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What it doesnt say is that Griffiths is in breach of contract. Thought he was a more honourable individual than that

Eastsider is right - the Yorkshire Press and Radio today have confirmed that Doncaster did not "release him" from contract. He walked out on them for big money. The Club is properly not adding to that but the word is he is very much in breach of contract. He had a two year contract and walked away after just one. QED!

They say things come in threes. First the departure of Gollings and now Griffiths and Forster. One would have been replacement, three key personnel aren't.

Todays Yorkshire Post gives a flavour....

Griffiths lets his head rule his heart Sam Wheeler
CLIVE GRIFFITHS has described his decision to leave Doncaster as the hardest of his career since he switched to rugby league more than a quarter of a century ago.


The Knights confirmed the departure of their director of rugby yesterday, more than a fortnight after he informed the board that he wished to move to Premiership club Worcester as No 2 to his former Wales colleague Mike Ruddock.

Griffiths, who led the Knights to third place in National One after joining last summer, had a year left to run on his contract and despite his flattering words about the club, there has been considerable rancour at Castle Park, with Doncaster initially trying to force him to stay and now contemplating legal action to extract compensation from Worcester.

"We have a situation where someone has left after one year of a two-year contract," said chairman Steve Lloyd. "We have not made any decisions, but we have to carry out our duties as directors."

Griffiths conceded: "It has not been a popular decision. When I went to league in 1979, I knew I was going to be vilified and made an outcast from society. This is obviously not as cut-throat, and people have been supportive, but I am disappointed to be letting everybody down.

"If the decision were based on sentiment I would still be at Doncaster because everybody at the club has been fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. We transformed the team from near relegation to the top-three over the last year and I believe I would have been able to continue the progress.

"I feel that the club will progress without me, because of the sheer bloody-mindedness of everyone there.

"It has been such a difficult decision, but you can't let your heart rule your head. The bottom line is that you have to compare the dream of what might be to the reality of what is already in place. Worcester are in the Premiership and everything about them makes me think they can become a regular Heineken Cup club.

"Mike Ruddock was a major, major factor. I would not have gone as No 2 to anyone else, but Mike and I have had an excellent relationship for many years."

Griffiths will continue working at Doncaster until the end of next week. The majority of last season's regulars with the exception of Jason Forster and utility back Ben Gollings have already been re-signed and recruitment is under way. Solid foundations have been laid and the transition to the new director of rugby should not be too rocky.

The Knights are looking to make an appointment in the next six weeks. They appeared to have a ready-made successor in Griffiths's deputy Forster, but the veteran flanker has also left Castle Park. The team's captain and top try-scorer is seeking employment in Wales to be closer to his family.

"We are sad to see Jason go, but family should always come first," said Lloyd. "In terms of finding a new director of rugby, we are very much at the 11th hour, but I believe we are still an attractive proposition. We are really proud of our squad and we are looking to be totally full-time next season.

"There are good guys in position in the back-room staff and we are looking for someone to conduct the orchestra. We would like to have the right man in place by the end of next month. There has already been interest, but we are keeping an open book."


Last Updated: 18 May 2007