Firstly, let me thank everyone that has supported the proposal for a merit-based selection of the Parramatta Leagues Club Board. After too many years of factionalism, it’s been incredibly affirming to see members and supporters from all over the club’s community coming together to make this happen and endorse this proposal.
As Eels fans we have been through so much in the last 30 years. The one constant is our love for this great Club. The Eels community is strong, resilient and loyal and our pride and trust in the present day coaching staff and team is stronger than ever.
Merit-based selection ensures whoever leads our Clubs (the PLC & PNRL) forward, is appointed based on their skills, experience and commitment to the club; not as candidates who can bring with them the highest number of votes from their family, associates or community. This process aims to kill the factionalism that divides us.
While everyone who has worked on this proposal believes firmly in our future as a member-based club, we recognise that the failure to move forward with necessary constitutional reforms has meant our Clubs are now at the mercy of Club factionalism and a circuit-breaker is required. This will allow for further reforms and enable a return to democratic processes that promote stability and excellence, rather than working against the Club’s interests.
However, this MUST be a uniting process - not something that drags the club back into division and infighting. We don’t believe that turning an EGM into a quasi-election is good for the club and that would be counter to the spirit and objectives of this proposal.
The NRL has stated it will endorse a single EGM proposal. We believe the merit-based proposal stands up to scrutiny and objective analysis. It is the logical way forward. As such, if the NRL opts to endorse another EGM proposal, we have decided it’s in our Club’s best interests to withdraw our EGM proposal so that members can make a decision based on a single alternative to the current board and administration.
We call on those involved with the other General Meeting proposals to do likewise, in order to give Parramatta the best opportunity to move forward under a united front. We remind all board aspirants that anyone who believes they can positively contribute to the Parramatta boards are welcome to put themselves forward under the merit-based selection process.
Over the coming days we will release a draft plan for our proposal, which will be open to member scrutiny and feedback. It will be a process that is independent, transparent and in keeping with the way boards are selected within the private sector. We’ll present this plan to the NRL and seek their feedback and endorsement. We will aim to do likewise with the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing. If that is forthcoming, we’ll continue forward and ask that all members and supporters of our Club, unite behind this as a way to begin a new era of professionalism, stability and success, unencumbered from the politics of the past.
Chris Losco
Chrislosco1@gmail.com
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Replies
Thank you for all your hard work.
Your comments have logic HKF but I hope that you are wrong for the sake of the club. I also feel that given that it is common knowledge that Bill Moss is in favour of privatising the club I am not sure how palatable that would be for the NRL. Whilst privatisation has worked in some cases it has been a disaster at the the Titans and Knights. It has caused a lot of grief at Manly as well.
HKF, while that is a concern that sits at the back of my mind & why put the post in below.
The thing is though, I wonder if privatization would actually be wanted by the NRL, as it may take away some level of control over clubs from the NRL. Its possible that the NRL may actually favour proposals that could not be seen as being potentially being no better than we have had in the past with the fraction caused by the factions,
Is there a plan on the table with others that back privatisation?
Maybe. One of the backers of an alternative faction has stated that he supports privatisation. I think that has been his goal all along.
Chris all the best with the proposal. My only concern is that by withdrawing your proposal in order to create a unifying way forward is at least showing that the team behind the proposal including yourself are declaring the aspect that you will withdraw the proposal if the NRL endorses another group.
The concern I have is that it takes the decision away from the members at the EGM & opens the way for the NRL to tick the box of one of the teams that may end up leading us into more of the same,
If the NRL is able to put their support behind you another matter, but are they wanting to support an option more suited to them, than for the future of the eels? They have spoken the words but sadly we have found too often that words are cheap & may not do anything for the future that is really in the best interests of the supporters & members,
The members can still vote down any proposal put to them at an EGM.
I agree with Colin. Furthermore, even if they do back your proposal it opens up for others to paint this as an NRL driven initiative to remove power from members by limiting choice. It will come out that Geoff Gerard has been in discussions with TG to seek a way forward like this. The other proposed tickets will discredit the initiative as having TG's excessive influence. This will be magnified as more dirt comes out on TG. I also agreed with another blogger that asked why seek their endorsement at all? I think the best chance is to be independent of the NRL. Think very carefully on this. Many a fantastic initiative has come unstuck through the execution. Use other independent bodies to form your committee. Not the NRL and declare the conflict of interest openly as to why NRL should be at arms length. Members will respect that......IMO.
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