- Messages
- 77,719
Former Parramatta Eels chairman Steve Sharp says he won't apologise over salary cap breaches
By Jennifer Browning
Updated 32 minutes ago
PHOTO: Steve Sharp (L) says he only wants the best for the club going forward. (Getty Images: Brett Hemmings, file photo)
"I'm totally disappointed in the NRL's decision in finding me guilty of being part of a system that defrauded the salary cap," he said.
"That never happened, but I have to live by the decisions of the NRL."
Speaking exclusively to the ABC, Mr Sharp did not deny what happened but maintained his innocence.
"I'm not saying it didn't occur I'm saying that I didn't have the knowledge at the time that this stuff was happening," he said
"If I was guilty of something it was probably not self-reporting suspicious stuff that happened from mid-2015 onwards."
The NRL found Parramatta guilty of salary cap breaches dating back to 2013 with the knowledge of the club's board and executive.
Five club officials were deregistered, including Mr Sharp.
'I don't apologise for something I wasn't aware of'
Former Eels chief executive Scott Seward said the board was aware of the club's top up payments, but Mr Sharp maintains that was not the case.
"He (Seward) was misrepresenting the club in negotiations with players and contracts of players, and for instance, he was misleading the board on the amount that the contracts were and the length of those contracts," he said.
"Some of those contracts involved paying players extra cash by using false invoices. I think people got desperate for success."
Mr Sharp said he did not get involved in daily club operations.
"As a chairman my role is basically at a higher level as a figure-head type level, I didn't get involved in the day to day operation of $10,000 to $20,000 invoices."
Mr Sharp would not apologise to fans for the salary cap scandal that has derailed the system.
"I don't apologise for something I wasn't aware of," he said.
But he said ultimately it was his responsibility as chairman to know what was going on.
"I still maintain my innocence, I had no involvement, I don't negotiate with player managers, I don't deal with players and their contracts and I don't get involved in the day to day operation of the club."
"That's what we pay CEOs for and I feel disappointed that I was let down.
"But at the same time I have to take responsibility for being the chairman at the time and it happened on my watch."
Sharp says he's lost the love of the game
Mr Sharp played 164 games with the Eels and won three premierships with the club in the 1980s.
He said he would miss being there for the final game at Parramatta Stadium before the redevelopment.
"We should have a full stadium where it all started in 1986," he said.
"I was fortunate enough to play in that game and score the first try in that stadium and I'll have immense disappointment that I won't be at the game in round 25."
He said while he continued to support Parramatta, he was lost to rugby league.
"I've lost the love of the game over the last 18 months, I still love Parramatta and I care about the club but I've lost the love of the game, and going back to my earliest memory, I've always had it. That's sad."
Mr Sharp said he wanted only the best for the club in the future and that was what led him to call in the NSW Government to appoint an administrator.
"I'm hoping this is the end of it, I hope one of the legacies I leave behind is by falling on my sword and doing what we've done in approaching the Government to get an administrator to come in, is the end of the factionalism."
"Hopefully now Parramatta can get some clear water and some clear direction and go forward."
Mr Sharp now wants the NRL to come in and clean up the game in regards to third-party agreements.
"I think they should be taken out of the game or at least out of the control of the clubs and put solely in the hands of the player managers, the players and the NRL," he said.
A spokesman for the NRL said the third-party payment system will form part of the new collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the players association.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-...7704734?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
By Jennifer Browning
Updated 32 minutes ago
PHOTO: Steve Sharp (L) says he only wants the best for the club going forward. (Getty Images: Brett Hemmings, file photo)
"I'm totally disappointed in the NRL's decision in finding me guilty of being part of a system that defrauded the salary cap," he said.
"That never happened, but I have to live by the decisions of the NRL."
Speaking exclusively to the ABC, Mr Sharp did not deny what happened but maintained his innocence.
"I'm not saying it didn't occur I'm saying that I didn't have the knowledge at the time that this stuff was happening," he said
"If I was guilty of something it was probably not self-reporting suspicious stuff that happened from mid-2015 onwards."
The NRL found Parramatta guilty of salary cap breaches dating back to 2013 with the knowledge of the club's board and executive.
Five club officials were deregistered, including Mr Sharp.
'I don't apologise for something I wasn't aware of'
Former Eels chief executive Scott Seward said the board was aware of the club's top up payments, but Mr Sharp maintains that was not the case.
"He (Seward) was misrepresenting the club in negotiations with players and contracts of players, and for instance, he was misleading the board on the amount that the contracts were and the length of those contracts," he said.
"Some of those contracts involved paying players extra cash by using false invoices. I think people got desperate for success."
Mr Sharp said he did not get involved in daily club operations.
"As a chairman my role is basically at a higher level as a figure-head type level, I didn't get involved in the day to day operation of $10,000 to $20,000 invoices."
Mr Sharp would not apologise to fans for the salary cap scandal that has derailed the system.
"I don't apologise for something I wasn't aware of," he said.
But he said ultimately it was his responsibility as chairman to know what was going on.
"I still maintain my innocence, I had no involvement, I don't negotiate with player managers, I don't deal with players and their contracts and I don't get involved in the day to day operation of the club."
"That's what we pay CEOs for and I feel disappointed that I was let down.
"But at the same time I have to take responsibility for being the chairman at the time and it happened on my watch."
Sharp says he's lost the love of the game
Mr Sharp played 164 games with the Eels and won three premierships with the club in the 1980s.
He said he would miss being there for the final game at Parramatta Stadium before the redevelopment.
"We should have a full stadium where it all started in 1986," he said.
"I was fortunate enough to play in that game and score the first try in that stadium and I'll have immense disappointment that I won't be at the game in round 25."
He said while he continued to support Parramatta, he was lost to rugby league.
"I've lost the love of the game over the last 18 months, I still love Parramatta and I care about the club but I've lost the love of the game, and going back to my earliest memory, I've always had it. That's sad."
Mr Sharp said he wanted only the best for the club in the future and that was what led him to call in the NSW Government to appoint an administrator.
"I'm hoping this is the end of it, I hope one of the legacies I leave behind is by falling on my sword and doing what we've done in approaching the Government to get an administrator to come in, is the end of the factionalism."
"Hopefully now Parramatta can get some clear water and some clear direction and go forward."
Mr Sharp now wants the NRL to come in and clean up the game in regards to third-party agreements.
"I think they should be taken out of the game or at least out of the control of the clubs and put solely in the hands of the player managers, the players and the NRL," he said.
A spokesman for the NRL said the third-party payment system will form part of the new collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the players association.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-...7704734?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
