Bastard Squad
Coach
- Messages
- 13,481
16 hope to head Sharks
BY BRAD FORREST
18/06/2009 4:00:00 AM
THE on-going dramas surrounding the Cronulla Sharks have not stopped 16 applicants for the chief executive position left vacant by the controversial Tony Zappia.
Nor has it prevented prominent business figures aligning themselves with the club, as the Sharks seek to rebrand themselves from next week on and move forward past the controversies that have dogged them.
New deputy chairman Damien Irvine confirmed the club will have "up to 20'' applicants for the CEO position before the end of this week, while club chairman Barry Pierce yesterday announced that Miranda accountant Craig Douglas had been appointed to the board of directors.
Douglas, who has previously worked for the club as an auditor, replaces former Sharks director Don Anderson, who resigned a fortnight ago.
Tuesday night's drama-charged meeting of the new board of directors was played out after Zappia, who resigned last week, was criticised over his secret handling of $30,000 in payments from Clint Elford, who yesterday faced charges in Sutherland Court relating to insurance fraud.
Zappia apologised for not informing the club about the payments, also insisting he had not acted unlawfully. Club lawyers, however, were yesterday re-examining club accounts.
An initial audit is believed to have disclosed that $10,000 of the $30,000 was used by Zappia to pay for football club expenses, including a football camp in Kiama.
"It appears while directors did not know about the money, the money was not used in any way which breached the [NRL] salary cap,'' one club employee told the Leader yesterday.
"The club was deceived, and it seems unlikely the club itself will be asked to repay the money, paid via a bank cheque.''
Cronulla Sharks will put out a new Mission Statement next week as it moves to rebrand in the wake of so much adversity.
"We're cleaning out the cupboard, rebuilding new structures,'' said Irvine, who confirmed the CEO position, the new board of directors and the $100 million redevelopment remained atop the club's priorities.
"In a way, despite the controversies, we are in a strong position. We have a show of faith by businessmen and companies excited by the challenge and this club's undoubted potential.''
The club board has also been boosted by a powerful group of millionaire businessmen behind the scenes, headed by Malcolm Greer, John Dunphy, Peter Gow and Alan Stephenson, whose Ways and Means Committee is finding new income streams for the Cronulla Sharks.
A re-worked development application for the Sharks Village is now expected to go to Sutherland Council on August 4.
http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/16-hope-to-head-sharks/1543653.aspx
BY BRAD FORREST
18/06/2009 4:00:00 AM
THE on-going dramas surrounding the Cronulla Sharks have not stopped 16 applicants for the chief executive position left vacant by the controversial Tony Zappia.
Nor has it prevented prominent business figures aligning themselves with the club, as the Sharks seek to rebrand themselves from next week on and move forward past the controversies that have dogged them.
New deputy chairman Damien Irvine confirmed the club will have "up to 20'' applicants for the CEO position before the end of this week, while club chairman Barry Pierce yesterday announced that Miranda accountant Craig Douglas had been appointed to the board of directors.
Douglas, who has previously worked for the club as an auditor, replaces former Sharks director Don Anderson, who resigned a fortnight ago.
Tuesday night's drama-charged meeting of the new board of directors was played out after Zappia, who resigned last week, was criticised over his secret handling of $30,000 in payments from Clint Elford, who yesterday faced charges in Sutherland Court relating to insurance fraud.
Zappia apologised for not informing the club about the payments, also insisting he had not acted unlawfully. Club lawyers, however, were yesterday re-examining club accounts.
An initial audit is believed to have disclosed that $10,000 of the $30,000 was used by Zappia to pay for football club expenses, including a football camp in Kiama.
"It appears while directors did not know about the money, the money was not used in any way which breached the [NRL] salary cap,'' one club employee told the Leader yesterday.
"The club was deceived, and it seems unlikely the club itself will be asked to repay the money, paid via a bank cheque.''
Cronulla Sharks will put out a new Mission Statement next week as it moves to rebrand in the wake of so much adversity.
"We're cleaning out the cupboard, rebuilding new structures,'' said Irvine, who confirmed the CEO position, the new board of directors and the $100 million redevelopment remained atop the club's priorities.
"In a way, despite the controversies, we are in a strong position. We have a show of faith by businessmen and companies excited by the challenge and this club's undoubted potential.''
The club board has also been boosted by a powerful group of millionaire businessmen behind the scenes, headed by Malcolm Greer, John Dunphy, Peter Gow and Alan Stephenson, whose Ways and Means Committee is finding new income streams for the Cronulla Sharks.
A re-worked development application for the Sharks Village is now expected to go to Sutherland Council on August 4.
http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/16-hope-to-head-sharks/1543653.aspx
