Former Parramatta Eels chairman Steve Sharp says he won't apologise over salary cap breaches

Former Parramatta Eels chairman Steve Sharp says he will not apologise for the salary cap scandal that has derailed the club's 2016 season.Less than a month after the NSW Government sacked the Parramatta Board, Mr Sharp said he was still coming to terms with being sidelined from rugby league."I'm totally disappointed in the NRL's decision in finding me guilty of being part of a system that defrauded the salary cap," he said."That never happened, but I have to live by the decisions of the NRL."Speaking exclusively to the ABC, Mr Sharp did not deny what happened but maintained his innocence."I'm not saying it didn't occur I'm saying that I didn't have the knowledge at the time that this stuff was happening," he said"If I was guilty of something it was probably not self-reporting suspicious stuff that happened from mid-2015 onwards."The NRL found Parramatta guilty of salary cap breaches dating back to 2013 with the knowledge of the club's board and executive.Five club officials were deregistered, including Mr Sharp.'I don't apologise for something I wasn't aware of'Former Eels chief executive Scott Seward said the board was aware of the club's top up payments, but Mr Sharp maintains that was not the case."He (Seward) was misrepresenting the club in negotiations with players and contracts of players, and for instance, he was misleading the board on the amount that the contracts were and the length of those contracts," he said."Some of those contracts involved paying players extra cash by using false invoices. I think people got desperate for success."Mr Sharp said he did not get involved in daily club operations."As a chairman my role is basically at a higher level as a figure-head type level, I didn't get involved in the day to day operation of $10,000 to $20,000 invoices."Mr Sharp would not apologise to fans for the salary cap scandal that has derailed the system."I don't apologise for something I wasn't aware of," he said.But he said ultimately it was his responsibility as chairman to know what was going on."I still maintain my innocence, I had no involvement, I don't negotiate with player managers, I don't deal with players and their contracts and I don't get involved in the day to day operation of the club.""That's what we pay CEOs for and I feel disappointed that I was let down."But at the same time I have to take responsibility for being the chairman at the time and it happened on my watch."Sharp says he's lost the love of the gameMr Sharp played 164 games with the Eels and won three premierships with the club in the 1980s.He said he would miss being there for the final game at Parramatta Stadium before the redevelopment."We should have a full stadium where it all started in 1986," he said."I was fortunate enough to play in that game and score the first try in that stadium and I'll have immense disappointment that I won't be at the game in round 25."He said while he continued to support Parramatta, he was lost to rugby league."I've lost the love of the game over the last 18 months, I still love Parramatta and I care about the club but I've lost the love of the game, and going back to my earliest memory, I've always had it. That's sad."Mr Sharp said he wanted only the best for the club in the future and that was what led him to call in the NSW Government to appoint an administrator."I'm hoping this is the end of it, I hope one of the legacies I leave behind is by falling on my sword and doing what we've done in approaching the Government to get an administrator to come in, is the end of the factionalism.""Hopefully now Parramatta can get some clear water and some clear direction and go forward."Mr Sharp now wants the NRL to come in and clean up the game in regards to third-party agreements."I think they should be taken out of the game or at least out of the control of the clubs and put solely in the hands of the player managers, the players and the NRL," he said.A spokesman for the NRL said the third-party payment system will form part of the new collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the players association.POSTED TUE AUG 09 17:24:17 EST 20

"Need way more than that, majority of the players signed would be their depth. Even that is rubbish. As Johnny mentioned too, juniors will be hard to come by.
Look at their last two signings. Sorensen and Talakai. Sorensen is a fine signing for…"

"Precisely. Just makes me think someone at NRL HQ - and we all know who - got a very large suitcase of cash from the WA state government for agreeing to this. "

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Dave August 9, 2016 at 7:21pm

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-09/former-parramatta-eels-cha...

Former Eels chairman won't apologise over salary cap breaches

Steve Sharp says he will not apologise for the salary cap scandal that has de-railed Parramatta's 2016 season.
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown August 9, 2016 at 7:28pm

What a selfish deluded man this bloke is.
- Richard Jackson > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown August 9, 2016 at 7:50pm
  
  Deluded is right Snake, if he thinks he'll be remembered for sacrificing himself to end factionalism within our club.
  
  We know he jumped moments before the axe fell, hoping to convince anyone naive enough that he wore a white Stetson.
  
  Good guys as well, don;t sign contracts to take our home games away for 9 years whilst morally in caretaker mode.
- Glen wilcox > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown August 9, 2016 at 7:57pm
  
  So Frankie are u saying u dont like him lol
Nutcracker August 9, 2016 at 7:45pm

A few mixed message here - he didn't know anything but he also knew enough to have reported some 'suspicious stuff' that happened from mid 2015 onwards but failed to do so.

I still give him kudos for calling in the administrator - that has been the best decision he ever made for the club.
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown August 9, 2016 at 7:46pm

I used to like some of Steves qualities as a person and even feel a bit sorry for him, these days i just don't like the bloke and think he's a self serving tool like the rest of them.

I don't think anybody gives a shit about what he says any more, i couldn't even be bothered reading it all.
Longfin Eel August 9, 2016 at 7:49pm

He has a point about the chairman being a figure head. It is not a full time role after all. He is however resposnsible for knowing what his CEO is up to and for that reason Sharpie needs to show some responsibility.
Tentonz August 9, 2016 at 7:51pm

Anyone know how long the census takes?
- Nutcracker > Tentonz August 9, 2016 at 7:54pm
  
  Depends how many people you have in the house tonight.
- Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > Tentonz August 9, 2016 at 7:56pm
  
  Depends on if you own a brothel or not, its going to take them all night.

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