Ioane a loss but Reds need to keep perspective Digby Ioane looks like he's on his way out of the Reds. Photo: Jonathan Wood The tattoos aren't for everyone, even if there are enough to go around. But it's almost impossible to fault the way Digby Ioane approaches his rugby. From the training paddock at Ballymore, where he bounds about like an over-excited school kid, to his courageous charges during games for the Reds, it's fair to say the winger leaves little in the tank. Even as his relationship with Reds management falls apart, nobody would ever accuse the 27-year-old of not trying. Not his coach, Ewen McKenzie, nor his teammates, who love the way Ioane rips in like a frustrated forward. But for all of his strong points, the truth is that the Reds won't fall apart if he pursues offshore riches, which appears his next stop given the contractual bind that will likely preclude him from joining another Australian side. Nor will the Wallabies find themselves with a gaping hole on the sidelines, given the depth of wing options emerging. The Israel Folau signing may be money well spent after all. The events of the past few days represent a sad way for Ioane to cut ties with the Reds. He has been a dependable and loyal campaigner at Ballymore since joining Queensland in 2008. He's also been a hit with the crowds, who have loved his brutal runs, his try celebrations and his general wackiness. Planet Digby often seems like the happiest place in the universe and its gravitational pull has helped draw punters through the gates of Suncorp Stadium. Somewhere along the line, it's all started to turn sour. Ioane and his management have issues with third party money they believe they are owed. The Reds and their chief executive Jim Carmichael, an administrator not easily trifled with, have had enough of the demands. It's easy to get lost in the detail in these matters. And there is almost always more to the story. Agents will say one thing, often via leaks to their favourite writer. The club will say another, often via a similar medium. Somewhere between the lines, we get the general narrative. What is clear is that Digby wants out, a surprising call given how close he is to some of his teammates and how well the Reds are travelling at the moment. He has another year left on his Reds contract and there had been no visible signs of his unrest. It wasn't that long ago the Reds broke out the emergency reserves of crackers and cordial if anybody decided to stick around. You want to play ... where? After a dramatic rise under new coaching and management, they are less impressed about having terms dictated. Carmichael has form on this front fans should remember. After helping bring the Reds into the black financially, he's made it clear he's not going to risk the stability of the union to satisfy the what may be perceived as unreasonable demands from players, no matter their stature. That was the case in the Will Genia tussle last year, when Genia was all but off to the Western Force on a deal the size of the Horsehead Nebula before having a last-minute change of heart. Carmichael, a hard-nosed ex-AFL man, refused to get into a potentially deadly bidding war that may have retained Genia but put extreme pressure on the rest of the books. In the end, other factors, as well as a substantial bit of wallet padding, kept the Wallaby halfback in Brisbane. If Ioane departs - and at this stage nothing is certain - it will be a kick to the Reds but not a fatal cut. And there may be benefits in months to come, when players like Liam Gill come to the end of their contractual tenure. When Gill re-signed in 2011, he was a bright young thing with endless potential. Two years later, he is a player of impressive stature and will be one of the most sought-after players on the market. It's not hyperbole to suggest he is a future Wallaby captain. For the Reds to lose Ioane will be an unfortunate end to what has been a profitable relationship for both parties. But to have a future superstar like Gill make tracks would be an unmitigated disaster. Poll: Should Robbie Deans select Israel Folau in the starting XV for the Wallabies? Total votes: 8845. Poll closed 29 Apr, 2013