How SuperSport United blocked Rayners from playing for Stellies

A free-scoring Stellies paid a visit to Tshwane on Tuesday, when they were held to a goalless draw by Matsatsantsa in the DStv Premiership.

Rayners was a notable absentee for coach Stever Barker's charges, who had put five goals past Golden Arrows in their previous encounter over the weekend.

However, the 27-year-old, who has 15 goals to his name in just 11 appearances since returning to the Cape Winelands outfit in January, was barred from playing due to a clause in the sale agreement between the two clubs.

 "Stellenbosch couldn't give me all the money I wanted for the player, so in terms of our agreement and the payment plan they could accomodate, it was paying the [transfer] off over time," explained Matthews.

"So, up to now, I've not received one cent for the transfer of Rayners because they asked for some time before they could make their first payment.

"Now that they're in the Nedbank Cup semi-final, I think that time [to pay up] has come, but the reality was that I was basically doing Stellenbosch a favour by giving them a player before they had the capacity to pay for him.

"So, I didn't feel it was fair that I should be doing that and then having the player play against me [SuperSport], when I'm effectively subsidising some of his move.

"So, that was the reason that we put that clause in the [sale agreement], and I'm not sorry about it. If Stellenbosch paid me up front, there would have been no conditions attached."

Matthews, who is known to be vocal around the financial constraints within the Premier Soccer League landscape, added that this sort of agreement is one he would appreciate from other clubs.

"I understand what it's like to be the smaller club that can't afford to pay, and there were many times when I wished I could get payment terms, so I felt comfortable doing the deal with them," he added.

"I also know where I got Iqraam from – I signed him on a free from Stellies, and I genuinely believed that it was the right club for him to go back to [because] they play him in a way that suits his playing style.

"I felt completely justified as the club's CEO to try and cash in as much as I could and let Iqraam go."