Caveating things with "The Mail understands" is one thing. The HDM are suddenly stating as fact that Mason was linked with Toulon before he arrived in the UK. That is a lie. A pretty convenient one too now that Rovers are suddenly "investigating" prior contact with Toulon. Prejudicial IMO. And people call me manipulative.

Mason's agent will have had contact with Toulon well before the day Willie flew out to France.
You dont just get a phone call saying fancy nipping over tomorrow.

What? No derisive shouts of ridicule from Rovers on this particular Mail understanding, then??

Where's Roverswall? He tends to lead the way with these cries of foul. At least he did when the issue of funds being a loan was being questionned...

I doubt it was "well before". I heard Mrs O'Meley booked the flights only a couple of nights before he went.

Cooke approached Rovers.

Having defended his conduct in this regard, I can't now be very critical of Mason. I'd look ridiculous. Similarly, Hull fans who felt Cooke's behaviour was an outrage will no doubt take Rovers side in this case.

So Toulon made contact then are you saying
In all likeihood contact / interest will have been at least a couple of weeks before hand.

He'll certainly have had some prior contact, but it could have been a matter of days or weeks rather than months. In any case, speaking to a potential alternative employer cannot be blocked in a contract of employment and the RFL rules would only apply to other RL clubs. Any attempt to prove breach of contract is going to rely on interpretations of intentions rather than clear breaches. Could be very messy.

I might have missed this somewhere, but has it been established who made the initial overtures? That might make a difference to how the situation is interpreted.

Agreed.

Err, no. Another GML wild leap to incorrect conclusion, there. I'm merely saying I guess discussions were at a very early stage at that point. Please don't put potentially defamatory words in my mouth. Ta.