The Parramatta board is about to face its first big test after tasking itself with the responsibility of reviewing the club’s dismal season.
The Eels hierarchy had given some consideration to engaging an independent consultant to conduct the probe into a team languishing in last spot on the ladder. However, the directors decided they had the necessary experience to handle the task themselves and have begun a sweeping review of all facets of the football operation.
Probe: The Parramatta board will conduct a review of the club's season from hell.
Probe: The Parramatta board will conduct a review of the club's season from hell.
Photo: AAP
While such reviews are often viewed as a justification to punt the coach, it’s understood Brad Arthur - while under intense pressure after a 3-12 start to the season - isn’t currently in the firing line. Suggestions that Wayne Bennett, or other potential coaching replacements, have been sounded out are off the mark.
The review will determine whether Arthur has the necessary support and resources required to succeed and will benchmark Parramatta’s football department with that of other clubs at the NRL.
The board, installed after its predecessors were sacked by the NSW Government over the salary cap scandal, will be judged on the outcomes of the probe. Several Parramatta directors will have oversight on the project according to their skill sets, but it’s understood Jim Sarantinos will play a lead role. A qualified chartered accountant, Sarantinos has extensive experience in restructuring businesses as a partner at Ferrier Hodgson.
Interviews with key football department staff began on Tuesday and will continue throughout the week in bid to identify if there are any gaps that need to be filled.
One of the issues that has surfaced is whether the club needs a head of football. Eels CEO Bernie Gurr currently has that role and the review will establish whether he should continue in the role and the reporting lines need to be altered.
The review comes at a critical time in Parramatta’s history. The club has a thriving leagues club, a big junior nursery and will next year unveil a brand new home stadium that will be genuinely world class. The Eels should be a league superpower akin to the Broncos but have made only one finals appearance in the past nine years, making them the NRL’s biggest underperformers.
Despite a top-four finish last season, it has been acknowledged internally that the playing roster needs to be overhauled. The futures of several contracted stars - including Corey Norman and Michael Jennings - will be discussed as part of the process.
The Eels have also lost many of their best young juniors, the majority now playing for Manly or the Sea Eagles feeder club Blacktown. The way the club identifies young talent, as well as senior retention and recruitment, will be an area that is heavily scrutinised.
Replies
What a bunch of tightasses!!! Geez this pisses me off.
So they are involved in the crime and yet get to sit as Judge and Jury....that will do me.
Absolutely diabolical Baz, i saw this coming a mile off, this is the straw that broke the camels back.
The NRL need to step in here.
No, this is why you have these kinds of people on the board. They are much better equipped to make dispassionate decisions.
LOL just LOL!
Brett you can’t be serious???
first it was a probe, then it was internal....and now Bazza throws in tight asses!
lol.....funny
So an accountant is doing the footy review. Makes sense at parra I suppose, however it does say it is understood that Jim Sarantinos would undertake the review.
Not sure where they got their info but hopefully for the club it is incorrect. It does say he likely to lead the investigation so hope he gets some footy knowledge there with him otherwise it is pointless.
I understand the administrators are in to fix business and corporate governance however we need the footy dept fixed and specific knowledge on how run footy club to perform not to make a profit.
Hahahahahahahahahaha fucking gold !! A fucking two bit accountant is in charge of reviewing our football operations ?? You can go through every person at our cljn and you will not find one Person either worthy or credentialed enough to review our footy operations.
The sooner Max Donnelly fucks of the better , all he cares about is saving money so when he leaves he can say he saved the club a few million dollars and call his tenure a success while our footy team has one foot intjr grave .
Can't wait for the next AGM and for these clowns to be humiliated .
BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Theres ZERO footy experience on the board!
This clubs beyond a joke, Bernie is covering his ass here because hes not going to let an external eye call him out, hes going to get the puppets on the board with zero footy experience to try and figure out whats gone wrong.
BERNIE GURR NEEDS TO BE SACKED, THIS BLOW IN IS DESTROYING OUR CLUB ALONG WITH THE COACH.
All this should have been done when Bernie came in, juniors, retention, recruitment, Bernie has clearly sat on his hands and done nothing proactive and now we need this sort of nonsense.
This clown Gurr needs some serious pressure put on him, hes nothing short of an embarrassment and disgrace to the club, hes taking the club right down the tube at lightning speed.
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