ALREADY strife-torn by the removal of the captaincy from Bobbie Goulding and a transfer request from Alan Hunte, Saints have denied that a media report that coach John Monie is on his way to Knowsley Road.

The claim was repudiated by chairman Eric Ashton when I took part with him in an exclusive head-to-head meeting.

Said Mr. Ashton: "The Monie story is totally without foundation as far as Saints are concerned and, while agreeing that my fellow director Howard Morris and chief executive David Howes did meet John in Auckland last month, the reasons for this were purely social.

"The coaching situation at Saints is unchanged in that the contract of Shaun McRae still has another season to run, and he has assured us that he will honour that."

I also put the following questions to chairman Ashton:

WHITTLE: Bobbie Goulding's demotion came at the first board meeting after the Saints' party returned from Australia and New Zealand. Was this merely coincidence?

ASHTON: I can only repeat what has already been said on the matter. Bobbie was relieved of the captaincy for disciplinary reasons. But we are happy that he has taken our decision in the right spirit and will remain a key figure in Saints' plans. Bobbie and his wife Paula are, of course, experiencing tremendous worry regarding the health of their newly-born daughter, and everyone at Knowsley Road sends their best wishes.

WHITTLE: Is the appointment of Chris Joynt as Goulding's successor a permanent one, and can fans now assume Chris will be withdrawing his transfer request?

ASHTON: As far as I am aware Chris has accepted the captaincy but the question of permanency is a matter for coach Shaun McRae and Joynt. WHITTLE: What is the nature of Alan Hunte's discontent?

ASHTON: Alan has put his grievances to me in a two-hour long discussion and all I can say at the moment is that his current contract has three years to run and his transfer request was turned down at Tuesday's board meeting.

WHITTLE: Rightly or wrongly Saints' directors have been condemned for failing to ensure that a percentage of the Murdoch money was not spent on ground improvements and was, instead, used on increasing players' contracts. How would you respond to that charge?

ASHTON: First of all by stating that after being initially promised £1.1m the Murdoch windfall was reduced first to £960,000 and then £850,000 in order that clubs outside Super League get a fairer share of the cake. Then, acting on the advice of Maurice Lindsay, clubs were told to upgrade the contracts of certain players in order that they would not be subject to approaches from the ARL. Mr Lindsay's words were echoed by Shaun Richardson, who is chief executive of Cronulla. WHITTLE: With talk rife of a player clear-out at Saints, but with no movement in the transfer market due to financial reasons, what club is in a position to buy and sell?

ASHTON: I would agree that, as with every club, cash flow is a problem at Saints with a contract outlay hovering around the £2m mark. It would seem that player-swaps, on-loan periods etc may be the way to stimulate movement in the immediate future. But it is not the long-term answer and this is something that needs to be addressed as a matter or urgency.

WHITTLE: It's an old chestnut, but what were you views on the Iestyn Harris affair?

ASHTON: I know it became an on-going saga, but when negotiations began Saints offered a players-plus-cash deal but Warrington did not want any of our players. They were adamant they wanted £350,000 before Saints settled personal terms with Harris. We could not afford it.

WHITTLE: Has there been a significant increase in corporate business sponsorship since Rupert Murdoch and Sky became Rugby League's paymasters?

ASHTON: I can obviously only speak for Saints and say that sponsorship has improved due to the untiring efforts of the commercial staff.

WHITTLE: It was a lifeline at the time, but many people said that summer rugby and blanket television coverage would empty the grounds. Surely that is proving the case?

ASHTON: There is no doubt that watching a top match from the comfort of armchair is an attractive proposition, but the key to getting supporters through the turnstiles is a winning team, as Saints proved last year and Bradford Bulls and Leeds are following suit today. As for Saints' low attendance against Paris, yes, television had its effect, but it should also be remembered that we are in the height of the holiday season, the opposition was poor and they did not bring any worthwhile support.

WHITTLE: As a man who starred in the game at the highest level a generation ago what are your views on the modern version of Rugby League football?

ASHTON: I believe there is little wrong with the modern product in that it is faster than in my day, and as a result calls for greater levels of fitness and stamina. However the game is a little too predictable for my liking with less opportunity for individual flair. Pet hates for me include four substitutions - with the prospect of no-limit looming - and the contentious issue of squad numbering.

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