Storm directors will sue NRL

[blueandblack]

The four independent directors of Melbourne Storm say they will commence legal action against the NRL in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

The directors - chairman Rob Moodie, Petra Fawcett, Peter Maher and Gerry Ryan - made the decision unanimously, Moodie said.

Speaking at law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler today, Moodie said the NRL's decision-making process in applying the club's heavy salary cap breach penalties was "not fair, impartial or transparent".

"The NRL also did not provide the club with an opportunity to obtain independent legal advice before imposing penalties or to argue about the appropriateness of the penalties that should be imposed."

Last month the Storm were fined over a million dollars, stripped of two premierships and had all premiership points for the 2010 season wiped after salary cap rorting over the past five years was exposed.

Moodie would not reveal who would fund the legal action, only saying they were supporters of the Melbourne Storm.

The Storm's owners News Ltd have said they will not support or fund the legal action and they disagree with it.

AAP

[jargan83]

Storm's directors may be sacked

TOM REILLY AND ROY MASTERS

May 14, 2010

EXCLUSIVE

NEWS LTD has refused to rule out sacking the independent directors of the Melbourne Storm after they threatened legal action against the National Rugby League.

The decision of the directors to try to recover two premierships stripped from the club after it was caught cheating on salary cap payments means Australia's biggest sporting scandal may now become the most sensational court drama of the year.

Any legal challenge pits the club directly against its owners, Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd, which strongly opposes any efforts to contest the punishment.

News Ltd is further embroiled as it also owns half of the NRL, the body which investigated the Storm and handed out the punishments. The Herald understands two Storm directors who are employed by News abstained during Monday night's vote.

When asked if News Ltd would consider sacking the Storm board to prevent a damaging court battle, a company spokesman, Greg Baxter, replied: "We would have to look at that - we think this course of action [the legal challenge] is unwise. It will be expensive, it will take a long time to be resolved and we think the real priorities of the club are elsewhere.''

But the possibility of the Storm having their two premierships reinstated is fully supported by players and staff. Coach Craig Bellamy said he was aware of the action and declared the football department was behind the board: ''It's the premierships we want back. We accept we have to take punishment this year for what has happened.''

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Coach Craig Bellamy said he was aware of the action and declared the football department was behind the board: ''It's the premierships we want back. We accept we have to take punishment this year for what has happened.''

Words cannot describe how stupid Craig Bellamy is for this statement. The Premierships you won with an illegal squad.

Is there something in the water in Victoria?

[Sheikh]

That is quite astonishing arrogance. If News Corp do sack the independent directors, what price they start legal action for unfair dismisal!

[Burgs]

"Storm's directors may be sacked"

Is that what you call unforeseen consequences?
Though I believe they probably should be.

What do they say about the first step to recovery, admitting guilt or something isn't it?

[hertryk]

That is quite astonishing arrogance. If News Corp do sack the independent directors, what price they start legal action for unfair dismisal!

The only people to gain by all this foolishness are the lawyers....Cheesh!!! Must be something in air in Victoria..!!!