Denis Fitzgerald is attempting to return to the corridors of power at Parramatta after seeking appointment to the leagues club board in the first election the club has held in four years.
Two board spots are available with six candidates jockeying for support as polling opened on Wednesday. President Greg Monaghan and fellow incumbent director Sue Coleman are seeking re-election, but face a challenge from candidates Fitzgerald, Tony Beuk, Luke Magee and Stan Kriaras.
Former Parramatta player and chief executive Denis Fitzgerald.CREDIT:SMH
Fitzgerald’s association with the club spanned 40 years, beginning as a player in 1970 and eventually leading to him being inducted into the Parramatta’s hall of fame. The self-proclaimed “Emperor” then spent three decades running the Eels before being ousted by a Roy Spagnolo-led ticket in 2009.
Fitzgerald, who first became a director of the Parramatta Leagues Club [PLC] in 1979, believes he can still contribute if successful at the ballot box.
“I’ve remained vitally interested in the fortunes of the Parramatta Leagues Club,” Fitzgerald said. “I’ve got plenty of experience in the licensed club business, especially at Parramatta.
“I could be beneficial to the club should I be elected by the members.”
Two members of the PLC board can also sit on the football club board, which controls the Eels. For that to happen, the leagues club board must first put forward two candidates, who are subject to the approval of a nominations committee of the football club.
The process could make it difficult for Fitzgerald to make the transition if appointed to the PLC.
Asked whether he still harboured ambitions of wielding influence over the Eels, Fitzgerald said: “I haven’t looked at that or considered that … It’s not a matter of any takeover. I’m standing by myself [as a candidate] because of my experience and wishing to assist in the running of the [leagues] club as a board member.”
The leagues club elections are usually lively affairs as different factions jockey for influence over the PLC and, historically, the football club. However, constitutional changes have been made to ensure directors with the appropriate skill set for each board are more likely to progress.
“The old process whereby all the voting was done at the annual general meeting, which a lot of people found it difficult to get to, could result in 150 or 200 people voting or representing in place of 50,000 members,” Monaghan said.
“That certainly created some lively meetings. But the objective of the new constitution and the electronic online and posting process allows all members to have their say in how the club is run.”
Despite the financial challenges presented by COVID, the PLC posted a profit of $2.12 million for the year ending October 2020, while the Eels were in the black to the tune of $1.36 million.
In other Eels news, former Bulldogs and Dragons centre Tim Lafai has signed a reserve grade contract with the club. Lafai could provide cover in the backs for a club still in limbo after Michael Jennings provided a positive drugs test. The Eels will make a play for Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs for next year, but Lafai could get another crack in the NRL this year if the club is beset by injuries.
Replies
Just before season kick off?
Right on queue again Ray and Dennis...
Well Technically Dennis has 1000x more to offer the league's club than anyone currently on the board .
Don't you think the club has moved on from the past? let's see what the current membership thinks of his candidacy.
Technically true. But he's known to create chaos also. How's his mate, Hadley? I don't mind Denis but I like him much better as a regular member.
Have to give the current PLC board some credit......
"Despite the financial challenges presented by COVID, the PLC posted a profit of $2.12 million for the year ending October 2020, while the Eels were in the black to the tune of $1.36 million"
The club only made $100K less in 2020 than 2019 despite being closed for 10 weeks.
Even more impressive is the fact the Eels actually made a profit, when was the last time, if ever, that happened?.
It has never happened. A $1.3m profit in a COVID year is outstanding. BankWest is already paying dividends.
The club wasn't predicting a profit for another couple of seasons. It had a more than $5m loss in 2019. Albeit the NRL and government grants went some way to covering the profit in 2020, the club is still looking at a profit in 2021 completely of its own accord.
A big part of that was our 15% membership growth in 2020 (the largest in Australian sport) and ever-increasing growth of sponsorships which has seen us retain, upgrade and welcome new sponsors for increased amounts in 2021.
Technically the club has moved on from the Dinosaur era Frankie.
He had his day, played hard and done good for some of that time, unfortunatley an inflated ego and dwelling in the past is not a barrier to nominating as a candidate.
Next you will be telling us Uncle Ray is the second best thing to have ever happened at the Eels.
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