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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...oy-spagnolo-for-two-years-20131030-2who0.html
Parramatta sideline Roy Spagnolo for two years
October 31, 2013 - 12:00AM
Irregularities: Former Parramatta chairman Roy Spagnolo. Photo: Simon Alekna
EXCLUSIVE
Former Parramatta chairman Roy Spagnolo has been banned from holding directorship of the Eels for two years over alleged financial improprieties allegedly stemming from his three-year reign at the club.
Fairfax Media can reveal that Spagnolo fronted a board meeting of the Parramatta Leagues Club on Monday, having been asked to explain a list of irregularities uncovered by an independent audit of the NRL wooden spooners' management activities by the firm Russell Corporate Advisory.
As a result of his appearance, he was suspended from running for a board seat for two years and ordered to stand down as chairman of the Eels' junior body, the Parramatta District Rugby League.
The ruling and suspension sidelines Spagnolo from campaigning for a return to the Parramatta Leagues Club, which runs the NRL club, for the foreseeable future and stands to draw a line under his controversial association with an Eels administration riven by factionalism and in-fighting in recent years. The next Leagues Club election is not due until May 2015 and the ban applied outlasts that date.
Installed as chairman when his 3P ticket took control at Parramatta in 2009, Spagnolo lost his place on the board in May when the ParraFirst group led by former premiership-winning forward Steve Sharp gained the ascendancy.
He had lobbied for a return to assume one of two vacant seats in the aftermath of his election defeat and the club's constitution – which states that three directors from the football club board must sit on the Leagues Club board – appeared to open the way for him to recapture some of his power.
Another director, Mario Libertini, has since been readmitted to the seven-member board, leaving one opening, but the serious allegations raised in the 900-page report have brought down Spagnolo's bid.
Spagnolo was issued with a show-cause letter last month, asking him to answer the claims made in the report, and at Monday's meeting could not provide explanations.
A Parramatta Leagues Group spokesman told Fairfax Media last month that the new board had commissioned Russell to undertake a wide-ranging internal review of the club's practices. They added that "a board committee has asked the previous chairman to assist with the understanding of various matters arising out of the report".
Sharp did not return calls on Wednesday night, and Spagnolo was unavailable for comment.
When previously contacted about the allegations of financial irregularities, Spagnolo said: "I don't wish to make any comment."
The latest developments at Parramatta follow the departure of head coach Ricky Stuart last month – he has since been replaced by Brad Arthur. In a tumultous four months, Leagues Club chief executive Bob Bentley and operations manager Tony Cinque were also shown the door and football club chief executive Ken Edwards exited in the same month.
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