https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...r/news-story/05686f669f421ee516d45a26e15ffe04
Eels chair Sean McElduff gives his backing to coach Brad Arthur
Incoming Parramatta chairman Sean McElduff has given coach Brad Arthur a resounding vote of confidence as the Eels struggle to avoid the wooden spoon, saying the incumbent coach should be given every opportunity to turn the club’s fortunes around.
Parramatta will take steps next week to ease the burden on Arthur and chief executive Bernie Gurr, by formally advertising for a head of football.
McElduff, who moved to Australia from Scotland with his family as a five-year-old, took over the chairman’s role from Max Donnelly this week, seizing the reins as the club undertakes a sweeping review of football operations.
The former Westpac senior executive grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney during the dominant years of St George.
He was a Dragons fan but has adopted the Eels after joining the board last year as part of the revamp of the club in the wake of the salary cap scandal.
He was motivated by the opportunity to reawaken one of the NRL’s sleeping giants.
He now has the keys to the castle and yesterday he outlined his vision as he sat on the veranda of a restaurant on the third floor of the Parramatta Leagues Club, with the impressive facade of the nearly completed Western Sydney Stadium over his shoulder.
That stadium is set to play a significant role in the rebirth of the Eels.
The ground will be the envy of the NRL. With the stadium in place, McElduff’s job now is to transform the Eels into premiership contenders.
The review is central to that. The club have already received some feedback and it augurs well for Arthur, who is off contract at the end of next season.
McElduff said the players had resoundingly backed their preparation under Arthur and said the club would give their coach every opportunity to earn a contract extension.
McElduff said: “Max came in 2016. Brad had been here for two years before that. In 13 years we have had seven coaches. Brad has been here for five years. My point in all of that is the instability we had before Max came in impacts every aspect of your football club.
“Max comes in, creates some stability, and adjusting for the salary cap we make the top eight (in 2016). In 2017, we make the top four.
“This year, not great. But I look at it and I go ‘the team is playing for him’. There is no lack of effort from the players. He works hard and he is resilient. He deserves every opportunity.”
Asked when the situation would be reassessed (every aspect of the business is reviewed on a quarterly basis) McElduff said: “He has KPIs. On-field performance is a big one but it is not the only one. We will assess at the end of the year. We will assess after the first quarter.
“We will do it like that. He was getting sacked according to everyone three months ago and he is still here.
“He deserves every opportunity to turn this year around.
“I can tell you the players believe — and the review supports — that they are very well prepared by the coaches.
“They are right in behind him. They’re not using coaches or preparation or game plan as an excuse.”
Arthur will certainly be in charge at the start of next year and he could yet have Corey Norman in his squad, as McElduff suggested there were no guarantees he would leave.
Norman has been given permission to explore his options and the assumption was that he would be shown the door with one year remaining on his deal
“Brad has given him permission to talk to other clubs,” McElduff said.
“He is playing good. I wouldn’t assume he won’t be at this club. I think him and Brad, the arrangement they have got is pretty fair and transparent for both of them. He has got to test the market.”
When it was pointed out the club might have to tip in money to make Norman more appealing to rivals, McElduff said: “My question is, he is playing well, why would you waste cap for someone who is playing well? We’re not going to be stupid. There is no sense in that. It is up to him what he does over the next 30 games.
“If he is playing like a superstar and we thought we were getting value for money, (why wouldn’t you re-sign him)?”
