Open letter over Eels push
Exclusive by Josh Massoud | November 20, 2008 12:00am
EELS premiership-winning prop Terry Leabeater has this afternoon penned an open letter explaining the reasons behind his push for the Parramatta Football Club board at next month's AGM. In his letter, Leabeater responds to fresh revelations that the club does not class him as a voting member and is poised to block him from running alongside fellow greats Ray Price and Eric Grothe Snr.
Leabeater also hits back at Eels management for revealing he owes the club $3,000 a debt he claims was wiped by chairman Alan Overton and CEO Denis Fitzgerald.
READ the letter in full
By Terry Leabeater:
"To all Parramatta and rugby league fans in general, please do not think that the ticket I am running on in the upcoming election, is an anti Denis Fitzgerald or Alan Overton campaign.
"I have the utmost respect for both men, and those of the board. This is a business decision for the future of the Parramatta Eels, and it is of my opinion that the people I have involved myself with have the necessary credentials to take both clubs into a new and successful era.
"When Denis has to sack a player from Parramatta, it is not a personal decision,it is a business decision he believes is in the best interests of the club. Eric's, Ray's and my view is exactly that, a business decision to run for the board, not personal.
"I voted for Denis and Ovo in the 90's as I believed they were the most competent people for the CEO and Chairman positions, but there is an overwhelming opinion for change. My decision to run was totally determined by the diversely successfull business people involved, many of whom currently sit on company boards, with one on the board of a major bank, and one a member of Parliament.
"The current board with Chris Jurd, whom I do not know, and Geoff Gerard, a Parramatta legend and Life Member, are the newest additions to the board. Denis Fitzgerald, Alan Overton, Michael Johnson, Don Richie and Gary Morris have been stalwarts for the club since I first arrived in 1986, with Ron Hilditch being another playing legend of the club, as well as being on the board firstly from 1985 to 1988, and then reappointed in 1991 to the present day.
"These gentlemen have obviously served the club with their greatest intentions, but the halcyon days of this great club are a distant memory, and with all due respect to the gentlemen above, it is time the club to evolve into a new era through new management.
"We have surrounded ourselves with individuals who have legal degrees, business degrees and those who have obtained a great deal of personal wealth through their business acumen.
"We not only have the remaining 4 seats on the ticket filled by long term Eels supporters and sponsors, we also have a support group of over a dozen people in an advisory capacity, including a major bank board member and a member of Parliament.
"These people and only these people are the only reason Ray, Eric and myself are standing, as it would be pointless for us to run without the support of established business entities, beyond reproach. We also have the enthusiastic support of vast amount of club greats, who are very keen to be involved in any capacity.
"The drive to participate in this ticket took a step back this morning after a phone call from a reporter, who informed me that it had just become personal, stemming from Denis's office. On the first count, apparrently I am not an elligable member to even vote, let alone stand ??
"I am a Perpetual Member and was informed of that and encouraged to vote in the football club elections by Allan Overton, a few years after I retired in 1988. If this is not the case, how did I vote and how did I even get in the room.
"The second point the reporter brought up is that Denis had thrown up that I owe the club money. Well for all and sundry, yes that is correct, and yes it is remiss of me not to rectified the situation. I sat in the beer garden at Crown Plaza Terrigal last summer with Alan Overton and discussed the situation, and he said to forget about it, it's sweet.
"I discussed the same matter with Denis at our last reunion."
