Travis Cloke's future as a Magpie at the crossroads

TRAVIS Cloke's future at Collingwood is at the crossroads after talks with Cloke's management broke down.

TRAVIS Cloke's future at Collingwood is at the crossroads after talks with Cloke's management broke down.

It's believed the Magpies had offered a five-year offer for Cloke, but attached a performance-based criteria to the final year.

The offer of $750,000-$800,000 a season in the final year would depend on form.

The clause is understood to be the sticking point with the Cloke camp, who have offers from rival clubs guaranteeing Cloke more than $1 million a season.

Potentially, Cloke could earn $3.7 million from Collingwood four years at $800,000 plus, theoretically, $500,000 for the fifth season but as much as $5.5 million from another club.

The Magpies had believed Cloke's deal had been virtually signed off at a meeting on July 9, which was attended by Cloke, president Eddie McGuire and coach Nathan Buckley.

They have not heard from the Cloke camp since.

Constant speculation about Cloke's future, his form and the potential distraction to the team in its quest for a premiership prompted the Magpies yesterday to announce negotiations had been put on hold until the end of the season.

"We've had enough of all the talking, we're going to play football," president Eddie McGuire said from London last night.

"We're not frustrated, it's where the AFL is heading with free agency, it's a part of what's happening."

Cloke's father/manager David did not return calls last night. Another manager Ralph Carr said in an email: "No comment."

A statement from Collingwood yesterday said: "This decision was taken with the interests of the club and Travis in mind."

Football director Geoff Walsh added: "The season at hand is everyone's priority.

"And having considered all of the circumstances it seemed the most sensible and appropriate course to suspend our negotiations until the season has been played out."

Yesterday announcement shocked rival clubs because they had believed Cloke would soon re-sign with the Magpies.

Melbourne and Fremantle, who have tabled offers of more than $1million-a-season for five years, refused to comment last night.

Carlton, which has not made an offer, said it would consider its position on the most contentious free agent in the game.

"It's an interesting development," chief executive Greg Swann said.

Richmond's head of football Craig Cameron last night said his club had not made an approach for Cloke, but yesterday's decision would prompt discussion.

"We are duty bound to investigate all options," Cameron said.

Cloke is a restricted free agent, meaning Collingwood has the right to match any offer from a rival club. Cloke would have to accept the Pies deal in this scenario, or enter the draft.

Collingwood's 2011 coach Mick Malthouse last night said the parties appeared to be a long way apart.

"If it was close they would hang in there until it got signed ... or didn't get signed," Malthouse said.

"It just seems to be that every time (Collingwood officials) get asked about it they make an issue out of it. And I'm talking from president down to coach and player.

"You don't have to answer it. Just get rid of it. And this is Collingwood's way I guess of saying, `This is an after-season issue'.

Magpies skipper Nick Maxwell said yesterday he feared losing a teammate to the salary cap squeeze.

Maxwell said negotiations on other key Magpies were yet to be finalised, although a deal for defender Ben Reid was last night all but completed.

"(The Cloke situation) makes me nervous because we've got Sharrod Wellingham, Ben Reid, Harry O'Brien, Tyson Goldsack (and Dayne Beams) all out of contract who haven't signed," Maxwell said yesterday.

"It's a bit scary, we might lose a few others."