Steve Diamond sheds light on row that led to Chris Ashton's shock Sale exit
Chris Ashton left Sale after “a disagreement on how we want to play the game”, the club’s director of rugby Steve Diamond has said.
Sharks announced on Monday that the winger was departing with immediate effect after the club reached a mutual agreement with the 32-year-old regarding the termination of his contract.
Diamond said on Tuesday: “There is no situation, just a disagreement on how we want to play the game. “He wants to do it one way, I want to do it another and that’s it, so end of story.”
Asked how it would affect morale and the team, Diamond said: “It won’t, I don’t think. We’ve got Marland Yarde, Byron McGuigan, Denny Solomona, Arron Reed, Tom Roebuck… Plenty of players.”
He added: “We’ve got a squad good enough to cope with one or two people coming and going.”
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Ashton, who was not part of the squad for last Friday’s win against Gloucester, had scored four tries in seven Gallagher Premiership appearances this season.
He joined Sharks in July 2018 having completed only one season at French side Toulon.
BREAKING https://t.co/hDWSUyuawB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 2, 2020
The former Northampton and Saracens player won the last of his 44 England caps against France a year ago but has only been picked five times by boss Eddie Jones.
– Press Association
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Retallick and whitelock still good enough to take on the best but they have to produce the quality several games in a row. Who do the Kiwis have after they and Scott b? At least the front row will be okay. Back row interesting coz Sam came and Ardie look sorta essential but can it work? Works better with brodies work rate but still.. what do you think nick. Can they get away without the backup locks?
Go to commentsHe’s probably right. The Boks are going to play like the Boks and that’s hard to shake but on saying that the Boks were done in Brighton and pressured by Japan in Japan. Dunno what tongas got in the front row but their loosies will be powerful and their back three very dangerous. Maybe Adam coleman at lock and sekope kepu up front?
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