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Blake Ayshford quashes rumours that he is due to be traded to make space for Michael Jennings
Andrew Webster
The Daily Telegraph
October 26, 2012 12:00AM
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WESTS Tigers centre Blake Ayshford has quashed rampant talk he is being pushed out of the club - as Panthers general manager Phil Gould insisted NSW centre Michael Jennings is going nowhere.
Ayshford has been at the centre of persistent rumours for two months about being squeezed out of the Tigers so they can accommodate the potential arrival of the disgruntled Penrith superstar.
Club officials have maintained that is not the case, and Ayshford yesterday broke his silence on the matter.
He will meet new coach Mick Potter today but has already been assured he is wanted at Concord Oval in the post-Tim Sheens era.
"I signed last year for three years and I want to see that out," the 24-year-old said.
"People keep coming up to me and telling me where I'm going. I've heard some crazy rumours.
"The club has never told me that I was getting shopped around, or I was being released. As far as I knew, I was playing for the Tigers.
"I've got all my mates at the club. Some have gone, that's part of footy, but I want to play for the Tigers.
"I just got off the phone to (Potter). I'll see what he wants out of me this year. And how to get the best out of me."
The truth behind Ayshford's situation at the Tigers is that South Sydney approached him in August about a possible move to Redfern.
With the Tigers feeling the strain of salary cap pressure, Ayshford was granted permission to speak to the Rabbitohs - but that is as far as negotiations went.
Jennings, though, continues to be be linked to several NRL clubs - including Parramatta - but only the Dragons have held genuine interest.
Gould confirmed to The Daily Telegraph last night the Dragons had made an approach, but Jennings' manager Isaac Moses had told him Jennings wasn't interested.
"The only approach the Panthers have received concerning Michael Jennings has been from St George Illawarra," Gould said. "Michael Jennings' manager called me six weeks ago and said he was not interested in dealing with St George Illawarra."
Gould has made it clear throughout this year he would not be prepared to pay out any of the Jennings deal if he was to be moved on.
While the Panthers have salary cap concerns, they are not so hamstrung they must release Jennings, who is the highest-paid player at the Panthers on a deal worth $600,000 for this season.
Andrew Webster
The Daily Telegraph
October 26, 2012 12:00AM
\
\
WESTS Tigers centre Blake Ayshford has quashed rampant talk he is being pushed out of the club - as Panthers general manager Phil Gould insisted NSW centre Michael Jennings is going nowhere.
Ayshford has been at the centre of persistent rumours for two months about being squeezed out of the Tigers so they can accommodate the potential arrival of the disgruntled Penrith superstar.
Club officials have maintained that is not the case, and Ayshford yesterday broke his silence on the matter.
He will meet new coach Mick Potter today but has already been assured he is wanted at Concord Oval in the post-Tim Sheens era.
"I signed last year for three years and I want to see that out," the 24-year-old said.
"People keep coming up to me and telling me where I'm going. I've heard some crazy rumours.
"The club has never told me that I was getting shopped around, or I was being released. As far as I knew, I was playing for the Tigers.
"I've got all my mates at the club. Some have gone, that's part of footy, but I want to play for the Tigers.
"I just got off the phone to (Potter). I'll see what he wants out of me this year. And how to get the best out of me."
The truth behind Ayshford's situation at the Tigers is that South Sydney approached him in August about a possible move to Redfern.
With the Tigers feeling the strain of salary cap pressure, Ayshford was granted permission to speak to the Rabbitohs - but that is as far as negotiations went.
Jennings, though, continues to be be linked to several NRL clubs - including Parramatta - but only the Dragons have held genuine interest.
Gould confirmed to The Daily Telegraph last night the Dragons had made an approach, but Jennings' manager Isaac Moses had told him Jennings wasn't interested.
"The only approach the Panthers have received concerning Michael Jennings has been from St George Illawarra," Gould said. "Michael Jennings' manager called me six weeks ago and said he was not interested in dealing with St George Illawarra."
Gould has made it clear throughout this year he would not be prepared to pay out any of the Jennings deal if he was to be moved on.
While the Panthers have salary cap concerns, they are not so hamstrung they must release Jennings, who is the highest-paid player at the Panthers on a deal worth $600,000 for this season.
