Rebel Eels ticket – Make Parra Matter Again – has failed in bid to take control of Leagues Club board
An attempt by a rebel group to seize control of the Parramatta Leagues club, has been a sensational and expensive failure, despite backing from some of the Eels’ heavyweight former players.
A rebel bid to take control of the Parramatta Leagues Club has ended in high farce after the meeting was abandoned because there were insufficient members in attendance to conduct a valid vote.
The group behind the rebel ticket — called Make Parra Matter Again and backed by some of the club’s heavyweight former players — failed to rally enough support to achieve their aim of deposing four of the existing seven directors.
The expensive exercise is believed to have cost the Leagues Club — which financially supports the football club — in the vicinity of $400,000.
While it came at a high cost to the Leagues Club, the collapse of the rebel bid was a show of support for the current administration and new coach Jason Ryles, who has been charged with reviving the fortunes of the embattled club.
The last thing the Eels — and Ryles — needed was a return to the historical in-fighting that shadowed the club for years and hampered their ability to challenge for a premiership.
For too long, Parramatta got in their own way. The fear was that a rebel win would see a return to the past.
The rebel ticket had hoped to prey on the disappointing 2024 season to garner enough support to make change at the leagues club but ultimately their bid, which was fronted by former pizza shop owner Michael Barillaro, came to nothing.
Former Eels boss Roy Spagnolo was reportedly working in the background to help the bid. However, their efforts fell embarrassingly short, albeit at huge expense to the leagues club.
Sources confirmed the cost of the EGM was at least $400,000, but rise as high as $500,000.
Chair Sean McElduff had warned that a successful vote would mark a return to the days of factionalism that led to the club being a laughing stock within the game.
McElduff needn’t have worried. For all their bluster, the rebel ticket never amounted to a genuine threat to the current regime.
The online votes recorded before the meeting was cancelled reinforced that the rebel ticket were fighting a losing battle.
All four directors who were challenged – Sue Coleman, Richard Foda, Mark Jenkins and Joy Cusask – won at least 60 per cent of the online vote.
It didn’t matter in the end because the rebel ticket couldn’t even convince the required 100 voting members to attend the meeting.
As a result, the meeting was dissolved and none of the resolutions were passed.
“By 7.15pm there were insufficient voting members present and as such the
All existing directors will continue to serve the club and it’s members.”
EGM was dissolved by operation of the constitution, and no resolutions were passed,” the club said in a statement.
“All existing directors will continue to serve the club and it’s members.”
