The numbers.A handwritten note on a piece of A4 paper yesterday brought an end to days of legal wrangling — and hours of courtroom argy-bargy — over the immediate future of five Parramatta officials at the centre of the club’s salary cap scandal.Eels officials were locked in discussions yesterday afternoon as they digested the outcome of yesterday’s hearing in room 7A of the NSW Supreme Court, with the NRL increasingly confident Parramatta’s “gang of five” were ready to step aside.The morning started with Eels officials optimistic they could mount a compelling argument to justify their positions at Parramatta. The NRL’s legal team made it clear they would prefer that didn’t happen.At one point during nearly two hours of legal argument, NRL legal counsel Lachlan Giles suggested officials would be best served by standing down, thereby allowing them to concentrate on their defence to accusations they played a part in breaching the salary cap.He added there was no evidence the club would be prejudiced if they were relieved of their duties, pointing out there were four remaining directors who could keep the Eels operational.Furthermore, the club had the power to appoint an interim chief executive and interim head of football to replace John Boulous and Daniel Anderson respectively. Giles also warned a ruling which precluded the game from handing down immediate suspensions could have future repercussions in areas such as match fixing, which threaten the integrity of the sport.Defence counsel Arthur Moses argued his clients had been given no prior notice of the allegations before the hammer dropped, the details only arriving last Friday in a box of material containing five volumes of information.Even then, there were suggestions that some of the information was absent. By lunchtime, the presiding judge had come to the conclusion that the injunction governing the matter was no longer necessary.Instead, he asked the parties to use a 90-minute intermission in proceedings to strike an agreement which would be suitable to both parties.That agreement took the form of a handwritten note on a piece of A4 paper, putting the onus back on the club and the officials as they attempt to negotiate their way through the salary cap scandal.The club, and its suspended officials, have until early next month to respond to the NRL allegations. If the suspended officials continue to be involved, there is every chance the club will lose any premiership points it gains over the coming weeks.http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/udge-puts-onus-on-club-to-work-through-the-salary-cap/news-story/e08fd8fc402fb03e7c55beae6e379ad4

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Having read that Australian article, there seems to be a jagged olive branch dangled out from the NRL, as it gives the 5 the assurance that they have time to present their case to the NRL.

    The big thing though is that it also means that the club can start to look to the future, I said elsewhere about how I have changed my thoughts on the board aspect, as I think many have, so its really time start to move forward & work towards the future. Its sad in some respects re Sharp as he is a die hard eels supporter, as I think a couple of others are as well, so to Daniel Anderson & worst aspect is they may well find it hard to get new jobs, Boulous likely affected that was as well.

    The NRL & court has said the club can continue with the remaining board members likewise with help from Schubert for the financial side, but I would like to see Phil's option of appointing Bevan Paul as Executive Chairman then go for a new CEO, Gurr would be ideal, then to arrange new elections.

    It had to come, but comes earlier now.

  • That is where the NRL have Parramatta over a barrel, one because our franchise agreement stops us from disputing NRL 'facts' and the other is fact we have no time.  Parramatta have no option, in the short term, but to accept NRL's figure of $570k.  

    Over the longer term maybe it will be shown that the NRL fudged our figures as much as we did.  But we can't dispute them now.  

    As for the individuals aka the GO5 who's reputations have been trashed and lives tarnished that is why I hope we follow through with the legal action.  They bleed blue and gold and a lot people are only too happy to throw them under a bus. 

  • To follow through on the above line of thought that the NRL doesn't have clean hands in all of this.

    Wouldn't it be interesting if Parra and the GO5 pursued the legalities to their conclusion and the courts said: NRL you had no right to tarnish and diminish these men as you did. NRL you had no right to treat Parramatta as being over the cap by as much as you did.

    While I am sure the NRL will never let it get to this, could you imagine the damages the GO5 and Parramatta could seek?

    A theoretical scenario of course but interesting never the less!

This reply was deleted.

More stuff to read

ParramAddict replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"Lets see what excuse he comes up with why he can't play against the Storms in Round 1, apart from just not being picked in the 17"
37 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"If you are going to do that better off just keeping him in Cup as a break glass option. Unless he is that much of a cancer and that negative to the squad that he needs to go."
42 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"He's fine, just feel we should get a younger Winger. Many saying he's a goal kicker, ummm Moses is too and is pretty much the same in percentage. "
43 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Matterson’s back @ training today. What now.
"Someone mentioned on social media we may get jesse arthurs"
44 minutes ago
More…