Edinburgh Evening News reports
BILL LOTHIAN ([email protected])
EDINBURGH RUGBY owner Bob Carruthers today rejected an SRU "request" for an explanation as to why Scotland captain Chris Paterson had been allowed to leave the club for Gloucester.

"It is inappropriate for the SRU to be making such a request and we could not possibly discuss a player's contractual arrangement," he said.

"In any case, Chris is the latest in a line of Edinburgh players who has made his move while at a Scotland training camp. Why not ask him there?"

In two other developments today, Carruthers also refused to confirm or deny a dispute involving Montauban-bound Scott Murray, while David Blair is expected to sign for Edinburgh after being released by Sale Sharks.

Carruthers also declined to be drawn on whether Paterson's exit was linked to recent remarks about investigating which players had shown alleged disloyalty during the dispute by meeting with the SRU while still under club contract. "That investigation has not yet taken place" he said.

But he added: "We expect loyalty towards us when releasing our players yet, over the past few months, a string have had deals away from Edinburgh negotiated for them while on duty with Scotland."

The impending departure of Paterson was signalled earlier this month by the "Evening News" when we reported a club insider claiming he had "played his last game for the club".

Carruthers also insisted there would be no more departures. He said: "We said to players during our current dispute with the SRU (over alleged competition payments due) that they were free to look around for alternative clubs.

"Chris was one of those who did not want to be in a battlefield."

Paterson and his agent, Iain Smith, were both unavailable for comment.

The SRU said: "Scottish Rugby has written to Edinburgh Rugby asking for their explanation for Paterson's departure."

This article was posted on 25-Jul-2007, 11:35 by Hugh Barrow.