Force firm favourites to do O'Connor deal
Western Force are in the box seat to re-sign James O'Connor after English premiership club Saracens scoffed at reports they were chasing the wayward Wallaby.
O'Connor was dumped by Melb-ourne Rebels at the end of their Super Rugby season.
Saracens, who already have a 40-man squad for their Aviva premiership campaign, issued the official club line on player signings when asked by _The West Australian _ about the speculation.
"Saracens are regularly linked with leading rugby players around the world and our club policy is to neither confirm nor deny rumours, and to make announcements only when contracts are signed," chief executive Edward Griffiths said.
But another club source said there was no truth in the rumours and he did not know how they started or who started them. They would not be recruiting more players.
Another report, that O'Connor was unhappy about being owed money from a third-party deal with Tim Johnston after the collapse of fuel additive company Firepower, is untrue. O'Connor was never on the controversial sponsor's list.
The Force now appear to be the only club talking to O'Connor, who left Perth under a cloud two years ago amid claims and counter claims about his demands.
O'Connor, criticised for his off-field behaviour after the recent British and Irish Lions series, will only be eligible for the Wallabies if he remains at an Australian club.
_The West Australian _ revealed four months ago the Force were looking at bringing O'Connor back to the club.
Since then both coach Michael Foley and chief executive Mark Sinderberry have spoken to him, but the Force and O'Connor's management team remain tight-lipped.
The Force have made it clear what they would expect from O'Connor and any contract would certainly have performance clauses written into it. It is understood the Australian Rugby Union is also looking closely at his contract.
There has been speculation that a deal could be struck soon, but a spokeswoman for O'Connor's management company, Octagon Australia, said: "Unfortunately at this stage we are not in a position to comment."
