George Ford ponders future as Mike leaves Leicester
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Leicester Tigers fly half George Ford reacts dejectedly after the European Rugby Challenge Cup Final match between Leicester Tigers and Montpellier at Twickenham Stadium on May 21, 2021 in London, England. A limited number of fans will be allowed into the stadium as Coronavirus restrictions begin to ease in the UK following the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
GEORGE Ford's long-term future at Leicester Tigers was last week thrown into debut when his father Mike parted company with the Welford Road club.
The England fly-half has 12 months left to run on his £660,000-a-year deal with the Tigers but there is an option to extend it for a further two years.
Ford, 28, who is the Tigers' marquee player, has until the end of the year to let them know if he is going to take up the option on his deal which will involve him cutting his pay by a third.
Blindside believes the matter is entirely in the hands of Ford, who put pen to paper on the new deal last June.
Ford returned to the Tigers in 2017 from Bath but will face a dilemma about staying at the club that has fired his dad to bring in Kevin Sinfield from Super League Leeds Rhinos.
He is likely to find there aren't many Premiership clubs that could afford to splash out on a player who, under league rules, couldn't be a marquee player if moving from a rival club.
Some who can afford it may be reluctant because he will miss a large proportion of the season with international duty for England.
Ford may well decide to wait until after the 2023 World Cup before calling time on his international career and moving across the Channel.
BY NEIL FISSLER
