The Herald reports that players at the French club have had the payment of their wages delayed and the club is being investigated by regulators. The mayor of Begles has questioned the source of their funding, making a string of allegations about their Algerian businessman backer, Rafik Khalifa, the owner of Khalifa Airways. A meeting will take place tonight at which club officials will present their accounts to the regulators, but the club faces the prospect of salary-capping or being told to release players if they cannot prove that revenues are at the levels they have claimed.
Gordon McIlwham admitted to experiencing alarm when his pay did not arrive on time. "From what we are told, it is back on track, but the financial stuff was getting out of order. They were paying us 10 to 14 days late," he said, noting that the team's shirt sponsorship had changed from Khalifa Airways to that of a local company, Bassin De Arcachon, last weekend.
James McLaren has been through a similar situation in his previous time in French rugby with Bourgoin so understands that such situations crop up on a reasonably regular basis there. "It is not unusual in French rugby to have these problems but last month was a bit of a nightmare because we were paid very late," he said. "I spoke to my wife about it and then had a word with my agent to have a sniff around and see what else is there. These are the last couple of years of my career and I don't want to be messed about by that sort of rubbish."
McLaren and McIlwham have both indicated that they would consider a return to play their rugby in Glasgow. Warriors coach Kiwi Searancke took over after the players were released and has made it clear he would not have let McLaren leave Hughenden. He has also said recently that he is on the look-out for a strong scrummaging prop and McIlwham has proved he can cope with playing on either side of the front-row during his time in French rugby.