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Spears board suspends CEO
Since SA Rugby launched the franchise last year and ensured participation in the 2007 and 2008 Super 14 series, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge. The Spears were told in April that they would not take part in the Super 14 series anymore, but that they would be allowed to take part in the Currie Cup series, provided they organised their own financial backing. McKeever said he was informed in a signed fax, dated May 12, by the Spears board of directors that he had been suspended, pending a disciplinary hearing. Die Burger has a copy of the fax signed by Spears president, Aldy Meyer. It states that McKeever has been suspended with full salary from May 6. An investigation will be launched into irregularities allegedly perpetrated by McKeever. Not allowed to enter offices The board of directors will decide after the conclusion of the investigation if formal disciplinary steps should be taken against McKeever. The alleged irregularities are, among others, unauthorised expenses, unauthorised communications to SA Rugby and the media and neglecting to provide financial statements after a request by the board of directors. While suspended, McKeever, who is in Cape Town at present, will not be allowed to enter the Spears offices. McKeever has been advised to make a written representation to Meyer if he should feel his human rights have been infringed. McKeever described the allegations as "unfounded nonsense" and said his suspension was a sequel to continued pressure from SA Rugby on the Spears board of directors. Last received a salary in March "SA Rugby is trying to suffocate the Spears slowly, but surely, and my suspension is just another example of their tactics. "First, they forced us out of the Super 14 series; now they're trying to get us out of the Currie Cup and they're forcing the board of directors to suspend me," McKeever said heatedly. He said it was a joke that he had been suspended with full salary, because he last received a salary in March. "Several things started going better after my suspension with regard to the Eastern Province Rugby Union, Border and South-Western Districts." (The Spears franchise comprises these three unions). Will pay their players He said a new and less-strict agreement had been agreed upon between the EPRU and SA Rugby for hosting the Test against Scotland; Border and SWD have received subsidies for their Spears players and Saru have said they will pay their players in the Spears squad until the end of November. SA Rugby CEO Johan Prinsloo said on Monday, however, that no decision had been finalised yet about paying Spears players. Meyer declined to comment on McKeever's suspension. The president of SA Rugby, Oregan
Hoskins, told Die Burger that McKeever was a Spears employee and that his suspension
was their decision and not SA Rugby's. | | |
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