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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...s/news-story/5d380e660833b3fe543ebf55dfd5e52b
Parramatta’s decision on appeal may be taken out of their hands
The Eels voted on Friday night to seek leave to appeal their sanctions for salary cap breaches but that stance was thrown into turmoil over the weekend as NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant announced he was ready to sack members of the leagues club board and install an administrator.
The decision comes at a critical time in the club’s fight against the NRL. While the government would move against the leagues club board, the football club is run by the same group of directors.
The leagues club has also been responsible for financing the football club and its legal fees. An administrator is unlikely to support an appeal given it would mean outlaying more money on lawyers, even though the club has received advice that suggests they may be able to mitigate any costs by having their sanctions reduced.
It is understood the club has received legal advice that suggests they may be able to reduce their fine — it was $1 million after the NRL included the $250,000 which was initially suspended.
It is believed the club has also received legal advice that the decision to strip the club of its points differential for the opening nine games of the season may have been beyond the bounds of the NRL. It is believed the legal bill would be less than $100,000, an investment that could pay off if the club were to have the fine reduced on appeal.
Regardless, it now appears the decision to seek leave to appeal may be taken out of the board’s hands as Grant awaits advice from the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority.
Gerard, one of four directors who was not breached by the NRL, joined Sharp in calling for change. “If we all have to fall on our sword, I am prepared to do it,” Gerard said. “The club is bigger than any of us. People have to stand up and make a call on this stuff for our club. I have always been somebody for my club and the game.
“We have a bigger responsibility to the game. If that means everybody has to go with an administrator, that means everybody has to go. I am supportive of Steve Sharp asking the minister to put an administrator in because we need to close the chapter on what has happened over the last two or three months.
“The club needs it and our supporters demand it.”
Sharp penned a letter to leagues club members over the weekend appealing for the government to take over the running of the leagues club — it has the power to do so under section 41A of the Registered Clubs Act, which allows ILGA to remove a board and appoint a temporary administrator.
The latest developments come at a crucial time for the football club, which is locked in contract negotiations with five-eighth Corey Norman and attempting to re-sign cross-code superstar Jarryd Hayne.
“Sometimes you have to make the hard calls,” Gerard said.
“This is one of them. Steve, myself and, I believe, Pete Serrao are happy to make that call. We have been around the club for many years..
“My fear is it will continue to spiral downward. We have a great coach and I have always said we should be supporting him. He has put steel back into our club.
“Our supporters love him. This team has been let down and they have to go out with the confidence that the back room is doing the right thing. The club has been put under stress financially with the fine and losing a couple of sponsors.
“Without a CEO and a head of football, our football department has been legless. That’s all I’m saying. We need to move forward. If that is drawing a line in the sand and removing this current board, we need to do that.”
Gerard urged the NRL to take action against player managers and officials who were involved and yet to be sanctioned. He also defended his role as a member of the board during the salary cap scandal. “If it is kept away from you then you don't know,” he said. “Am I disappointed about what has gone on? Bloody oath I am. But I can assure you if I had known what went on, I would have tried to do something about it.
“Yes, I have been tangled up by association being on the board. I have to take responsibility that I was on the board when some of this stuff happened.
“We need a board that is going to function properly and we need a board that is not scared to make the tough decisions. That is the only way forward for our club because we’re on the precipice of becoming a big powerhouse again.
“We all want that.”
Parramatta’s decision on appeal may be taken out of their hands
- The Australian
- 12:00AM July 18, 2016
- Brent Read
The Eels voted on Friday night to seek leave to appeal their sanctions for salary cap breaches but that stance was thrown into turmoil over the weekend as NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant announced he was ready to sack members of the leagues club board and install an administrator.
The decision comes at a critical time in the club’s fight against the NRL. While the government would move against the leagues club board, the football club is run by the same group of directors.
The leagues club has also been responsible for financing the football club and its legal fees. An administrator is unlikely to support an appeal given it would mean outlaying more money on lawyers, even though the club has received advice that suggests they may be able to mitigate any costs by having their sanctions reduced.
It is understood the club has received legal advice that suggests they may be able to reduce their fine — it was $1 million after the NRL included the $250,000 which was initially suspended.
It is believed the club has also received legal advice that the decision to strip the club of its points differential for the opening nine games of the season may have been beyond the bounds of the NRL. It is believed the legal bill would be less than $100,000, an investment that could pay off if the club were to have the fine reduced on appeal.
Regardless, it now appears the decision to seek leave to appeal may be taken out of the board’s hands as Grant awaits advice from the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority.
Gerard, one of four directors who was not breached by the NRL, joined Sharp in calling for change. “If we all have to fall on our sword, I am prepared to do it,” Gerard said. “The club is bigger than any of us. People have to stand up and make a call on this stuff for our club. I have always been somebody for my club and the game.
“We have a bigger responsibility to the game. If that means everybody has to go with an administrator, that means everybody has to go. I am supportive of Steve Sharp asking the minister to put an administrator in because we need to close the chapter on what has happened over the last two or three months.
“The club needs it and our supporters demand it.”
Sharp penned a letter to leagues club members over the weekend appealing for the government to take over the running of the leagues club — it has the power to do so under section 41A of the Registered Clubs Act, which allows ILGA to remove a board and appoint a temporary administrator.
The latest developments come at a crucial time for the football club, which is locked in contract negotiations with five-eighth Corey Norman and attempting to re-sign cross-code superstar Jarryd Hayne.
“Sometimes you have to make the hard calls,” Gerard said.
“This is one of them. Steve, myself and, I believe, Pete Serrao are happy to make that call. We have been around the club for many years..
“My fear is it will continue to spiral downward. We have a great coach and I have always said we should be supporting him. He has put steel back into our club.
“Our supporters love him. This team has been let down and they have to go out with the confidence that the back room is doing the right thing. The club has been put under stress financially with the fine and losing a couple of sponsors.
“Without a CEO and a head of football, our football department has been legless. That’s all I’m saying. We need to move forward. If that is drawing a line in the sand and removing this current board, we need to do that.”
Gerard urged the NRL to take action against player managers and officials who were involved and yet to be sanctioned. He also defended his role as a member of the board during the salary cap scandal. “If it is kept away from you then you don't know,” he said. “Am I disappointed about what has gone on? Bloody oath I am. But I can assure you if I had known what went on, I would have tried to do something about it.
“Yes, I have been tangled up by association being on the board. I have to take responsibility that I was on the board when some of this stuff happened.
“We need a board that is going to function properly and we need a board that is not scared to make the tough decisions. That is the only way forward for our club because we’re on the precipice of becoming a big powerhouse again.
“We all want that.”
