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http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,24799017-5003409,00.html
Fitzy vows to work with Price
By Dean Ritchie | December 14, 2008 11:00pm
DEFIANT Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald last night declared his 30-year position was safe before vowing to somehow work with long-time enemy Ray Price.
Price joined fellow club legends Brett Kenny and Eric Grothe - along with John Chidiac - on a rebel ticket that yesterday secured positions on the Parramatta football club board.
The Parramatta Pride and Passion group won four of the seven spots on the board, with 22-year chairman Alan Overton missing out.
The three board members who were re-elected were Michael Johnson and two former players, Geoff Gerard and Ron Hilditch, while Gary Morris, Chris Jurd and Don Ritchie failed to hold spots.
Former Eels and Test five-eighth Kenny topped the voting with 203, followed by ex-winger Grothe, 201, and former lock Price, 194. Fitzgerald and Price have been long-time foes.
"I can work with Denis Fitzgerald. Can he work with me?'' Price said. "It's up to him to work with me. I've got no problems if he's after the same thing that I am - that's to see Parramatta succeed.''
Fitzgerald said he was willing to work with Price and Brett Kenny, another who dislikes the CEO. "I have worked with him (Price) before when we were both players, then again when I was CEO and he was a player and I also worked with him when he was previously on the board,'' Fitzgerald said.
"Certainly, yes. It's workable. I am happy to work with them. I have had a lot to do with the three former players. We have agreed to work together for the betterment of Parramatta. We will work in the spirit of co-operation. I've been on a number of boards that haven't been friendly.
"But we got through it and we will get through this. We will move on.''
Asked whether his CEO position was secure, Fitzgerald said: "My job is safe. I will continue to work to the best of my ability.''
About 20 fans gathered outside the leagues club and chanted "Parra, Parra, Parra'' when news of the result filtered through. "I wasn't shocked but I was surprised,'' Fitzgerald said. "I was quietly confident we could get the seven directors returned.
"There was some anti-current board and anti-Fitzgerald sentiment and that had a small effect (on voting). But the lobbying and politics are now over. It is now a matter of getting on with the football season.''
Like Price, Kenny was delighted, saying: "The people have spoken and now we have to do the right thing by the people.''