http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ome-parramatta-eels-boss-20160827-gr2ivw.html
Former Melbourne Storm boss Mark Evans front runner to become Parramatta Eels boss
Former Melbourne chief executive Mark Evans has emerged as the front-runner to take the helm at Parramatta.
The Eels are looking for a chief executive to lead them out of their darkest days and Fairfax Media can reveal Evans is on top of their shortlist.
Evans has administrative experience in rugby union and league, having been the boss at English rugby powerhouse Saracens before switching to the Storm. He took up a three-month consulting contract with the NRL in December, working on a range of projects, including reviews of the controversial third-party payment system, player agent regulation, merchandising and licensing matters, and strategy for the upcoming collective bargaining agreement process. He returned to Europe afterwards and has been working on commissioned projects for Super League, the RFU and Premier Rugby.
Perhaps just as significant is Evans' experience working at a club recovering from a salary cap scandal. While Ron Gauci was the first chief executive appointed at Melbourne after they were busted for illegally paying players, Evans joined in 2013 as the club continued to rebuild its reputation in the league community.
Parramatta's own salary cap woes have created a leadership vacuum that is yet to be filled. Leagues club boss Bevan Paul is also overseeing football operations with temporary administrator and interim chairman Max Donnelly, while a football manager is being sought to replace the deregistered Daniel Anderson.
Another strong chief executive candidate is Bernie Gurr. The former Roosters boss has been anointed by club legend Peter Sterling as the man to take over the reins and has previously told Fairfax Media he has an interest in the role. Gurr, who was shortlisted as a replacement for outgoing NRL chief Dave Smith before Todd Greenberg ultimately got the job, is living and working in the US. However, he remains passionate about rugby league and would return to Australia if the right opportunity arose.
It is understood the Eels have whittled down their options to a shortlist that includes Gurr and Evans.
"The process is continuing, but we won't be making comment on individual candidates," Donnelly said.
The incoming Eels chief executive will have a range of pressing issues to address. Parramatta are in dispute with major sponsor Dyldam and it is likely a replacement backer will be required for next season. The new leader will also need to restore the faith of long-suffering fans after the previous administration presided over a seemingly endless series of catastrophes.
One positive for the club is that Pirtek Stadium will soon be knocked down and rebuilt to give the Eels a new home ground. Monday night's clash with St George Illawarra is the last match at the existing venue.
Parramatta legend Nathan Hindmarsh made 144 NRL appearances at the ground, more than any other player. The former skipper has many fond memories of the venue: scoring his first try against Western Suburbs, being part of an Eels side that ran down Manly after giving the arch-rivals a 20-point start in 2010 and watching Jamie Lyon tear the Warriors apart in the opening week of the 2001 finals series.
"My first ever game I can remember was the SG Ball grand final against the Illawarra Steelers," Hindmarsh said, before adding: "Which we lost.
"That was very exciting, our home ground was normally Ringrose Park at Wentworthville. So to play the grand final at Pirtek on a Friday afternoon, leaving school early with a mate, I was pumped. That was one of my fondest memories.
"Every game going out there was such a special game because it was such a nice, neat ground. The fans were close and it was one of those special fields everyone enjoyed playing on whether you were from Parra or another side. You got that sense the crowd was on top of you."
In his last NRL game, which also happened to be against the Dragons, Hindmarsh memorably slotted a goal on the siren. But perhaps his quirkiest recollection was lining up a conversion in a match against Cronulla in 2003.
"I had a kick at goal from the sideline," he said. "They just chucked me the ball as the siren was about to go. I thought I'd give it a shot.
"It was blowing a gale, the rain was coming sideways, but I only just missed it. I remember [then coach] Brian Smith blowing up after the game: 'What the hell are you doing taking the kick! We've got to worry about for and against.'
"I just remember thinking to myself: 'For and against? We've just won 74-4.'"
