinburgh.

At the time of agreeing his move, the Australian legend picked out Paterson as one of the players he was most looking forward to performing alongside.

The 74-times capped player, who captain Scotland in the Six Nations this year in the absence of the injured Jason White, had a season left on his contract but was allowed to leave early "by mutual consent" after Bob Carruthers, the Edinburgh owner, said earlier this month that he would advise players who had other offers of employment to take them. In response, one of Carruthers' prize assets has negotiated a three-year contract to play in England after the World Cup, further diminishing Scotland's professional game.

However, yesterday, Edinburgh were putting a different slant on matters, their confirmation "with regret" that he was being allowed to leave a year before the end of his contract then being described as the "final adjustment" to the squad and a club statement emphasising that the other 11 players in the national squad were on two and three-year contracts and "have all committed their futures to the club". It is understood that Carruthers has now withdrawn his earlier advice to his players - but this horse has already bolted.

The courts seem certain to be called into the dispute between Edinburgh and the SRU sooner rather than later. Edinburgh insist legal action over financial entitlement is still on course but cannot start until a report is received from their accountants. However, Paterson following Scott Murray, Simon Taylor and Rob Dewey out of the club, the union may feel it has to act first to reassure the remaining 11 Edinburgh players in the World Cup squad that their futures are indeed secure.

It is the manner and timing of Paterson's departure that is most significant. After eight seasons with Edinburgh, the 29-year-old had suggested he was likely to leave next summer, at the end of his contract, to widen his rugby experience and prepare him for a move into coaching when he retires. Within the last month the idea that he would seek an early release was being dismissed.

But within only a few weeks his position has changed so radically that not only did he agree to move on but he does not even seem to have been interested in exploring a move to Glasgow.

In that time Bob Carruthers, the Edinburgh owner, has added to the uncertainty with contradictory statements involving which company held the player contracts, and whether or not there would be redundancies if the financial dispute with the SRU is not resolved.

That a player of Paterson's proven loyalty should elect to pack his bags suggests that there is significant unrest within the Edinburgh international contingent.

Lynn Howells, the Edinburgh coach, maintains that spirit in his squad has stayed high despite all the political disruption but he has had little recent contact with those in the national squad.

Paterson moved quickly once he made up his mind, flying down to Gloucester at the weekend to complete the details and back to Edinburgh where his representatives negotiated his release. His new club will announce his arrival this morning.

This article was posted on 25-Jul-2007, 07:46 by Hugh Barrow.