VETERAN Cronulla doctor Dave Givney has become the first official to hit back at the Sharks over his sacking after confirming last night he was taking legal action against the club he served tirelessly for 28 years.
Givney, head trainer Mark Noakes, physiotherapist Konrad Schultz and football manager Darren Mooney were dismissed last Friday while head coach Shane Flanagan was stood down pending a review for failing to inform the board of alleged doping practices at the club in 2011.
Givney was the first to sound the alarm over the methods of controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank at the Sharks - Dank is under investigation for his work at clubs across the NRL and AFL - and even tendered his resignation to Flanagan and Mooney. It was rejected.
Givney met his lawyer Sam Macedone at his Miranda offices last night to consider his options. The veteran doctor was stunned at his sacking after being a loyal servant to the struggling club. Givney was also the Australian and NSW doctor during his career.
"After meeting with my lawyer today I've decided to take legal action," Givney said last night.
"I have no desire to do anything to harm the club but I'm forced to leave matters in the hands of my lawyers at this time."
It is believed that Macedone has already issued the Cronulla club with a cease-and-desist letter to prevent directors from referring to Givney publicly.
Meanwhile, interim Cronulla coach Peter Sharp holds grave fears for the wellbeing of several players after yesterday revealing the strain the doping scandal had placed on the team.
"They're in pieces, mate," Sharp said. "There's blokes that haven't slept for days. There's blokes that have lost weight. I'm seriously worried about them. I've got two boys the same age and I wouldn't like them to be put under this sort of pressure."
Players returned to Sharks Stadium yesterday for a recovery session where they slipped into ice baths and had massages after Sunday night's win over the Titans. Sharp, Cronulla captain Paul Gallen and centre Ben Pomeroy caught up with Flanagan and Noakes yesterday following the club's emotional 12-10 win over the Gold Coast at Sharks Stadium on Sunday night. "He's a mate and we get together and talk about footy," Sharp said.
Gallen looked distressed after the match and it is believed he is one of several players to have lost weight since the doping scandal broke last week. Players were allegedly told they would face six-month bans if they co-operated with the ASADA investigation or risk two years if they didn't. It is believed the six-month offer expired last night.
The Sharks' next assignment will be South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Monday night and at this stage Sharp has no plans to stand down anyone. However, he said he would not be afraid to step in and make a tough call if he thought players were suffering too much stress after NRL chief executive Dave Smith said the ASADA investigation could drag on for a month. "I wouldn't hesitate in giving a couple of them a rest, but they don't want to rest. They all want to desperately play."
The speculation continued yesterday that chairman Damian Irvine was poised to stand down from his position - or already had - after going public on Sunday and confirming that players had been administered with horse drugs in 2011.
The Sharks will receive some relief tomorrow when former Brisbane boss Bruno Cullen is expected to arrive at the club. Cullen has been recruited by the NRL along with a financial officer and a welfare officer to provide help.
The situation has again raised concerns over the Sharks' financial future - they still have a debt of more than $3 million - which has prompted speculation the club might have to look at moving in order to survive. The bid chief of the Perth-based West Coast Pirates consortium said he would be willing to discuss the situation with the NRL, but that it would need to be done properly or risk irreparable damage to the sport.
Perth has been mooted as one potential destination should the NRL decide to shut down the Sharks' southern Sydney base.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/im-going-to-sue-the-cronulla-sharks-says-veteran-doctor-dave-givney/story-fnca0von-1226595051250?sv=2250b45f0d91e1692399bf3d008e24aa#.UT5HnxtORD8.twitter
Givney, head trainer Mark Noakes, physiotherapist Konrad Schultz and football manager Darren Mooney were dismissed last Friday while head coach Shane Flanagan was stood down pending a review for failing to inform the board of alleged doping practices at the club in 2011.
Givney was the first to sound the alarm over the methods of controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank at the Sharks - Dank is under investigation for his work at clubs across the NRL and AFL - and even tendered his resignation to Flanagan and Mooney. It was rejected.
Givney met his lawyer Sam Macedone at his Miranda offices last night to consider his options. The veteran doctor was stunned at his sacking after being a loyal servant to the struggling club. Givney was also the Australian and NSW doctor during his career.
"After meeting with my lawyer today I've decided to take legal action," Givney said last night.
"I have no desire to do anything to harm the club but I'm forced to leave matters in the hands of my lawyers at this time."
It is believed that Macedone has already issued the Cronulla club with a cease-and-desist letter to prevent directors from referring to Givney publicly.
Meanwhile, interim Cronulla coach Peter Sharp holds grave fears for the wellbeing of several players after yesterday revealing the strain the doping scandal had placed on the team.
"They're in pieces, mate," Sharp said. "There's blokes that haven't slept for days. There's blokes that have lost weight. I'm seriously worried about them. I've got two boys the same age and I wouldn't like them to be put under this sort of pressure."
Players returned to Sharks Stadium yesterday for a recovery session where they slipped into ice baths and had massages after Sunday night's win over the Titans. Sharp, Cronulla captain Paul Gallen and centre Ben Pomeroy caught up with Flanagan and Noakes yesterday following the club's emotional 12-10 win over the Gold Coast at Sharks Stadium on Sunday night. "He's a mate and we get together and talk about footy," Sharp said.
Gallen looked distressed after the match and it is believed he is one of several players to have lost weight since the doping scandal broke last week. Players were allegedly told they would face six-month bans if they co-operated with the ASADA investigation or risk two years if they didn't. It is believed the six-month offer expired last night.
The Sharks' next assignment will be South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Monday night and at this stage Sharp has no plans to stand down anyone. However, he said he would not be afraid to step in and make a tough call if he thought players were suffering too much stress after NRL chief executive Dave Smith said the ASADA investigation could drag on for a month. "I wouldn't hesitate in giving a couple of them a rest, but they don't want to rest. They all want to desperately play."
The speculation continued yesterday that chairman Damian Irvine was poised to stand down from his position - or already had - after going public on Sunday and confirming that players had been administered with horse drugs in 2011.
The Sharks will receive some relief tomorrow when former Brisbane boss Bruno Cullen is expected to arrive at the club. Cullen has been recruited by the NRL along with a financial officer and a welfare officer to provide help.
The situation has again raised concerns over the Sharks' financial future - they still have a debt of more than $3 million - which has prompted speculation the club might have to look at moving in order to survive. The bid chief of the Perth-based West Coast Pirates consortium said he would be willing to discuss the situation with the NRL, but that it would need to be done properly or risk irreparable damage to the sport.
Perth has been mooted as one potential destination should the NRL decide to shut down the Sharks' southern Sydney base.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/im-going-to-sue-the-cronulla-sharks-says-veteran-doctor-dave-givney/story-fnca0von-1226595051250?sv=2250b45f0d91e1692399bf3d008e24aa#.UT5HnxtORD8.twitter
