Salford battle to get deal with Warrington for Sam Stone after ‘downing tools'
SunSport understands the back rower is claiming he resigned from the Red Devils and should be a free agent after refusing to play.
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The Wolves are close to completing a swoop for the Australian, with angered boss Paul Rowley claiming talks have been ongoing since pre-season.
Now it is believed that rather than a transfer fee, Super League's basement boys are trying to negotiate a move that will see one or more players move in the opposite direction for the test of the campaign.
That would reduce the wage bill even more as salaries are taken care of by the parent club but would still give the coach options to select from.
Stone's imminent departure would make it eight top stars to have departed since Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown took ownership of Salford.
And Rowley fumed: 'On Saturday, he downed tools.
'I'm fully understanding of everyone's position, thresholds and tolerance but that situation really put us in a bit of strife.
'The manner of it's not good. There's a way of doing things and that's not the way. If you make a decision that hurts your team-mates then it's not a good decision.
'Sam's been talking to another club since pre-season, so now he's fit I guess that move can start to take shape.'
While Stone, 27, is next to leave, SunSport understands Kailahi and Brown claim as many as seven players may be coming in, if finance comes good.
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So far, their ownership has been a disaster and Rowley has been forced to blood kids, with painter and decorator Sam Hill scoring a try against St Helens on Sunday.
And until money is in the bank account, he can only dream as he added: 'Until it's tangible and real, you're wasting your energy trying to make up a team of make believe players.
'I just crack on with the lads we've got.'
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