Tracy McKelligott, managing director of Events and PR Group, responds to reports linking her company to Parramatta salary cap scandal.
ROBERT DILLON
May 1, 2016, 2:05 p.m.
NEWCASTLE public-relations executive Tracy McKelligott declared she had “nothing to hide’’ after being linked on Sunday to the Parramatta salary-cap controversy.
McKelligott was contracted as a brand marketing manager by the Eels, through her firm Eclipse Events and PR Group, from 2013 until she terminated the arrangement in July last year.
During that time, PJ Promotions, a company owned by her father, agreed to provide a third-party sponsorship for Eels star Anthony Watmough. The Sun-Herald reported on Sunday that NRL officials were investigating if that deal constituted a salary-cap breach.
McKelligott said she had “spent 20 years building a reputation” and felt it had been “sullied” by the story.
“I voluntarily met with the NRL’s Integrity Commission in March 2016 to present all the facts of my association with the club,’’ she said.
“I was extremely pleased with the outcomes of my meeting with the Integrity Commission. I maintain that neither myself nor Eclipse had any conflict of interest in relation to the TPA.
“I also remain confident that any adverse finding by the NRL Integrity Commission will be limited to the Eels’ failure to fully disclose details of third-party arrangements.”
McKelligott said her company had been engaged by the NRL to help promote this week’s Anzac Test match at Hunter Stadium.
“The NRL are happy for me to work for them this week, so I can assure you they have no problems whatsoever with my integrity,’’ she said.
In an email to clients, McKelligott added that “despite being registered with the NRL in the proper manner, the PJ Promotions TPA was never enforced and no money has ever changed hands’’.
In a statement issued by Parramatta, Eels chief executive John Boulos said: “This is another example of a smear served up to the media which does not survive scrutiny, and another example of an inherited matter being fixed by current management in discussions with the NRL.
“This thirdparty agreement pre-dated my time as CEO. I can, however, advise of the following facts:
“The issues relating to this old third party arrangement have been the subject of discussions between myself and the NRL.
“The third-party arrangement between PJ Promotions and the relevant player was registered with the NRL.
“It has been confirmed that the agreement between PJ Promotions and the player, albeit registered with the NRL, had not commenced prior to its termination by PJ Promotions.
“Further to that, in the current discussions with the NRL it may be deemed necessary that the third party agreement ‘figure’ should be included in the salary cap.
“Current management would make provision for this if it were required.
“Also, the person the Herald has named as an employee of the club was not an employee of the club.
“Rather, she was a representative of a marketing and media organisation, Eclipse Media, previously retained by the club for several years prior. I concluded this retainer agreement upon becoming CEO.’’
The statement concluded by saying the Eels were “concerned at the relentless speculation while the NRL’s investigation remains ongoing, and at the ease with which low and untested allegations find their way into the public realm’’.
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