Aviva Premiership
Sarries CEO tight-lipped over Ashton rumours
ESPNscrum Staff
January 14, 2012
Northampton's Chris Ashton takes a breather, Northampton Saints v Harlequins, Aviva Premiership, Franklin's Gardens, Northampton, England, January 6, 2012
Edward Griffiths has refused to comment on speculation linking Sarries with Ashton © Getty Images
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Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths has refused to comment on speculation linking the Aviva Premiership champions with England winger Chris Ashton.

Former Sarries boss and current technical director Brendan Venter claimed on Friday that he believed a deal for the flyer would be announced "in the next couple of weeks". His statement comes after weeks of speculation surrounding the future of the 24-year-old with current Saints boss Jim Mallinder previously stating that Ashton's agent had refused to discuss a new contract with the Franklin's Gardens side.

But when asked about Venter's claims, Griffiths told the Northampton Chronicle: "Our club policy is not to make any announcements until everything is finalised and that remains the case. Brendan Venter is a great man, but he doesn't have anything to do with the club's recruitment."

And with Ashton's departure in the pipeline, the same newspaper reports that Mallinder is eyeing Worcester duo Miles Benjamin and Marcel Garvey as possible replacements for the England winger.

Richard Hill, the boss at Worcester Warriors, is adamant that he will still pick the pair despite them stalling on signing new contracts with the likes of the Saints and Leicester Tigers circling.

"We all have to work hard to move up the table so people like Miles and one or two others who have been at this club for a long time now - and you can understand why they may want a change - can see a real future here," Hill told Worcester News. "Sometimes, when clubs like Leicester and Northampton come in for your players, it is difficult to keep them away from that.

"All will become clear in the next four weeks when I think both Miles and Marcel will have made a decision. I've not done anything about looking for replacements as the contracts are still on the table - if they sign, it will be absolutely brilliant, but if they don't I shall be out looking for new players."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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