Gareth Walker reports......

ROCHDALE Hornets' back-rower Paul Smith is set to quit the game after a proposed move to St Helens fell through over a disagreement with his current club.

Smith had agreed terms with the Super League Champions, and believed he was set to move to Knowsley Road for the 2003 season.

But Saints weren't prepared to pay a transfer fee for Smith, and as he has another year remaining on his Hornets' contract, the move collapsed. Smith even offered to pay Hornets £5,000 of his own money to buy his contract out, but the club refused, believing they were entitled to a transfer fee in the region of £30,000.

The disagreement came with Smith claiming that Rochdale had stated at the beginning of last season that they would not stand in his way should a top flight club come in for him. But this is something Hornets' Chairman Ray Taylor refutes.

And Hornets are angered by what they see as the unsettling of one of their contracted players.
Now former Swinton player Smith -whose form last season saw him selected in the NFP All Stars team, as well as being the Supporters' Player and Coach's Player of the Year at Rochdale - is so disillusioned with Hornets that he is set for a move to rugby union.

"I can't see myself playing for Hornets again after the way they have treated me, which is a shame, especially as I have had a very good season," Smith told 'Rugby Leaguer & League Express'.

"When I originally signed I only wanted to sign a one-year contract, because Salford were interested in me, but I was persuaded to sign for two years, with the Chairman Ray Taylor telling me they wouldn't stand in my way if a Super League club wanted to sign me.

"St Helens wanted to sign me for next season, on a one-year contract. They were under the impression that I would be able to leave without them having to pay a fee for me. But Rochdale refused Saints' approach, saying a fee must be paid.

"I spoke at length with Ray Taylor, and he eventually admitted what he had said, but still thought Rochdale were entitled to a compensation payment. After two months of squabbling and nothing achieved, 1 offered Rochdale £5,000 of my own cash to be released from my contract. Rochdale discussed this suggestion in a board meeting, but they told me that at least £30,000 would have to be paid.

"I think £30,000 is a ridiculous figure, especially considering they signed me for nothing 12 months ago and I am paid no contract money."

Smith had resigned from his job as an IT Consultant, and has since had to "plead" for his position back. He has also seen Saints move instead for Wigan youngster Stuart Jones, and believes his chance of moving to Knowsley Road has now gone.

Taylor denies, however, that he told Smith he could leave to join a Super League club for no fee, and has been annoyed by St Helens' approach for Smith.

"I like to see lads progress, as Danny Sculthorpe did from here," Taylor said.

"I said to Paul at the beginning of the season that we're not a hard club, and that we won't be unreasonable. I think St Helens are being unreasonable in expecting to pick him up for absolutely nothing.

"At no time did I say we wouldn't stand in Paul's way - I said we wouldn't be unreasonable. Paul signed a contract that has no mention of a release to Super League.

"We also had a similar approach from Saints for Danny Sculthorpe last year along the same lines - that they had no money but wanted our player. The Wigan approach from Maurice Lindsay was done in a straight-forward, professional manner.

"St Helens had agreed a deal with Paul before they even approached us, and he's a contracted player. They had been talking to him without our permission.

"Our view is that he is a contracted player, he's been our Player of the Season, and if Saints think he's good enough for them then we think we're entitled to a fee."

The situation is not the first instance of a player being prevented from moving up to Super League as the club in question could not afford the fee.

Last year Jamie Rooney saw his move to Widnes Vikings collapse when they decided not to pay the £40,000 fee placed on him by an RFL Tribunal.

"It's a problem with young English lads at the moment - why would Saints pay £30,000 for me, plus my wages, when they could get an Australian," Smith says.

"Transfer fees are stopping young English players like me and Jamie developing. There should be a system put in place where a Super League club has to give a small payment, but nothing too much."

And while the game needs to ensure that bright young talents can progress in the game, clubs at lower levels feel a need to be compensated adequately when bigger clubs sign their players.

"It's something that Rugby League will have to sort out one way or the other," Taylor added.