Denis Fitzgerald stood down at fiery AGM
By Josh Massoud | May 06, 2009 12:00am
DENIS Fitzgerald was sensationally stood down as Parramatta's new board marked its first hour of power by declaring an investigation into alleged misconduct from the CEO and two directors.
After a furious backlash from 500 members at last night's fiery leagues club AGM, Fitzgerald and current board members Ron Hilditch and Geoff Gerard now face shamed exits should the investigation prove their involvement in the Tingha Palace "votes for vouchers" scandal.
Fresh from being peppered with abuse and questions from the packed auditorium floor, Fitzgerald was carpeted by new chairman Roy Spagnolo at the board's first meeting last night.
Fitzgerald was expected to retire from his 30-year post in the lead-up to the AGM's historic handover of power. But the veteran's future wasn't raised during the two-hour meeting, leaving Spagnolo to stand him down on full pay immediately afterwards.
Fitzgerald was barred from entering the leagues club until the investigation is completed early next week. He also was barred from speaking on behalf of the club. As an employee, he had no choice but to comply.
"The newly elected board of Parramatta Leagues Club has launched an independent investigation into the recent election," Spagnolo said in a statement. "In consequence, the CEO Denis Fitzgerald has agreed to the board's request not to perform his ordinary duties whilst the investigation is undertaken."
After being asked to leave the room for 30 minutes while the board discussed his immediate future, Fitzgerald was handed a letter advising him to cease all duties and contact with club employees. Hilditch and Gerard - who only survived the election bloodbath because three football club directors must also represent the leagues club - were given similar orders but defiantly refused to comply.
Two private investigators have been hired to review the trio's alleged links to the "votes for vouchers" scandal. Members with Chinese-sounding surnames received $30 meal vouchers for the Tingha Palace restaurant along with how-to-vote cards on behalf of the previous board, whose only two survivors are Gerard and Hilditch.
Spagnolo has vowed to dismiss any of the trio should their involvement be established. All three continued to deny any knowledge of the promotion last night as the old board's farewell was marked by a 30-minute grilling from furious members at a standing-room-only AGM.
Fitzgerald had been negotiating an exit with one new director - Sid Kelly - ahead of the AGM, but no agreement was reached.
Under his current contract - which expires at the end of next year - Fitzgerald can be dismissed upon payment of his full salary ($400,000). But the new board is loathe to hand-out such a huge sum given the club's $9.12 million loss last year.
