Drew Mitchell signs with the Waratahs in 2010

[laura]

Still not official. I heard it first on TWF but Channel 10 seems happy to disregard the fact that they can't actually provide the source of their information so they just claim it as their own.

[WF2006]

Thats coz the place is full of journalists!

[blueandblack]

didn't we hear it first on Ch 7 first last night, or is it "official" now?

since he hasnt (apparently) officially signed or publicly announced it, I'd say not. Allegedly it will be officially announced on Friday.

---------- Post added at 18:05 ---------- Previous post was at 18:05 ----------

Thats coz the place is full of journalists!

and it was Tim Gossage, who is a stuck up jerk.

[BaldCunus]

channel 9 just said Mitchell met with Force officials today and is expected to leave!!!

[jargan83]

Signs point to Western Force winger departing club

Nick Taylor, rugby writer

April 22, 2009 05:38pm

ALL signs point to winger Drew Mitchell preparing to leave the Western Force - but the 25-year-old refuses to confirm the move.

Reports from Sydney said Mitchell will join the Waratahs on a two year contract depending on his negotiations with the ARU for a Wallabies top-up.

Mitchell denied the reports on Wednesday when questioned by PerthNow, but said he would make a statement on Friday regarding his future.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005401,00.html

[BDAVEY]

Maybe we will see Sheps in number 15 next season thats where he prefers as does Deans. Drew was over rated any way

[James]

and it was Tim Gossage, who is a stuck up jerk.

I've seen him on one of those AFL football shows and he behaves like a child. The guy has to be pushing 60. Grow up Tim.

[helbob53]

now who's going to do the players hair?????? Miss you already Drew!

[WF2006]

If Drew and Gits are gone the players hair will be able to be sorted by a barber and not a stylist! Only real mens haircuts left (although maybe Wykes might throw a spanner in this concept!)

[lara93]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[benny]

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[travelling_gerry]

Wayne Smith | April 23, 2009

Article from: The Australian


THE Western Force has had a double blow, losing Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell and chief executive Greg Harris in one day.

But where Harris announced his impending departure at a Perth press conference yesterday, Mitchell was making no statements about his decision to join the NSW Waratahs.

It was more than a little incongruous that on the day he revealed he was leaving the Force, Harris's main priority was to make one last and, as it turned out, unsuccessful attempt to persuade Mitchell to stay.

Harris declined to reveal the outcome of their meeting, though plenty could be read into his cryptic observation that "wingers are like CEOs - ultimately we're all replaceable".

A number of sources, however, confirmed to The Australian that Mitchell, the Wallabies winger or fullback in 29 Tests, has nominated the Waratahs as his intended destination next season, pending a successful outcome to his negotiations with the Australian Rugby Union.

Mitchell's capture will give a tremendous fillip to the Waratahs on top of their retention of warrior skipper Phil Waugh, but it is the worst possible news for the Force which was desperately hoping to hold on to him to avert a player drain in the wake of Matt Giteau's announced return to the Brumbies next season.

Clearly, one of Harris's two priority in the six weeks remaining before he heads back to Sydney must be to lock in the Force's other two prize assets coming off contract this year, teenage centre James O'Connor and fellow Wallabies star Richard Brown, the Test number eight. His other goal is to keep pressing the Western Australian Government to commit $75million funding in next month's state budget to build a new grandstand at Members Equity Stadium - the Force's new home from next year.

For all the angst in the Force ranks over the loss of Giteau and now Mitchell, the departure of Harris is in many ways just as damaging. Within hours of starting as Force chief executive a year ago, Harris was confronted by the realisation that the Firepower sponsorship of the club and of key players was a castle built on sand. And just as the club was getting itself back on its feet after the Matt Henjak-Haig Sare imbroglio, the new boss was faced with a player and staff revolt against coach John Mitchell.

It was Harris's call to appoint a retired judge to carry out an independent pre-season investigation into the complaints against Mitchell, an inquiry that ultimately led to the coach's powers being curtailed. But so adroitly did Harris handle the delicate situation that one of the first to wish him well yesterday was Mitchell. "He got a bit emotional when I told him I was leaving," Harris said. "We both had to go through a pretty hard time of it, but our friendship as a result of it is very close."

But for all the work-associated dramas Harris had to deal with, ultimately it was personal issues that prompted his shock decision to quit just after the club had seemingly turned the corner by completing the grand slam of Australian rugby by adding the Waratahs' scalp last weekend to those of the Brumbies and Reds.

The past 12 months have been marred by personal tragedy, leaving Harris, who joked yesterday he does not even have his dog with him in Perth, convinced a move back to Sydney was in his best interests. "Ultimately you've got to look after yourself, got to put your health first," Harris said.

His quip wingers and CEOs are all replaceable was borne by the announcement the Force has already chosen his successor. Vern Reid, who has been a board member for all but six months of the club's existence, will take over as chief executive next month.

"I've got the macro view of the organisation and over the next six weeks I'll get to learn the detail," said Reid, who before becoming CEO of the Princess Margaret Foundation was chief executive of the Perth Wildcats and held senior positions with the Fremantle Dockers and America's Cup.

But it was Reid's 30-year involvement with rugby in WA that probably was the clincher, with both Harris and the club's foundation chief executive Peter O'Meara having recognised that ultimately the chief executive position needed to be filled by a native.

Meanwhile, the Force has made a "front office" change for tomorrow night's match with the Lions at Subiaco Oval, recalling prop Gareth Hardy following his return from a knee injury.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

[zimeric]

still not confirmed though...

[sandgroperrugby]

Get on with Drew stop being a princess! Did that nasty Greg Harris steal your spotlight or maybe you had a hair debacle and can’t go out in public.

Does anyone else have legitimate excuses as to why he is dragging this out?

[mudskipper]

An Insider Force Administrator/s are still leaking information to the Western press ... even on the day their CEO publicly resigns... Odd behavior... Friday now looks to be the day as negotiations are not fully finalised...

---------- Post added at 07:38 ---------- Previous post was at 07:02 ----------

Drew Mitchell to join Waratahs
Tim Clarke, www.watoday.com.au | April 22, 2009 - 7:32PM

EXCLUSIVE

The exodus at the Western Force in 2009 continues.

Having lost Matt Giteau, and subsequently the chief executive whose job it was to try and keep him, the Force are set to lose star winger Drew Mitchell to the NSW Waratahs.

With Giteau on his way to Canberra, CEO Greg Harris announced his intention to return to Sydney after just over 12 months in the job.

His replacement is former Perth Wildcats boss Vern Reid.

The pair's first job was to speak to Mitchell this afternoon - a meeting that appears to have resulted in the 25-year-old telling the club he was following good friend Giteau out of the door.

The official announcement is expected on Friday.

As late as yesterday, Force officials were still hopeful Mitchell would be staying, saying he was torn between the lucrative offer on the table from the Force and other interests in the east.

Mitchell would not confirm the reports this afternoon.

It caps an eventful day for the Force, who announced Harris' departure this morning after a turbulent 12 months since he replaced Peter O'Meara.

www.watoday.com.au

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...079725940.html