The Tri-Axis: Michael Barrilaro (left), Roy Spagnolo, the Ringmaster (centre), and James Hooper (right)
George Santayana once wrote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
That's something missed in James Hooper's recent attack on the Eels' club headlined: 'Make Parra Great Again? Greats Backing Plot to Overthrow Eels Higher-Ups' (4 Sept 2024). He suggests that former Eels' greats are pushing this Make Parra Matter Again Coup.
"Who’s involved in the push for change? Only three of the greatest Parramatta players of all time," Hooper reveals.
"Retired champion Eels Brett Kenny, Ray Price, Eric Grothe Snr, Eric Grothe Jnr, Ben Smith and David Liddiard have all thrown their support behind the Make Parra Matter Again committee who are calling for signatures to force an Extraordinary General Meeting," he continues.
"In a statement calling for signatures pushing for the Extraordinary General Meeting ["EGM"], committee member Michael Barrilaro said: The current administration has consistently fallen short of expectations.
"We have witnessed a decline in on-field performance, a toxic culture, and a complete disconnect between the club and its supporters. It is clear that a fresh approach is desperately needed.
"We can create a unified Club that is capable of achieving greatness," Hooper quotes Mr Barrilaro who is the ambassador of the Make Parra Matter Again ticket - whom has a linkedin profile as a security guard and pizza person.
But who is Really Driving this and Why?
Oddly enough, Hooper failed to report the most important information. Who is behind all this. The actual driver. Mr Roy Spagolo. The email below is evidence.
Now, Michael Barrilaro has claimed that Roy Spagolo is not behind this coup. Let's hope he comes clean or at least changes his story.
Attached in that email was the petition below. It seeks to gain enough support for an EGM and to overthrow four Leagues' board members in order to eventually seize control of the footy board.
Former chairman, Steve Sharp (ParraFirst" Ticket): He once promised to do whatever it takes to return the Eels to Greatness Again. Sound Familiar?
The Seven Dark Years: Do we want to return to the Dark Ages?
So, from mid-2009 to mid-2016 before the Reforms, this is what last happened under Roy Spagnolo and Steve Sharp's previous attempts to return us to Greatness:
- No Finals footy
- $50m in losses
- Salary cap scandal
- We almost lost our NRL licence
- 25 directors
- 5 CEOs
- 5 head coaches
- 5 salary cap breaches
- almost three successive straight spoons on top of the two (2011-13)
- over $1m in fines due to poor governence and cap scandal
That's been turned around. For what? So, we can now return to that?
Just in case
If you're still not sure why Roy Spagolo is a problem, do some research starting with these articles below.
1. Kate McClymont and Jacquelin Magnay (4 July 4 2009), Italian connection comes under scrutiny, Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, Link.
Kate McClymont and Jacquelin Magnay trace a tangled web of failed property deals that all lead back to Eels chairman Roy Spagnolo, his dogdy property development failings, short changing of the ATO, colorful associates part of royal commission, Woodward royal commission as a money launderer for the Griffith Mafia.
2. Kate McClymont and Stuart Goodman, (24 July 2015), Who Is Roy Spagnolo?, Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, Link.
3. Matthew Benns (27 December 2023), Look out Parramatta: Former Eels chairman Roy Spagnolo is standing for re-election to Parra Leagues Club board, Link.
Notes: Ultimately his election bid failed early 2024. "An investigation by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority found that the former Leagues Club chairman (Roy Spagola) had not demonstrated the skills and knowledge expected of a club director."
4. Chris Barrett (15 September 2014), Eels scandal deepens with allegations of intimidation, The Leader, Link.
Brief Eels' Political Timeline
Replies
Spags had a very colourful business history prior to the 3P bid. 8 failed or bankrupted property development companies. Millions in debt to the ATO. Creditors left, right and centre with money owing. A supreme court case over deceptive and misleading conduct by one of his former "friends" and associates.
3P was yet another one of Spags bids to find more friends by exerting a position of power he could use to his advantage. Advantage he very much needed as everything was crumbling around him.
This is highlighted by the illegal membership tampering that he used to try and rig his re-election at the Eels. And the names used in that tampering included several of his bankrupted or jailed business "friends".
Call all that activity what you want Fong. I call it very very obvious bad intentions.
Hard to argue against that Fongy, is there a defence for 3P?
Some great discussions here, Cap, Frankie, Mutts & TAD.
Spagnolo may "believe" his "intentions" are good. I care about consequences.
I don't want him running us, like he runs his own affairs.
I don't want the Seven Dark Years again - under Spagnola/Sharp despite well-intended "Make Parra Great" ideas.
That's been turned around from all that despite two years of poor on-field results and some poor decisions - mistakes. But for what? So, we can now return to the Dark Ages?
But if the voting members are unwise enough to vote this guy back in - of course with "good intentions" - we can blame "us" for putting our own club into the gurgler.
We are the problem then.
Once bitten, twice shy - should be the way. History, a race between education and catasphrophe, is a teacher if wisdom prevails. If not, well, so be it. It's very human to need to learn the hard way.
And in that case, even the Reformed Constitution aimed at safe-guarding our club (for all its good and bad and need for some change) isn't enough - to protect us from ourselves.
Only privatisation might save us. But, then it's a coin toss. We might end up with a Spagnolo or God knows who.
Interesting and dangerous times ahead.
PS: Hell is paved on good intentions.A rudimentary, primary school level understanding of history, should teach us this. For example, 20C Nazis and Communist China and Russia believed they were doing the right thing when through "consequences" of their "decisions" effectively killed 200 million plus collectively. Alas, will we really ever learn?
I 100% agree with you HOE - consequences matter, and the consequences of Spags are well known to all of us.
The reason I raise intentions (and I believe it's important) are because I think it's significantly worse to have a shyster at the helm than an idiot - both are bad, but the former is worse. When Sharp realised he was out of his depth he fell on his sword, when Spags realised he was out of his depth he conspired to illegally rig his re-election (and but for a very savvy journalist and many "friends" waiting to stab him in the back he may well have got away with it).
Thankfully these reforms were put in place to protect the Eels club members from themselves and make it very hard for something like this to happen again. Whilst it's important to be vigilant, Spags efforts here will fail. They're annoying because it drags the club through more bad press and aims to sow the seeds of instability and division...but he will fail because he has no real pathway to succeed. It's just an annoying distraction.
Cap, Intentions are important. Agree. It's a tricky one though as it comes down to belief (ideas and assumptions).
I don't know Roy personally, but he probably believes he's "doing the right thing" and may indulge in an-ends-justifies-the-means approach. A well-intentioned (to him) Machiavellian philosophy wrapped in snake oil charm.
Yeah, you're right. I can't see him easily falling on his sword as long as he has the means or stays out of jail (which might not stop him either). In that way, Sharp for all his faults (probably also had a well-intentioned-at-all-costs mentality) is better in that regard.
The constitution has some oddities and opaqueness which concern me, but the fact a guy like Roy has the chance to get back in on the back of voting members is a real concern. That kind of justifies it.
PS: My late grandfather a prisoner of war with the Ruskies, used to tell me, "Don't listen to the priest, watch what he does." My own bias leans towards the idea of goodwill and respect, but to draw a hard line with people who end up spreading a trail of diarrhea. Roy is one of them as far as I can see.
Difficult to change a system in any power based organisation. Bit like a chooks pen with the dominant rooster screwing anyone who looks vulnerable and survival is trying to stay away from a fight which is not worth it. Thats why unhealthy systems survive. How do you find and empower good people to take the fight to find a better way and invest their wellbeing for something that may lead nowhere. The energy and passion can only come from the bottom. Passion comes from a strong club culture and identity. When players are part of a system where your talent and services go to the highest bidder your commitment to your club heritage is weak. Where do you get people in todays consciousness who see their service to a club family big enough to make a difference. If you give people the pride and ownership of something in a spiritual way they will fight to retain it. If it is all about money some will profit from it and probably something others will not invest their energy in
Religion has alway been used for self sacrifice. Mercenaries are soulless and bought and will change alliances quite easily .
Things are probably stacked against genuine change without a spiritual type connection from the masses..
What a joke ....yes bring them all back the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker.....why are these entities and groups even given oxygen in the general media.
we had the failed plumber we dont need the security guard slash pizza deliverer either ....
Honestly ....and it kinda also sucks that these legends get used like this ....or maybe they are complict and just looking for a pay day or kick back......just because you are a great doesnt entitle you to any job within the eels organisation without being appropriately credentialed I would hope. Then again this is the Eels lol
There's a very good reason we have the constitution we do. Only two Directors can be replaced each year. Precisely to prevent these types of power takeovers from occurring. No way the membership would allow this to happen again. Spagnolo had his chance and he blew it. Big time. Why would any sane person ever choose to go back to those days? He chooses the same ex-Parra players in an attempt to win over the members but we've all seen this shtick before. As for Barrilaro, his resume speaks for itself and is precisely the type of poorly credentialed, inexperienced individual we want nowhere near the halls of power at our club.
Great post HOE. Hopefully some journos run with this.
we know Michael Carayannis will , he seems to be one of the better ones and called Hooper out for all his stupid statements about Parra
Yeah, Parra_Greg,
I'm not going to have a shot at the former players (heroes for me when I grew up). I'm not sure what Roy (or his minions) promised them, how he may have misled them or why they're supposedly supporting Roy - if they are.
PS: It wouldn't me if a Carayannis, Chammas or someone like that does a similar story eventually (just properly written). I suppose they've also got to get it signed off with lawyers, editors, do fact checks, through the maze of politics etc. It's the Wild West here, lol.
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