James Hook turned down an unprecedented Ospreys offer
Ospreys head coach Sean Holley has insisted that the Welsh club did everything that they possibly could to keep British and Irish Lion James Hook.
Hook announced that he would be leaving the Ospreys at the end of the season and the Welsh star is expected to move to France, where Toulon, Perpignan and Toulouse have all declared their interest.
Holley told the BBC that the Ospreys offered Hook a lucrative contract, but that they could not compete with the money Hook is expected to earn in France.
"We put an extremely lucrative offer into James. [It was] unprecedented. These days if you want the best you have to pay top dollar. And fair play to our board, they would have significantly pushed the boat out for James," said the Ospreys coach.
With Hook set to depart at the end of the season next year, the Ospreys were keen to stress that no other star players had expressed a desire to leave the club.
Rumours suggesting that Lee Byrne was considering his future at the club were rubbished by Holley.
"Lee is contracted [until] 2012 with us. He is an Ospreys player. He is clearly happy here. He has stated that he is happy here," said the Ospreys coach.
Holley admitted that it was always going to be difficult to keep a player like Hook at the club, when he could earn more money in France. The coach believes Hook will be an important player for the Ospreys this season, despite his announcement. Holley also
admitted that he could understand the player’s decision to leave the club.
"It wasn't for the want of trying, but at the same time you have to understand James' decision and now we have got to get the best out of him for the rest of the season. James is at that stage where he wants to look after his family. He wants to pit himself
in a different environment and we have to accept that," said Holley.
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