ONE of the most turbulent spells in Group 11's recent history came to a close yesterday as former Macquarie captain-coach John Grey was officially unveiled as a Dubbo CYMS player.
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Grey shocked the competition back on May 23 when he announced his resignation from his position at Dubbo Macquarie after a falling out with the club's executive committee over a list of demands he made regarding his role.
After taking some time away from the game Grey revealed his decision to sign with CYMS but that move couldn't be completed due to a $7000 fee Macquarie placed on the former Manly Sea Eagles stars' head.
The issue was then sent to the Country Rugby League to be settled only for them to side with the Raiders and state any side wishing to sign Grey would have to stump up the cash.
CYMS' first offer was rejected by Raiders president Mark Meredith and his club but yesterday the two local rivals came to an agreement and Grey admitted his relief at finally sealing the deal after announcing his his intention to join CYMS 27 days ago.
"It's felt like it's gone on for months and months because it's something that I've lived and breathed every day for the last 27 days," he said after the official announcement yesterday.
"I was even thinking 'will I ever get to play again?' and I'm just so stoked that everything is behind us now and we can move on and I get a chance to play footy and more importantly I get a chance to play out the year, which is something I thought was the furthest from a possibility."
Dubbo CYMS chairman Kevin Walkom also admitted his joy at the deal being finalised but admitted neither he nor the Macquarie club would be giving any details on the terms of the agreement.
"Over the last week I've been speaking with Mark Meredith and we've reached a mutually acceptable agreement," he said.
"The agreement is based on an understanding from both management groups and that agreement will be kept in strict confidentiality.
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"We're now moving forward and we're looking forward to John pulling on a CYMS jersey."
Meredith spoke yesterday about the situation and said his club was happy with CYMS' terms and admitted he was looking forward to the Raiders' attention being back on on-field matters.
"It's been in the background since it occurred and both sides can now settle down and concentrate on the second half of the 2014 season," he said.
"Football is football and business is business and I've tried to not be too involved but I've always said we wish John and his family all the best."
Grey couldn't thank the CYMS management and in particular Walkom enough for the effort they put in to make him a member of the Fishies while he added at times he had felt frustrated with Macquarie for the way things turned out.
"I can't thank CYMS enough and especially Kevin Walkom for the fight that he's put up for me and obviously I've had to do some fighting myself to seek some clarity about the situation and process and I do thank Macquarie for understanding and seeing the release through," he said.
"I don't hold a grudge but to say there's still not a bit of animosity there, I don't think you could say at all because a lot of things have happened in those 27 days. Firstly to leave the club was hard enough but for the whole release debacle to turn out the way it has, that's the most disappointing aspect of the whole situation, the way this release has had to come about."
With the matter now settled Grey will have to wait to make his debut as CYMS have the bye this weekend. He will get his chance to debut for the Fishies in the round 12 clash with Dubbo Westside before a huge match against former club Macquarie the week after.
"I'm really looking forward to ripping in against Westside in two weeks time, I can't wait," he said, before adding he was keen to link up with a CYMS side currently on top of the ladder.
"The position they're in at the moment and the run home as well, I think it's highly evident it's going to be a strong finals push."