http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...b/news-story/2010c71952e05a22b1269df7bd29263f
Parramatta boss Bernie Gurr on how Eels will become Sydney’s premier club
DEAN RITCHIE, The Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
NEW Parramatta chief executive Bernie Gurr has set out a road map for the embattled Eels to once again become “clearly’’ Sydney’s premier club.
Gurr, who officially starts as Parramatta’s boss next Monday, has revealed his plans in a wideranging interview.
THINK BIG
Asked how big Parramatta should be, Gurr said: “If there was one club that really appealed to me, it was Parramatta. I think they have the potential to be clearly the biggest club in Sydney from a membership point of view, a home-ground attendance point of view ... they just tick every box.
“Financially secure, they have a huge supporter base right in the geographic heart of Sydney. They’ve got a huge junior league and, in three years’ time, the club will have the best rectangular football stadium in Australia.
“On a broader strategic level, the NRL needs Parramatta successful because there is a real battle on in Sydney’s west with the Western Sydney Wanderers and the GWS AFL side.
“Clubs like Parramatta, Penrith, Canterbury, Wests Tigers, collectively, we have an obligation to be part of a strategic plan to protect rugby league’s interests in western Sydney, which is growing like crazy.”
Michael Jennings and Eels teammates celebrate a try last season.
BOARD DRAMAS
Ex-Eastern Suburbs forward Gurr knows he’ll govern a club badly damaged by board dramas.
“I was well abreast of all the dramas they have had having spoken extensively to (administrator) Max Donnelly and Jim Sarantinos (from Ferrier Hodgson).
“Max, talking to him in detail, has done a terrific job in starting that process to improve the club’s governance. I’m not that concerned.
“As you know, Max has basically dissolved the two boards — the football club and Leagues Club. He will get some independents around those two boards, some qualified independents.
“I am comfortable about where Max is at. He hasn’t put directors in but I know what he is looking for and the composition of the boards he wants, the type of people he wants. Quite frankly, it doesn’t bother me the club has had its problems because Max has done some really good preliminary work to set us on a good course in terms of governance and protocol.”
TITLE DROUGHT
Parramatta haven’t won a title for 30 years.
“I’m not going to be making any outlandish predictions about our football performance,” Gurr said.
“From what I have observed from afar, (coach) Brad Arthur seems to have a strong football program and a very good work ethic.
“The competitiveness of the team, particularly after they got the bad news of being docked 12 points, there was a terrific amount of resilience in the football program.
“We have a solid football program. But get one, two or three injuries to key players and you go from being a top-five team to a bottom-five team.
“It can happen quickly. It can change in a heartbeat. It’s volatile.
“We’ll look closely at the structures and processes around the football team so we can support them at the maximum level.”
Eels coach Brad Arthur has implemented a strong football program. Picture: Mark Evans
PLAYER BEHAVIOUR
Eels star Corey Norman was embroiled in several off-field scandals this year.
“We will set standards in place, not unreasonable standards for everyone at the club, including players,” Gurr said.
“I have no intention of talking to him individually — that’s been dealt with by the club and the NRL. Anytime there is a management change, it is good to re-enforce fundamental standards.”
Asked about Semi Radradra, who has been charged with assault and causing actual bodily harm, Gurr said: “It is about professional management and setting the standards, not just around players but the entire operational protocol. We will be communicating that to the head coach, Brad, and the players. ”
ANZ STADIUM
The club is certain to shift to Sydney Olympic Park for at least the next two years while Parramatta Stadium is demolished and rebuilt.
“ANZ Stadium is still being finalised at the moment,” Gurr said.
“We will be there, I’m pretty sure we will. We will have an open day around November 20. We want to make the move from Pirtek to ANZ as seamless as possible. That’s the objective.
“We’ll have 11 home games at ANZ, we take the other game to Northern Territory. In addition, we’ll have reciprocal games with other clubs that play at ANZ, like the Bulldogs and Souths.”
The Eels will play at ANZ Stadium while their ground is being rebuilt.
MEMBERSHIP
Due to the club’s horror off-field season, the Eels won’t increase membership packages for this coming season.
“We want to reward our members,” Gurr said.
“They have had tough times with the governance and salary cap issues. Then, for at least the next two years, we will be moving away from Parramatta Stadium.
“For those 2016 members, we won’t raise the ticket prices for 2017. We will leave them static as a reward for their loyalty.”
Any new member who signs on before Christmas will only be charged 2016 prices.
THE CREDENTIALS
“I have been chief financial officer for (Los Angeles-based) the Americas, covering North America and Latin America, for Crown Pacific, a worldwide group,” he said.
“We’re an international moving and logistics company. It is a global company.”