Aviva Premiership
Saints will not be held to ransom over Ashton
ESPNscrum Staff
December 12, 2011
England's Chris Ashton carries out his traditional dive, England v Romania, Rugby World Cup, Otago Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand, September 24, 2011
Chris Ashton's signature is going to be hotly contested © Getty Images
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Northampton chairman Leon Barwell is adamant the Saints will not be held to ransom over Chris Ashton with the England winger reportedly in Saracens' sights.

The Saints winger is apparently weighing up a move to Vicarage Road at the end of the season with his contract expiring in the summer. And following his try-scoring exploits during the 2011 Six Nations and subsequent World Cup, Ashton's signature will be hotly sought after. With Joel Tomkins - a good friend of Ashton - making the switch to Saracens, he could well help lure the 24-year-old winger to the Premiership champions.

But Saints chairman Barwell maintains they will not "throw money" at Ashton to keep him at Franklin's Gardens. "As far as I'm aware, we haven't spoken about money. He will know where we place him financially," Barwell told BBC Look East. "But we're not going to throw money at the problem."

"We're reviewing options. Despite all the speculation we definitely want to keep Chris. Talks are ongoing. No club is allowed to speak with Chris until January anyway.

"But he has to decide where he wants to play. He'll be considering any offers that come his way. Jim decides who represents value. He wants to build a stable team. Chris will eventually have to commit one way and it depends on his personal aspirations.

"We initially had conversations with our England players before the World Cup. Jim always talks with his players about their aspirations for the future."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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