Netball: Van Dyk sought ridiculous sum to return to capital

Irene van Dyk's manager sought $1.45 million for the world class goal shoot to return to the Capital Shakers national netball league franchise.

A sponsor of the Shakers, Mike Mahoney, said he had offered Silver Ferns star van Dyk $170,000 in April last year to shift from the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic to play two seasons for the Shakers.

He showed The Dominion Post an emailed counter-offer from van Dyk's manager Louise Newcombe in August which detailed nine conditions, requiring a total pay package of $1.45 million.

It included a $300,000 signing fee and at least $500,000 earnings for each of the two seasons.

That money was to come from sponsorship and advertising agreements that aligned with "developing Irene's role as an ambassador to Wellington".

Newcombe also wanted to be paid $150,000 for her role in securing van Dyk's services and an office in Wellington.

Five days later, Newcombe again emailed Mahoney, dropping the demand to $500,000.

Newcombe said that email evidence suggesting she made the lucrative pitch to Mahoney was incorrect.

"I wrote it based on Mike's ideas and proposals. I was reconfirming our discussions," she told the newspaper.

Newcombe, van Dyk and her husband, Christie, also told the newspaper that the player was not interested in moving and would finish her career with the Magic.

Former South African international shooter Van Dyk played for the Shakers from 2000 to 2002 after emigrating to New Zealand.

She still lives in Lower Hutt but has played for the Magic since 2003.

- NZPA