At least eleven former Cincinnati Riverhawks players have stepped forward in the past week admitting that their contracts had been voided and that they were owed back pay from the 2002 season. So far players that have come forward include Jon Pickup, Kirk Bevington, Shawn Rockey, Dzevat Nikocaj, Wes Schulte, Jon Tetirick, Simon Lowey, Giorgio Antongirolami, Dilwyn Gruffydd, and an unnamed player who is now under contract with another club.
The unnamed player also recounted a situation in which he had been injured only to find out that adequate treatment could not be provided due to a lack of workers compensation coverage. The situation took over six months to play out during which the player was encouraged to play for the team despite not properly recovering from the initial injury. Doctors had told the player after the fact that his career should have been over. He is currently trying to rehabilitate this injury and attempting a comeback.
Several of the players who have come forward still hold several of the checks, which bounced and are reportedly owed in excess of $1000 each.
Pickup stated, "This is the third contract that Nick has yet to fulfill. The first is our original contract. Then due to financial problems he ripped our contracts up in June and gave us a new one. That was after several checks had bounced, been re-issued, and then bounced again. Then the first paycheck for the "new" contract never arrived and that's when I decided to leave the team. I have constantly asked for my money since June/July without going public. I was then asked by Nick to try and understand that he was trying his best and could I sign a "new" contract with him stating I would have the money in full by February 28th."
Representatives within the league office have been notified of the situation and have obtained the relevant information pertaining to the case. This information is reported to include copies of several bounced checks, the workers compensation papers from the unnamed player, and an eviction notice to illustrate the point that these players were unable to pay their bills due to their lost wages.
Pickup is attempting to put the players' case together with the help of the same attorney that has already contacted Nick Ranieri on behalf of Simon Lowey. He is hoping that whatever happens will be done prior to the season. He said, "I don't want more young players to go through the same things, it's about time someone tried to put a stop to this. I would hope the players and I involved in Cincinnati would have the support of the league." He went on to add, "It's a shame to have young, enthusiastic talent come into the so-called professional arena only to have their love for the game ripped out of them. All that a player asks for is to be treated with respect. Unfortunately this is not the case in Cincinnati. How a young player wanting to make it in the league can show his full potential is beyond me. Playing alone is hard enough for these young players, never mind the constant worry of bouncing checks and eviction notices. Sadly, Cincinnati is losing its future players before they even get a chance to enjoy the game."
Pickup would also like to state that "this is a reflection upon the Cincinnati franchise and not the A-League. My involvement with the league, which dates back to 1994, has provided me with a great life, great teams and organizations. The A-League should be proud of the teams within it, not embarrassed."
Due to financial restraints some of the players among this group cannot afford legal counsel and are waiting for the results of Simon Lowey's dispute against Mr. Ranieri before they commit themselves to further actions.
