England international prop Ellis Genge has accused Pat Lam of not truly wanting Bristol-born players like himself back at the club after he was given an under whelming offer to switch Leicester Tigers for the Bears.
Bristol Live understand Genge was made an offer to switch to Bristol but the wage offer failed to meet the prop's expectations having developed into one of the best ball carriers in the world.
In the end Genge, who has 14 caps for England, signed a new deal to extend his time at Welford Road having initially joined the club on loan from Bristol back in 2016 before the Bears' current director of rugby Pat Lam joined the club from Connacht.
To celebrate his new contract the loose head scored the opening try for Leicester on Saturday in their 31-18 victory over Lam's side in Round Eight of the Gallagher Premiership.
Speaking to the Daily Mail about loyalty in rugby, Genge said:
“It’s b******.”
“It’s complete b******s.
“It’s all a facade. It’s a business now. Pat Lam did an interview saying he wants Bristolians who’ve played for England and are at other clubs to come home to Bristol. He didn’t want that. That was a facade.
“You hear things from other clubs, saying they want this player or that player to stay, or they want to keep their home-grown talent, but clubs aren’t really interested in that now. The league is too volatile. Everyone just wants to win.
“As a player, you have to just look after yourself. If I wake up tomorrow and I can’t play rugby again, I’m sure these lot (Leicester) will look after me to a degree, but in six months’ time… I’ve seen it with players in the past. Nobody gives a f***. Let’s be real.”
When Lam arrived at Bristol he outlined three central pillars to his vision for the club; inspiring the community through rugby success by being a Champions Cup side; having more England players, and having more Bristolians playing for the Bears.
In the summer Bristol academy product Dave Attwood returned to the club from Bath and many hoped Genge would be the next in the line of star men who have come through the development system at Bristol only to leave and go on to bigger things.
In response to the comments from Genge, Lam said:
"We are very clearly bringing the homegrown players through which as always been our goal. We are doing that.
"There are more in the team now than when I got here.
"The second part of it is around English players and players playing for England. When I arrived here we only had 50 percent English qualified players and we now have 75 percent so you can clearly see how we are working towards our vision.
"I can't comment on what Ellis has said. I can just answer that.
"Our other vision is making the Champions Cup which we are still working on."
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