Denis Fitzgerald aiming for return

PARRAMATTA's ancient internal hostilities are set to be reignited, with former CEO Denis Fitzgerald positioning himself to challenge the club's board in May.News Limited can reveal Fitzgerald has completed a mandatory education course that all aspiring Eels directors must undertake before nominating.The two-session course wrapped up last night, ahead of nominations for the Mothers Day weekend ballot closing on Friday.Should the 63-year-old proceed with his nomination, Parramatta will be guaranteed a brutal six-week campaign as there's absolutely no love lost between him and chairman Roy Spagnolo.When contacted last night, Fitzgerald was coy about whether he would challenge."Yes, I did attend the education courses - I am keen to stay in touch with any changes to the Registered Clubs Act," Fitzgerald said.Advertisement"I haven't decided whether I will stand at the club elections in May."Pressed further, he conceded: "It is certainly a possibility. I just want to keep educating myself. You never stop learning."Fitzgerald was not a director when his record 30-year reign as Eels CEO ended at the hands of Spagnolo's newly elected board in 2009.Although Fitzgerald received a payout and subsequent invitations to football club ceremonies, his icy relationship with the majority of Spagnolo's board has not thawed one bit.He and another current director were even engaged in a heated verbal confrontation outside the leagues club during last December's football club election.After becoming aware of the possibility their chief antagonist could join a rebel ticket, the Eels board has reviewed the incident and its impact upon Fitzgerald's eligibility.The Eels have already received advice that any disparaging comments about the board could lead to his membership being revoked, thus defeating any challenge in its infancy.A total of 13 people completed this week's education course, including former Eels premiership winner Steve Sharp and local Labor party politician Pierre Esber.Sharp led an unsuccessful challenge to the football club board in December.Six of the seven Eels directors are currently behind Spagnolo, with Joe Saad the only dissenting voice on the incumbent board.

"None of them would even know he exists. That's the biggest issue. A Board with football expertise would know names like Cameron, Ponissi etc. They'd have them on a shortlist already. Our lot would probably hire a HR company to do some market…"

"I don't even know if the Board of the Leagues Club have the authority to act. As the owner one would assume they do. I need to find out. If not, then fhe Football Club Board is untouchable. We'll need another constitutional change. "

"It's such an obvious move. If the Board and Jim haven't spoken to Wayne and don't intend to, then we have much larger problems than BA. We're in real trouble as an organisation. "

Replies

Patsy Stone March 19, 2013 at 11:58pm

Ok ok now can someone fill me in here. If I say something critical of the board I can have my membership revoked. Geez sounds more like Nazi Germany than a football club.
SuperEel 22 March 20, 2013 at 7:19am

So you'd like to keep 3P after they ran us into the ground on the field? Phil's already felt the effects first hand of standing against 3P. They had their chance and honestly Sticky was the only option they had. They made the mistake of recruiting SK. They were so hell-bent of removing everything Fitzgerald that they destroyed the team and the club. It's great that we're financially viable but it's time we had people running the club who will put the team and club ahead of their grievances with previous management.
ParramAddict March 20, 2013 at 7:57am

Are you high?
The True Parra fan March 20, 2013 at 9:22am

No membership drives ...no new ideas ....no guratee of survival in the next 5 years.
PM www.sportfirstnambucca.com.au March 20, 2013 at 10:00am

Fitzy's had his time, time to move on.
- fishbulb > PM www.sportfirstnambucca.com.au March 20, 2013 at 10:06am
  
  Just look at our record re-signing former players. That alone should be reason enough not to get Fitzy back. If he comes back he'll just be injured all the time and generally be a waste of money!
Waterboy March 20, 2013 at 11:36am

Fitzys a dead duck. Everyone knows he ran the club broke. I dont rate 3P but they have cleaned up Fitzys mess. I see 3P as a rebound ticket, they wont be here for ever but we cant go back to the ex or nothing will get better.
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown March 20, 2013 at 2:16pm

property owned by the club in the parramatta area..
1Eyed Eel March 20, 2013 at 2:29pm

We've sold about 80 per cent of our property portfolio.
coco March 20, 2013 at 3:03pm

bloody hell I don't care what side your'e on but Fitzgerald is like like the jarryd hayne to 5/8 blogs - just comes back again and again every year