Northampton Saints: Bayfield ‘Winger can’t be blamed for taking pay rise’
Picture by Linda Dawson
SAINTS great Martin Bayfield says Chris Ashton is perfectly within his rights to move to Saracens for more money.
It was confirmed yesterday, after months of speculation, that the England winger will be joining Saracens on a long-term contract at the end of the season.
Saints said they would not break the bank to keep hold of the 24-year-old with Saracens reportedly offering him between £250,000 and £300,000 a year.
It was far more than Saints could offer, with some suggesting it was £100,000 extra for a player who will be away on England duty for much of the season.
Bayfield (pictued, right) doesn’t blame Ashton for taking it and says Saints were right not to get into a bidding war for the former Wigan Warrior.
Ashton has been criticised by some fans for moving for the money, but Bayfield said: “If they were in a job and somebody turned around and said ‘you can do exactly the same job and we will pay £80,000 or £100,000 a year more’ would they take it?
“Players’ careers are very short, he could break his leg next year and never play again.
“Money is absolutely a clear cut reason in a professional sport for moving to another club if the difference from one pay cheque to another is that vast.
“Saints are are right not to get into a bidding war. This is a guy that if he continues to play for England is not going to be around that much. If you pay him an extra £100,000 then Ben Foden will say ‘hey what about me?’
“If another club comes in and says they are prepared to pay 40 per cent more, then that is up to them.”
But Bayfield warned Ashton, who released a book after the World Cup and was recently on Sky Sports’ Soccer AM, that he needs to start concentrating on his rugby. He said: “Chris Ashton has to realise that first and foremost he is a rugby player and he has got to play top-class rugby and play well. He may well have an agent who is trying to get him to write books and be more of a celebrity, but if you are scoring tries for England in a winning team then the publicity, fame and fortune will follow. That is what he has got to remember.”
There has been speculation that Ashton will not be selected for Saints’ clash with
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Comments
There are 13 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
JamesDickson
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 09:08 PMagreed tony conran, wilson will be massively missed, glad this Ashton situation is done now. he was on a fair bit as it was! so now hes going who can we add to the squad! cant wait for some news on new signings.
tony conran
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 06:08 PMRoger Wilson will be missed more, yet there's hardly a comment.
steve rodhouse
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 04:26 PMI also started watching the Saints in the early sixties and totally agree with bobby boy and Robbie Malton. Great athlete but lots missing from his all round game. Difficult to understand how people aren't more critical of him after all the childish situations he's been involved in lately. Never an apology either. I used to get taken outside, given a good slap, taken back in and made to buy the next jug. Good riddance.
bobby boy
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 01:48 PMNo Markh, I started going back in the 60's then i went to see my school teathers Andy Johnson and Keath Savage owe both played for Saints and England. dodn't remember seing in the old Gorden . there only was about 30 in that stand. so get a life old boy
executioners_bong
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 01:43 PMFair play to Ashie, he's come on leaps and bounds at the club and has been a great try scorer. All credit to Jim Mallinder for managing the situation as well as he has. I think getting the likes of Foden & Lawes to commit their future to the Saints is much more significant than letting Ashton go. Ashton's a good finisher but I'm sure a replacement equally as capable will be signed and that the Saints will continue to go from strength to strength under Mallinder's tutelage.
markh
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 01:12 PMbobby boy, doougie, robbie? What the hell are you on about? No doubt that you were NOT standing on the Gordon Terrace as I was in the late 70s and 80s watching the Saints week in, week out as a bunch of amateurs. Those days we all had a right to expect a certain amount of loyalty. These days we have a fully professional game where people must do what they feel is best for them as an individual - and in a line of work with a very limited career in time terms you'd be a fool to turn down a 40 per cent pay rise for a move to a rival organisation. Only a numpty would not expect a professional sportsman to treat their career options in exactly the same way as any individual. The lads given the club god service and now he's on his way. You have absolutely NO idea what has actually gone on behind the scenes. Only Ashton, his agent and the two clubs do. Wish him well and get ready to welcome new heroes - who will no doubt always be on the look out to improve their terms and conditions of employment.
franco100
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 01:10 PMLets hope Saints sign somebody from overseas so they play for saints and not England
franco100
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 01:09 PMIf he wants to play for a sol less club then good luck to him . Playing in front of 5000 poeple every week sometimes 7000 or 8000 if somebody like saints or tigers are down there . He is hardly availble for saints these days and he is well overated . Cannot play well without foden .
taggart
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 11:58 AMCome on guys, remember the good times. I have no doubt Flash is a complicated character and when his head is not in the right place he isn't the player he can be but he has had far far more good days than bad with us. I totally agree with Bayf about the money but there is also the Wigan connection at Sarries and he will find it easy to fit in with them, I have no doubt Mr Venter will also be working away to get the best out of him. Sure he could have handled himself better and I am certain his agent should take some responsibility for that. Saints will move on without him, good luck Flash and thank you.
robbie malton
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 11:12 AMBayfield is wrong on two counts. Firstly, there are correct ways to behave and Ashton has proven himself to be a p***k by acting like a child. Secondly Bayo II, England benefit enough from the Saints without creating more problems for themselves by letting him push loyal players out of either the first or second teams. I also think his all round game has a lot of gaps in it. Good riddance!
Winthorpe
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 10:54 AMGrow up Dougie. If someone offered you more £££ to move job you'd do it. And if not then its you that's the mug.
Dougie
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 10:21 AMLets be honest Chris Ashton is a money grabbing little pr**k, going around like hes a prem footballer or something, this is exactly what you dont want in Rugby, player power is ruining top level football and will eventually be the same in Rugby..... Either way let Ashton sit in the reserves for the remainder of his contract...What a mug.
bobby boy
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 09:46 AMMartin you are right , But there are ways of doing things and being up front with your club and ways not too, and thats why the fans will not forgive Ashton , its the way in which hes gone abouts things. for me he could go tomorrow, I do't think he no's the meaning of the word loyal.
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