So I walked out of a day-long personal commitment to a bunch of texts, messages and emails. And I'm only just catching up on what has transpired during the day, however I do want to say a couple of things. Firstly, and this goes back to what I said when Scott Seward resigned in the first place. Save your energies and hold onto your pitchforks until the situation more fully unfolds, regardless at who you want to point them at. Clearly, there has been a bunch of things unfolding behind the scenes and I'm sure more will come out. It's gotten to the point where we just can't pretend our CEO decided to move on from a dream job for some untold personal reasons. Again, I'll note that none of this is entirely unusual. There are always contract issues in footy clubs (or indeed any business) and normally it's dealt with quietly and behind the scenes. But we're Parramatta so of course it has to play out in public.
The fact that it hasn't played our private is cause for concern and not just for the fact that it seems like a relentless tirade of bad new.s No doubt, this is a player manager maneuver to put pressure on the Eels in terms of getting the contract finalised as close to its original form as possible. However, I'm surprised a discussion about a "political instability" clause has caused this to play out in this fashion and so I'm sceptical we've got the full story. However, that's even more reason as to why we as supporters and members need to keep our powder dry until we know more.
However, in the mean-time, here's some unsolicited advice to our current administration. The member-based is sick to death of passing the buck. At some point we need some accountability. At some point there needs to be transparency. At some point, platitudes like club-first, stay united, good governance etc need to be backed-up with action befitting such calls for loyalty. No more excuses. In the end, when you're in control, and something happens on your watch, you are accountable regardless of the situation. So if there is a mess, get it cleaned up, learn from mistakes that have been made and communicate to us what's been done, so the membership can at least have confidence that this is not going to be a never-ending storm we have to weather forever onwards.
I watched last Friday's night's game, thinking "My god, we're actually going to have one of the best halves pairing in the comp". I was probably more excited about our future than I've been at any point in recent memory. That's why this news is causing such consternation with Parramatta supporters. Just when things look up, it's like the world wants to take it away from us again.
Of course, right now, all we can really comment on is that contract re-negotiations are taking place. Personally, I think what brought Kieran to this club - and that's the chance to be the leader of one of the biggest and most important clubs in the NRL, and to link up with a coach he respects in Brad Arthur and to start a new footballing chapter with his mate Choc - none of that has changed. However, even if this all blows away as yesterday's fish and chips wrapping, our membership needs to be treated with due respect and the events of the past month not just be pushed aside as though they never happened.
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Sorry Mules already let us know in the cupboard that there have been mass riots infront of the leagues clubs. Effigies have been burnt. Apparently Sharps charred corpse remains. It's all over man. It's all over!
Man, out of action for a day and the bloody place burns down...
It's still very noisy here Hamish with all network choppers buzzing overhead, I spotted the nien chopper quite easily with the firey red headed Danny weidler getting the first scoop.
Steve sharpe is toast, he was frog marched out past the foyer doors and was dealt with by the crowd with pitch folks, he was placed on a post and set alight in disgust by the savage fans. Where from here, only David smith knows.
Stay tuned more to come.
I don't think he is covering at all.
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