Newport threaten to sue Joost
Newport are to consider legal action against Joost van der Westhuizen over the Springbok?s ?shameful? decision to renege on the transfer deal which he signed three months ago.
Instead of arriving at Rodney Parade yesterday as planned, South Africa?s 75-cap scrum half finalised a two-year contract to stay in Pretoria, leaving the Welsh Cup holders to issue an apology to their fans and warn the player that he is liable to face a five-figure bill.
?We are taking legal advice and considering all options,? said Newport chief executive Keith Grainger last night. ?This has involved us in considerable cost, all now completely wasted, but we do not intend to be a penny out of pocket. We do not owe Van der Westhuizen any favours.
?He has to understand that his responsibilities go beyond saying Yes one minute, and No the next. The way he has handled the whole thing is quite appalling and his respect for the club?s owner, Tony Brown, has been shameful.?
Newport launched an extensive pre-season promotional poster campaign entitled ?Joost the Ticket? on the not unreasonable basis of a one-year contract signed at the end of last season. Less than a fortnight ago, Newport ran the first van der Westhuizen column, ?Joost the Job?, in their programme.
?It?s disappointing to have missed the early part of the Newport season because I?m excited about playing in Wales but as you?re reading this, I?m only a week away from arriving in your rugby-mad country,? he wrote. ?I?m hoping to make my Black-and-Ambers debut against Munster. Nothing like jumping in at the deep end. See you all soon.?
While Newport began apologising for Van der Westhuizen?s about-turn, the club were still waiting last night for an apology from the man himself. ?He got his agent to tell us he wasn?t coming,? said Grainger. ?Van der Westhuizen should remember that he has signed a contract with us so he is not a free agent.?
Brown spent weeks negotiating the deal only to end up asking the Blue Bulls, Van der Westhuizen?s provincial employers, to refund the transfer fee. ?Joost has a contract with Newport which, in a court of law, would be enforceable,? he said. ?But it would not be sensible to bring a player to Newport who would not be happy there.?
