Quote ="Jimmythecuckoo"for some reason rugbyleague.com doesnt open on my work pc... any chance of a copy and paste?'"
Catalans Dragons have announced the signing of Sydney Roosters assistant and former Toulouse player-coach Trent Robinson on a three year contract.
He will join the club next season after current coach Kevin Walters opted to move on at the end of the 2010 campaign.
But on the same day as the new boss was secured, details have emerged of financial problems at the club and a potential player exodus.
rugbyleague.com understands that the Dragons - who have already lost Jamil Fakir and Demitri Pelo to French Rugby Union - are set to lose several more players at the end of the season as financial problems begin to bite.
The Dragons have also recently been forced to pay over 130,000 Euros in compensation to fromer Chief Executive Marc Conessa following an employment dispute and the club is believed to be facing further additional action from ex-players and affliates, as well as being under a French goverment tax and national insurance investigation.
Other possible player departures from the Catalans include prop David Ferriol, club captain Olivier Elima and Australian full back Clint Greenshields - who according to players agent Pierre Vendome is a target for cash rich French rugby union club Biarittz.
Biarittz - who last season signed former Australian full-back Karmichael Hunt - are understood to be seeking to buy out Greenshields' contact with the Dragons, which in turn would free up funds for the Perpignan club.
Several other players are also seeking to leave the club when their contracts expire, according to Vendome.
It is thought the Dragons will now look to Robinson to develop more local talent and as well as signing English players, rather than their more expensive Australian counterparts.
"I am proud to sign with the Catalans Dragons and come back to France after my time in Toulouse", said Robinson.
"I know the french culture and way of life and I want the team to develop its own game. I know I am ready to manage a Super League team and I am looking forward to that challenge".
Catalans Chief Executive Christophe Jouffret added,"We have talked to many people involved in our sport to get as many points of view possible on Trent.
"He is a young coach but with already a strong experience at the highest level in the NRL.
"His profile suits to our club which must improve after five years in Super League. He is young, ambitious, hard worker and with new ideas to develop french rugby league.
"He is extremely motivated and will start his job as soon as possible to analyse our curent staff and players to be sure to come back to our best next season".
