Cheeky Watson may face vote of no confidence

25 February 2016 - 02:46 By George Byron

Frantic last-minute canvassing is taking place among clubs ahead of tonight's EP Rugby annual meeting, where a vote of no confidence is expected to be brought against president Cheeky Watson. A fiery meeting is on the cards at the Pieter Rademeyer Hall in Algoa Park, where disgruntled clubs will bid to topple Watson and his executive after months of wrangling.The Times has a list of clubs who have signed the no-confidence motion and a list of their main grievances, which include:Presenting dubious financial statements;Lack of accountability;The financial crisis at the EP Kings;SA Rugby takeover of the Southern Kings;Messing up club rugby competition structures; and,Sponsorship bungles.An issue that has angered clubs is EP Rugby's decision to change the club rugby structure."We were all shocked to see this executive ignoring its constitution again by creating a club competition without tabling it to the union committee first," clubs said. "This is another clear transgression."Southern Kings officials are not happy with the bad publicity being generated by the EP Kings. They feel that members of the public are being confused and wrongly associate the Southern Kings with the cash-strapped EP Kings.Rugby Transformation Coalition spokesman Bantwini Matika handed in a file, signed by 31 clubs, calling for a vote of no confidence to EP Rugby general manager Sharief Gamiet at Imatu House just after 4pm on Monday, a source said.A Watson insider, who did not want to be named, said: "There were 12 clubs who delivered a vote of no confidence to the EP offices. Five of the letters were not signed. You need 24 clubs to be on your side to table a vote of no confidence."After tomorrow's meeting EP Rugby faces a date in the Port Elizabeth High Court on March 10 when a liquidation application will be heard after the EP Rugby Union failed to meet a deadline to pay 18 former EP Kings players...

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