Eels mull backflip on culled directors
Parramatta chairman Max Donnelly: ‘If those people want to stand, the members can vote for them’ Picture Brett Costello
Eels chairman Max Donnelly has revealed he is considering a change of tack on constitutional reform at the Parramatta Leagues Club, a move which could allow former supremo Denis Fitzgerald and three of the Eels directors who stood down in the wake of the salary cap crisis to once again wield influence over the football side.
Donnelly had previously proposed that all former directors be frozen out of future elections but he is ready to alter that stance as he looks to change the way elections are conducted at the leagues club, which is largely responsible for financing the football side.
The changes off the field come as the club begins to reshape its squad on the field. The club confirmed that Canberra Raider Junior Paulo has signed a four-year deal and revelations Corey Norman has been offered to rival clubs.
Fitzgerald was the most powerful figure at Parramatta for more than 20 years before he parted ways with the club in an official capacity in 2009. However, Donnelly revealed he was willing to bend his stance on former directors in an attempt to push through constitutional reform, saying that could mean Fitzgerald re-enters the picture to take on an official position at the Eels, although it is understood there are other impediments to that, not least winning members’ support.
Former Parramatta directors Tanya Gadiel, Paul Garrard and Andrew Cordwell, who all stood down during the salary cap crisis which cost the club 12 premiership points in 2016 and millions in legal costs, could also run again for election.
Donnelly has been previously frustrated in his attempt to reform the leagues club constitution, one of his key reasons to remove the factional fighting which has blighted the club over the years, but he will raise the matter again during a meeting with members on June 21.
The outcome of that meeting will determine whether Donnelly takes reform to a vote.
“I want to get other changes through like triennial elections, postal voting, whatever else,” Donnelly said.
“If those people want to stand, the members can vote for them. There is a discussion meeting with members and I am prepared to recommend that I give in on that restriction to help enable changes that will improve the governance of Parramatta Leagues Club.”
The Eels have struggled this season and coach Brad Arthur has begun the rebuild, having confirmed signing Paulo for the next four seasons.
Paulo had been widely expected to rejoin Parramatta after leaving in 2016 at the height of the salary cap crisis. The Raiders were reluctant to compete with the bid on the table from the Eels.
The more intriguing developments is the future of Norman. The Eels half is about to enter the final year of a big-money deal and it is understood rival clubs have been approached about taking Norman off the Eels’ hands.
The 27-year-old has struggled to strike up a combination with Mitchell Moses this season and it is understood the Eels would not stand in his way if he was able to find a new home. That is likely to be contingent on several factors, not least of which is whether the Eels would be willing to pay a portion of Norman’s salary for him to play elsewhere.
Parramatta are yet to make a call on the future of Jarryd Hayne, who is also off contract at the end of the season. Hayne has struggled this season with injury. The club has promised to give him every chance to find his feet before making a decision on his future.
Arthur said he was excited about the prospect of Paulo returning to the Eels.
“I’m looking forward to having Junior back at Parramatta,” Arthur said. “It is always great to have a local Parramatta Eels junior return to our club and I know Junior will be an asset to our team next year.”
Replies
Blah blah blah .... yada yada yada .... postal votes , yeah that’d be cool ...... wait Norman’s being shopped ? Yay !!!
WTF!!!!! WTF IS THIS!
This goes against everything that was promised from Max, this is a huge kick in the face to those who trusted him and the club and makes Max out to be a complete fool.
Hes doing this because he's caught wind of whats brewing, him and Bern have totally destroyed Chris Loscos good idea, it was all for nothing.
The factions are back big time and this is admission from Max is the admission of a broken man.
You might as well leave now Max.
Did you expect anything else from these clowns really ? Max is a stooge. He and Bernie are only in it for the paycheques .
The fault here lies at the former directors who stacked the voting at the last AGM when these resolutions to amend the constitution were put forward. Max needs to ensure former directors can not run at the next elections or he's failed in his role. His other resolutions will work with that, but there needs to be a clear directive in the constitution that prevents any future political in-fighting
Yep I'm with you on this one Snake. For roughly two years now we've been hearing that reform is on the way and all the old factions would never be allowed in again, and now we get this. It really is disappointing to say the least.
Its all good for everyone to whinge about reform but if no one turns up to vote for it except a few of us foolish ones than this is what you get.
This clubs imploding again.
Pretty much this. But do the members deserve it for continually voting in either dopes or refusing to support constitutional change?
FFS that’s all the club needs.
Max fix this shit or F off you clown.
Last thing we need is for the club to let the factions back in - I’m beginning to think that Fong was right, only privatisation will fix this club.
That’s what all this is about Frank , this is another attempt and getting us to think that way .
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