ARGYLE DEBTOR Wilkin: He owes big
JON WILKIN has vowed not to let shamed former Toronto boss David Argyle be forgotten “as a bad experiment”.
Wilkin says he is owed about £100,000 by the multi-millionaire and has given up hope of ever getting paid.
He has also been left with severe medical problems because he claims the Wolfpack stopped paying the players’ health insurance.
The former England and St Helens forward said: “His integrity is well and truly in question.
“David has not taken his responsibility seriously and has left people high and dry. He should be accountable.”
Argyle, who has business interests around the world, pulled the Canadian side out of Super League last year, blaming financial problems caused by Covid.
He then stepped away from the club after Super League refused to let them back into the competition this year.
It left players in turmoil with no money or job and Wilkin (right) says many are still suffering as a result.
He said: “I am not putting the begging bowl out because it’s been tough for everyone in life in the last 18 months.
“But I don’t want Toronto to be dismissed as a bad experiment, just because some people didn’t want them in the competition. There is a right and a wrong and David is wrong. He stopped doing the right thing, with the health insurance, long before he decided to pull out.
“He gave a personal guarantee to pay everyone but he shouldn’t have signed it if he had no intention of honouring the commitment.
“I am speaking out for all the players. What has happened is wrong.”
The GMB union is fighting to get 24 former players and staff the money they are owed but Wilkin, who isn’t in the union, added: “I have 100 per cent given up on my money.
“He is a multi-millionaire with businesses around the world. In my experience there is only going to be one winner.”
Wilkin’s former club St Helens have offered to fund the surgeries he needs on his knee, shoulder and neck. He said: “Because the health insurance wasn’t paid at Toronto I wasn’t able to have these other major surgeries done.
“I haven’t been able to run for 18 months, I get numbness in my fingers which is coming from my neck and my shoulder needs doing.”
An RFL spokesman said: “We share the frustration of the players affected and all others involved. We continue to put what pressure we can on the relevant parties to realise the personal guarantees owed to the players.”
DAVID ARGYLE is paying a few thousand pounds a month towards the money he owes his former stars.
But so far, he’s understood to have only coughed up about £15,000 of the £700,000 that he is believed to owe union-member players.
The money is being paid into an account set up by the
GMB union which is representing 24 players and staff.
Players, however, fear they may never get the full money they are owed with others also in line.
GMB senior organiser Peter Davies said: “I can understand their frustrations but we will be relentless in pushing him and I think that’s why he is co-operating.”
Argyle was contacted for
comment.