There is/was a new contract offer on the table for North. From their point of view, it makes sense to do this process a year early. If he wasn't going to sign it this year, what odds on him signing it next, when if anything clubs would be waving bigger wage slips under his nose due to not having to pay compensation as well? As far as I can see, Scarlets have tried to keep him and failed. As such, they are managing the timing of what they see as an inevitable departure to suit themselves. Scarlets should be a better rugby team next year at the very least for spending they money they had been on North on players who will be there; the year after, there was no North anyway.
I understand that, but how many players sign fresh contracts with a year to run on their previous contract? Every agent out there would tell him to hold out and see what offers arise the following year. We were all under the impression that Dan Biggar was offered some big money deals in France, but chose to stay in Wales. Adam Jones must have been one of the most sought after players when his contract was up a year or so ago, but again chose to stay in Wales. If North was happy at the Scarlets, then at the age of 20, he might have ultimately decided to accept a lower deal that what he could get in Northampton or France etc. and stay. The Scarlets haven't really given him that option, instead they have seen that £250,000 transfer fee and have ran with it.
Maybe it is the best option for them, maybe they can use that money to recruit a forward or two. But I still feel like they are missing the big picture. What if someone comes calling for Jon Davies, Aaron Shingler, Ken Owens etc. next, offering big transfer fees to cut their contracts short (we know the Franch clubs have the money), are they going to get rid of all their Welsh international players?
They can't even keep hold of an emerging 20 y/o outside half in Owen Williams, or an average win in Fenby (who to be fair has been one of their better players this season). They'll probably spend that £250,000 on a couple more average journeymen SA forwards (SA forwards are all hard-nosed beasts after all) and be just as poor next season, except this time they won't have wingers to score them some try's to give them a hope.
The Ospreys are building themselves a quality, young squad, using home-grown players. Those players obviously want to stay and help to region succeed as a number have turned down big-money moves to stay. The Scarlets (sorry, Llanelli) were run into the ground by Gallagher in terms of finance, went begging to the WRU and Llanelli council for help, and are now paying for that by selling their best players. That is nothing but a road to failure.
The WRU have offered to centrally contract international players for a year now. That would have meant North staying at the Scarlets, but the regions are too stubborn to do that, so now the Scarlets fans pay for it by no longer being able to watch one of Wales' most promising stars develop.
I hope North goes to Northampton, develops as a player under a proper coach (not a rookie bunch of coaches like Easterby and Mark Jones), and fulfil his potential.
Ospreys had a team of stars not too long ago. I believe they were nicknamed the 'Galacticos'? (It was around the time I started getting into rugby, so those years are a little hazy.) They didn't really live up to their potential. I think that despite losing so many big names, the Ospreys are managing to consistently stay afloat near the top. Also, big losses at the time are nearly always mitigated by there being quality/young replacements. Bowe and Shane leave - Walker and Dirksen look to be something special. Holah and Collins? Tipuric and Jones. Bennett? Hibbard. Paul James? Bevington. Lee Byrne? Fussell. James Hook? Dan Biggar. Meanwhile, it looks like Evans and AWJ are getting better by the years - potential Lions second row there. Ospreys have a knack for developing replacements.
