Event Date: October 22nd, 1985
Event Description: Manges Payment Plans
Source: UPI
South Texas millionaire rancher Clinton Manges will pay former U.S Football League players for his defunct San Antonio Gunslingers as soon as he can find enough cash, his attorney said Tuesday, doubting threats to begin foreclosure proceedings against him could be pursued.
A court judgment Monday ordering Manges to pay more than $601,000 in back wages owed the former players named the team's parent company, South Texas Sports Inc., which would make it difficult to pursue Manges, principal owner of South Texas Sports, the attorney, Marynell Maloney of San Antonio, said.
“I thought it was a poor decision on the part of the attorney for the players,” she said.
A lawyer for the players said that if an appeal is not filed and the money is not paid, initiation of foreclosure hearings could begin within 30 days.
If the appeals are pursued, that could hurt the players because it could postpone by years payment of their wages, Marynell Maloney said.
“Clinton Manges does want to pay the players as soon as he has the money, irrespective of the judgment, so the appellate process is really irrelevant at this time. Whenever he has the resources, the cash, the players will be paid. All it takes is money,” she said.
Manges, already facing several lawsuits over debts due to past team expenses, paid his players sporadically in 1985 and waived the entire team after the last game of the season.
His attorneys admit he is worth at least $500 million, but say that is in assets and not cash.
“There's a big difference,” Maloney said.
A USFL Players Association arbitrator July 11 ordered South Texas Sports to pay the back wages. Instead, Manges issued promissory notes, but Sept. 26 passed without the players receiving any money.
South Texas Sports President Bud Haun blames the situation on the USFL, which he said made healthy franchises underwrite ailing ones in Birmingham, Houston and Los Angeles.
“We've tried to sell property, borrow money to pay the salaries. I have the deepest sympathy for them,” Haun said about the players.
Phil Hardberger, an attorney for the players, said he doubted South Texas Sports could afford to appeal the case if it cannot pay the players. The franchise must post a bond worth twice the judgment amount to file an appeal, he said.
“Furthermore, Clinton Manges says he's going to have a team here next year, but by the rules of the league he can't even field a team until he pays this judgment. Now we're going to see if he's going to put up or shut up,” Hardberger said.
“I will continue to take every step as long as Mr. Manges has a piece of land left in Texas or the players get paid, whichever comes first,” he said.
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