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I want my money
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By Josh Massoud
January 15, 2008 12:00am
THE simmering drama surrounding Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell's rich deals with the Western Force exploded last night, when it was revealed the pair had lodged a formal complaint against player agent Greg Keenan, who responded by claiming they owed him $1.25 million in unpaid management fees.
The Wallaby stars allege Keenan accepted undeclared side payments to entice them west, and Keenan is now under investigation as a result of their joint complaint. The Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA), which handles player manager accreditation, is overseeing the inquiry.
Keenan, however, launched a two-pronged rearguard last night, claiming Giteau and Mitchell still owed him millions before accusing RUPA boss Tony Dempsey of accepting secret payments to lure players to his stable.
Dempsey last night vigorously denied the claims.
"I've been given no particulars of any complaint at all so it would be inappropriate to make any comment in relation to the complaint," Keenan said.
"But it's interesting that a complaint has apparently come from two players who collectively are liable to pay my company in the vicinity of $1.25 million commission on their current deals."
It is understood Keenan has instructed his lawyers to begin proceedings to retrieve the unpaid monies from Giteau and Mitchell.
But Keenan must first answer the pair's complaint, which relates to his conduct while negotiating their deals with the Force two years ago. It is believed Giteau and Mitchell claim Keenan "double dipped" on their rich contracts by accepting payments from major sponsor Firepower designed to entice the boom duo west.
Last year The Daily Telegraph revealed Keenan billed Firepower $50,000 for "sponsorship consultancy advice" in 2006. The payment did not breach any existing ARU contracting protocol.
Giteau was reluctant to comment. "There's a bit more to it, but I don't really want to comment to be honest," he said.
Both he and Mitchell, however, feel Keenan's conduct while negotiating their deals with the Force has breached RUPA's player agent behavioural code. Dempsey last night confirmed an investigation was under way.
"A complaint was lodged by Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell in relation to Greg Keenan before Christmas and we are investigating those allegations," Dempsey said.
"An inquiry is under way to determine whether there has been a breach of the code of conduct."
A three-man disciplinary panel will decide whether Keenan should face a hearing. If found guilty, he would face a punishment ranging from a fine to being stripped of his accreditation for life.
But the high-profile agent accused Dempsey of pocketing secret payments - from his management company.
"RUPA might also want to investigate the conduct of their CEO Tony Dempsey, who has been invoicing me for many years for players who he encouraged to join my management company without discussing with some (of them) that he would be receiving commission payments," Keenan said.
Dempsey angrily denied he ever "encouraged" players to link with Keenan, explaining that the commissions were an agreed form of payment for his former player management business.
"That's nonsense," Dempsey said. "When he bought my business, Greg could not afford the purchase price so he agreed to pay a percentage of each fee as consideration.
"No money related to encouraging players to join Greg's company.
"It was all part of the sale of my business."
I want my money | The Daily Telegraph
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Originally Posted by main game
whether it's reasonable or not.
