Sharks lose $80,000 deal
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25221122-5006066,00.html
FOOTAGE of Brett Seymour's drunken night out has cost Cronulla a sponsorship deal worth more than $80,000.
This comes seven days after the Bulldogs missed out on a sponsorship deal worth more than $1.5million after Manly's season launch ended in unsavoury headlines for the code.
Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia and his marketing team had been working on securing a shorts sponsor for six months.Zappia wouldn't reveal the identity of the proposed sponsor, with the company all but agreeing to a one-year deal.
The Sharks boss said the company pulled out in response to footage being released of Seymour's embarrassing slip-up."They just said in this current climate they wouldn't be able to move forward with us,'' Zappia said.
"We were very close. It's frustrating, but I can see why professional businesses and companies are reluctant to be part of our game at the moment.
"I suppose this is hard evidence when it comes to trying to make the players understand and realise the impact of their actions. They're the ones that are eventually going to be hurt by all this, financially or otherwise.''
The timing of Seymour's drunken escapade couldn't have come at a worse time for the financially stricken club.
Their money woes have been well documented, borrowing $500,000 during the off-season to pay players.An apologetic Seymour said he was determined to redeem himself by undergoing counselling for his alcohol issues.
"I've come to realise that I really need to fix some things in my life, for my family and for the club and the Sharks brand,'' Seymour said."I want to get myself fixed up and get some help because I know I've run out of chances.
"I'm going through some stuff with the club in the form of counselling - it's going to be a long process."I'm not going to be fixed overnight, but it's something I'm going to have to work through.
"Once I get back on the paddock, I'll be putting my best foot forward for the club and hopefully putting this behind me, but in the meantime I'll be doing my best to fix stuff off the field.''
Convinced he would be sacked after being called into Zappia's office last Tuesday, Seymour described his latest setback as "my biggest wake-up call''.
"I'm supposed to be a senior member in the footy team and a leader, and your leader is out acting like a hooligan,'' Seymour said.
"It doesn't really show much respect to the boys or the club as a whole. That's one of the things that hurts me most."Especially the coaching staff and all the support around me ... to kick it up in their face like that is another thing that hurts a lot.
"I'll be definitely out to not let them down again.''
