And from SMH.COM
Raper to be shown the door today
Email Print Normal font Large font Brad Walter
September 22, 2006
BESIEGED Cronulla coach Stuart Raper will today be formally advised of his sacking ahead of a clean-out of the Sharks football operations staff.
A meeting of Cronulla directors is last night understood to have confirmed Raper's fate and he has been summoned to the club this morning.
Australian coach Ricky Stuart, who was axed by Sydney Roosters three weeks ago, is expected to take over and an announcement is anticipated next week.
It is believed Stuart wants to bring his own coaching staff and Raper's assistant, Adrian Lam, and recruitment manager Theo Burgess are among those whose jobs are under threat.
Former Roosters assistant coach Shane Flanagan reportedly knocked back an offer to work under Brian Smith at Newcastle after also recently being shown the door by the Bondi club and will again be Stuart's deputy.
The arrival of Stuart may also result in former Test and NSW halfback Brett Kimmorley leaving the Sharks, possibly to join his long-term mentor Chris Anderson at the Roosters.
Anderson was sacked by Cronulla two years ago and replaced by Raper, who is likely to be offered a settlement for the remaining year of his contract.
Anderson, who also lost the Australian job at the same time, was last week appointed to the Roosters job after the club sacked Stuart in the belief that Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett had agreed to take charge.
There was also speculation last night that Lam, a former Roosters player, may return to the club if he is unwanted at Cronulla.
The Sharks issued a statement before last night's board meeting advising that no comment would be made afterwards but the coach situation was on the agenda.
The board also received a presentation from the Mercury Group, which this week completed an independent review of the football club operations.
Cronulla officials insist the review did not involve a critique of individual coaching staff. Raper's future has been under a cloud since before the side ended the season with a club record 10th consecutive loss in round 26.
Wests Tigers officials yesterday insisted they were not interested in taking over the final year of Kimmorley's contract, despite releasing New Zealand international Jamaal Lolesi to join English club Huddersfield.
The Tigers are expected to sign veteran Warriors back-rower Awen Guttenbeil, whose move to Castleford was aborted when the club was relegated from Super League after last weekend's loss to Wakefield.
