Parramatta director Geoff Gerard says the club must make retaining Brad Arthur a priority, believing the coach is capable of overseeing a decade of success at the blue and golds.
Arthur is contracted to the Eels until the end of next season but, with the salary cap scandal likely to claim five key executives, there is a feeling the franchise needs stability and continuity. Arthur has been credited for keeping the club together during the most turbulent period in its history, although a raft of off-contract stars are unlikely to commit long term until his future is clear.
The man: Parramatta coach Brad Arthur should get a long-term deal at the club. Photo: Getty Images
Gerard is one of the few senior figures remaining at Parramatta after the so-called 'gang of five' effectively stepped aside from their duties while responding to their breach notice. A former Eels player, coach, state selector and administrator, Gerard opened up about the future of his club, including the role Arthur should play in it.
"We need to look at keeping Brad at the club long term," Gerard said. "The players love him and the fans are seeing his hard work come to fruition.
"We need to start talking about keeping him long term. He's a local junior, he lives in the area, he's blue and gold through and through.
"He needs to continue to build that roster so we can win a premiership. He's an outstanding coach and a great human being.
"A time is coming soon enough to be saying to Brad, at least in my opinion, 'Brad, we want you to be a 10-year coach here, we want to work with you to get the playing roster right'.
"He's the man. I think everyone in the game understands he's the man."
The Eels have been riven by factionalism and mismanagement, culminating in a series of provisional fines that included the stripping of 12 competition points. The club has taken an adversarial approach with the NRL throughout the cap scandal, with chairman Steve Sharp making a series of inflammatory comments.
Gerard, who will be the Parramatta delegate at next week's meeting of NRL club powerbrokers while Sharp is sidelined, said it was crucial to work collaboratively with the governing body.
"We have to acknowledge we got some things wrong at the club," he said. "There's no use burying our heads in the sand. The NRL have come in and breached us because we have obviously done some things wrong. We need to acknowledge that to the supporters and the players.
"We need to work with the NRL. There's an opportunity, possibly, to work through the breach notice and reduce the points [penalty] if we can prove to them, through Schuey [consultant and former NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert] that some of the breach notices were harsh. We may be able to reduce it.
"We have to work with the NRL because they are the regulator. I believe Todd [Greenberg] and Nick [Weeks] have been extremely fair to our club, they have been open and honest."
Parramatta have lurched from one crisis to the next, culminating in the latest sanctions. Gerard believes the club can begin to fulfil its undoubted potential if it makes the most of its watershed moment.
"We need to build this club from the ground up again," said Gerard, who acknowledged the support of his wife and family during a difficult period.
"We've had years of factionalism and it's got to stop. I've actually sat in boardrooms and questioned people whether they are here for the club or here for themselves. That's on the record. I'm not part of any factionalism, I'm just about doing stuff right.
"There are a lot of questions around of whether I knew [of impropriety]. I didn't and that's why I've come out [clean]. The people that are still in their for their own egos should be working together."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/brad-arthur-needs-to-be-a-10year-coach-of-the-parramatta-eels-geoff-gerard-20160514-gov612.html#ixzz48ce8MXnC
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Replies
Well done Geoff, publicly backing BA and stating how important he is and that its a huge priority to keep him here.
What i like here is this is the FIRST time ive heard anybody from the board admitting they got things wrong, thats a good start.
I can tell all this is from Geoff, not written up for him, this is a lot more impressive and honest than what ive been hearing from Steve for a long time, Geoff probably should have been doing the talking all along.
What he has said is a no brainer, its something that more than a few of us have been calling for now for some time. There's little or no doubt that the fiasco has stifled everything at the club & until its settled its still going to.
Also its one thing for Geoff Gerrard to be making what sounds like the right noises, thing is though Geoff has been on & off the board a few times over the years, at the moment he is one that is left on the board by the NRL Il Duce's so what I would like to know is that when he talks about factionism within the club, is does he belong to or supports one of them or not?
There is now the choice with the 4 remaining board member to se the agenda to reform that is of a type that's not going to just lead to more of the same again.
I also believe that with those 4 along with Bevan Paul should be looing into who will be invited to be the next CEO,rather than Boulous, while he came in sort of late in the job he has been there for a while, even if the 5 win their court case they really have to step down, worst part is that Sharp did say to the members meeting that if it meant saving points he would step down, to me a fair call, maybe if he & the other 3 on the board all fall on the sword the NRL may be able to condescend & give back 4 points for 4 board members.
As for Daniel Anderson, I don't know enough about how he has performed in his position to say one way or another, although some of the reports has him emailing the board about unfulfilled TPA's
I actually see no reason why the current board members & BP, could not open a dialogue with BA & start a process to see where he's at, with the goal to move on him. Certainly the players he wants to keep should be also listed along with any others. If BA says he wants to stay, then an interim agreement could be reached which give him, club & players the knowledge of whose going to be in charge into the future.
Just my opinion.
Well Geoff can talk the talk but can he walk the walk. We cant take the chance on anyone else. We have to get this shite right this time. I dont think we can afford another group of self obsessed directors.
Make brad a life coach
Do it! Do it now!
Mmmmmm, remember a coach by the name of Brian Smith? 10 years is a long time & people become stale, even talented people can wear out their welcome.
I agree that BA is currently the best man for the role & IMO his tenure should be extended but he has been here 3 years this year & I suggest an extension of another 3 years would be sensible.
Agree Mick, totally.
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