Latest news with #JasonBurt
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Bombshell as Cyril Rioli texts reveal secret footy comeback plan under Alastair Clarkson at Kangaroos - just WEEKS before the Hawthorn racism saga unfolded in 2022
In the latest bombshell to engulf the AFL, it can now be revealed Hawthorn legend Cyril Rioli considered a shock return to the sport under former coach Alastair Clarkson at North Melbourne - just weeks before Hawthorn's racism saga exploded. Rioli - who won four premiership at the Hawks - spoke to his one-time mentor in August and September of 2022 about turning out for the Kangaroos the following season, once Clarkson took over at Arden St. 'Interested and keen,' was Rioli's response when asked if he would dust off his playing boots after previously retiring in 2018. Ultimately, at 33, Rioli felt he may struggle with the fitness levels required and the move never eventuated - but 'Junior' was reportedly open to joining North Melbourne in an off-field role such as an Indigenous liaison officer. Incredibly, just a few weeks later, legal action in relation to historical racism allegations aimed at Hawthorn, Clarkson, current Brisbane Lions head coach Chris Fagan and former welfare manager Jason Burt was then launched after the 2022 Grand Final. The high-profile Hawks trio all strenuously denied any wrongdoing, with an subsequent investigation from the AFL finding no adverse findings. Rioli was the lead complainant in a statement of claim against his former club which accused Clarkson, Fagan and Burt of 'separating Indigenous players from their families.' The decorated half forward flank also accused Hawthorn of 'unlawful discrimination' causing 'psychological harm', 'distress' and 'personal harm' throughout his decorated career which started in 2008 and concluded a decade later. Additionally, Rioli and his partner Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, said they felt 'culturally unsafe' at Hawthorn. Clarkson and Rioli have not spoken since their text exchange in 2022. With the matter set to play out in the Federal Court involving Hawthorn, the club resolved the matter on AFL draft night in November last year. A statement formally apologised to Rioli and wife Shannyn, Jermaine Miller-Lewis, Montanah-Rae Lewis, Carl Peterson and former Hawthorn Indigenous officer Leon Egan for their 'distress' at the club. 'Hawthorn accepts that the allegations were made in good faith, and has heard, respects, and accepts that they represent their truths,' part of the statement said. 'Hawthorn is sorry and apologises that the former players, partners, and their families, in either pursuing a football career, or in supporting such a person, experienced ongoing hurt and distress in their time at the club.' Clarkson experienced a mental health breakdown in 2023 and took personal leave from the Kangaroos amid the devastating fallout.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Asylum hotel companies vow to hand back some profits
Two companies that receive taxpayers' money to house asylum seekers in hotels have said they will hand back some of their profits to the Home Office. Under contracts signed by the previous Conservative government, Clearsprings, Mears and Serco must pay back any profits of more than 5%. A report released last week said the three companies had made combined profits of £383m since 2019, after the expected costs of housing asylum seekers tripled. Appearing before a parliamentary committee, Clearsprings and Mears said they would be paying money back. Serco said they had not made enough profit to do so. The cost of asylum accommodation has concerned ministers for a number of years and was an issue raised repeatedly by Reform UK during the recent local elections in England. Representatives of the three companies responsible for finding that accommodation made a rare appearance at the Home Affairs Select Committee. The director of health and safety compliance at Mears, Jason Burt, told MPs on the committee that the company expected to pay back £13.8m, "subject to Home Office audit". Clearsprings' managing director, Steve Lakey, said his firm had £32m "ready to go" but that they were "waiting for the Home Office" before it could be transferred. The Home Office auditing processing is understood to still be ongoing, with no indication of when it will be completed. Overall profits at the three companies involved are still expected to rise, due to an increase in the amount of hotels being used to house asylum seekers. When the taxpayer-funded contracts were signed in 2019, the vast majority of people were housed in accommodation within communities. Around a third are now housed in hotels, which come at a far greater expense to the public finances. The National Audit Office (NAO) said last week that three quarters of all the money spent on asylum accommodation currently goes on hotels. Labour and Conservative governments have both pledged to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers. Serco, Mears and Clearsprings all said they supported a move away from hotel use, despite the positive impact it has had on their bottom lines. Decisions taken by Boris Johnson's government to stop processing many asylum claims are seen as a major driving force behind the initial increase in the use of hotels. Clearsprings' founder and director, Graham King, has previously donated to the Conservative Party, through other companies he has owned. The Sunday Times reported last weekend that King had recently become a billionaire thanks to soaring profits at the company. A senior Home Office source said the Labour government "inherited chaos right across the system". They said the Conservatives signed "disastrous contracts that were not properly scrutinised – wasting millions in taxpayer money". The source pointed to a recent government decision to block Clearsprings from using one provider, as evidence that ministers are willing "to take whatever action necessary to guarantee value for money for the taxpayer". When quizzed by MPs about the government's criticism of the contracts, the three companies defended the services they were providing. Mr Burt said he believed Mears was providing a "reasonable" service to the Home Office. He also told MPs that companies do not take into account the potential impact on local areas when suggesting asylum hotel locations to the Home Office. Burt said the government had an opportunity to raise any concerns, but that it was not the job of companies such as Mears to carry out those assessments. Asylum accommodation costs rises to £400m in NI, says watchdog Asylum seeker hotel contract to be scrapped due to failures
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Southampton panicked and spent over the odds'
Telegraph journalist Jason Burt, speaking about Southampton's relegation on a special BBC Radio 5 Live programme about life at the bottom of the Premier League:"I rate Russell Martin very highly, I think he is a better manager than Southampton. I think he should be at a higher club. He's obviously tried to implement a style at Southampton that the players weren't good enough to play."They went from having someone like Russell Martin in charge who has a specific style of football - then, bringing in a coach like Ivan Juric is a huge gear change."To suddenly try to change mid-season is almost impossible because it means a club has no real pattern in what they want to achieve."Southampton panicked and spent a load of money over the odds. Nottingham Forest did the same, they gambled but got away with it. Sometimes it does work which makes other clubs think that they can do the same."Clubs come into the Premier League and think they have to spend and they end up spending very badly. Southampton spent money on players that were, frankly, sub-standard."Listen to the full programme on BBC Sounds
