Gareth Hock will be available to face Salford Red Devils insist Leigh Centurions

Leigh Centurions head of rugby Derek Beaumont insists that Gareth Hock will be available for selection when the Championship side take on Salford in the Challenge Cup next weekend.

That is despite his former club claiming that Hock would be going against an agreement he made with them should he play.

The former England international, 31, left Salford in February and joined the Centurions shortly afterwards but had to wait until Easter Monday to make his debut for the club. However, Beaumont was bullish as he declared will not be forced to miss another game so soon.

"There's been a lot of speculation over that but I decide who plays for Leigh and Salford don’t decide that," he told Boots N’ All.

"There is a private agreement, a compromise agreement, between Salford and Gaz, I had no knowledge of that when I signed him. If I make an agreement with another club I’ll always honour it and stick to it but I wasn’t aware of it.

"In fact, there is a clause within it that prevents Gaz even telling anyone about it so his hands were a little bit tied.

"There is some stuff to be sorted off the field with Salford but I decide who plays for Leigh and Gaz Hock will definitely play against Salford, provided Paul (Rowley) picks him, of course. But he is certainly available for selection and I’d be surprised if Paul didn’t pick him."

However, Red Devils owner Dr Marwan Koukash tells a different story and warned that legal action would be taken against Hock if he breaks the compromise agreement.

“Gareth Hock asked to leave the club, we agreed a compromise deal with him in which we are still paying part of his salary and in return he agreed - and it is in black and white - that he doesn’t play against us,” he said.

“Now should he choose to play, that will be his business but that will put his compromise deal in jeopardy.”

Asked if that meant Hock would miss out on payments currently owed to him, Koukash was unequivocal in his reply.

“It would be a lot more than that, I assure you,” he added. “It is a legal document that he has agreed to and we kept our part of the bargain.

“It surprises me Leigh claiming that they didn’t know about the deal etcetera because Gareth’s agent made it absolutely clear to us that Leigh are aware of it. So to start playing silly games now prior to an important game is very, very silly.”

He agreed - and it is in black and white - that he doesn’t play against us

The disagreement even spilled over onto social media in recent weeks with the pair again giving different versions if events.

While Beaumont labelled the exchange simply as ‘banter’, Koukash felt that his opposite number went too far and that some of his remarks ‘were not called for.’

Despite the ongoing dispute, Leigh coach Paul Rowley believes that Hock’s involvement would only add to the occasion and that it would be disappointing if he were not involved.

“I’ll pick the players that deserve to play on that day, one would suggest that Gaz will feature in that game,” he said.

“Hopefully everything will go smoothly and he’ll get his chance to perform and show people what he is all about.

“I’m sure the Salford fans will give him a warm welcome, as will the Leigh ones. It’ll only add to the occasion. There will be a lot of stars on show that day and it would be a shame if Gaz wasn’t a part of it.”