Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp won’t let ‘old warlords’ return

Stuart HoneysettNEWS LIMITEDMARCH 21, 2016 12:00AMParramatta chairman Steve Sharp has opened up about the salary cap allegations facing the club, claiming the board will not be pressured into standing down, fearing that it will hand control back to the “old warlords” and place important corporate governance reforms in jeopardy.Sharp spoke to The Australian yesterday in his most in-depth interview yet, less than two weeks after the club was hit with allegations that the board engaged in practices designed to breach the NRL’s strict salary cap rules regarding third-party payments to players.The Parramatta chairman, and his board of Tom Issa, Peter Serrao, Geoff Gerard, Tanya Gadiel, Andrew Cordwell and Paul Garrard are under increasing pressure to stand down with the NRL now investigating the matter to determine if there has been any deception.Members elected Sharp in 2013 in a move designed to end the bitter infighting that had dogged the club under the previous reigns of former chief executive Denis Fitzgerald and chairman Roy Spagnolo.Sharp was re-elected by members in a landslide result last year.The premiership-winning former Eel warned that any move to depose the board could also jeopardise the recent deal with the NRL over corporate governance recommendations — a deal that was agreed to at the 11th hour and spared the club the loss of four competition points.“The new board and CEO are part of the solution,’’ Sharp said. “We are cleaning up the old mess. That’s what is actually happening at the club.“We are facing a co-ordinated smear campaign by old factions of the club. Smears designed to derail the reforms we put in place in consultation with the NRL.“The undeniable truth is that if we stood down it would put the 117 reforms from PricewaterhouseCoopers and driven by the Eels and the NRL in danger.“Also, it could hand the club back to the old warlords.“We can’t let the club fall back in the hands of the old warlords. The old culture. We can’t let that happen.“We’re developing a new culture. That’s what the NRL demands and what we are determined to deliver.”Crucial to the recent allegations has been the leaking of minutes from a 2014 board meeting where directors discussed rewarding sponsors with free hospitality in exchange for providing third-party agreements for players.Other minutes suggested the board had discussed the need for coming up with almost $600,000 and two cars to service third-party deals with players but Sharp was adamant yesterday that those discussions had been taken out of context.“We have released (to the NRL) the full minutes of each meeting that has been leaked,’’ Sharp said. “The full minutes show the club grappling with the same issues that every club grapples with.“The parts of the minutes published fail to show that in both meetings (football manager) Daniel Anderson made it abundantly clear that any TPAs must be registered with the NRL — a practice that did not seem to be followed all that well in the previous years before I became chairman.“What we also discussed was using corporate hospitality for attracting new corporate partners — in fact, the minutes clearly say that our management would be focusing on sponsorships, not TPAs.“The board asked for a report on all of the claims being made by player managers regarding TPAs and MPAs (marquee player agreements), which we would then cross-check against what the NRL had on file.”Sharp said the club was working with the NRL to investigate other allegations, including the club’s former chief financial officer warning them a deal with Anthony Watmough was in breach of the cap, and an $80,000 invoice but no receipt of goods from clothes manufacturer Zibara.He added that it was up to the members to decide if they wanted to pass a motion of no confidence in the board at the annual general meeting in May but they were working hard to get to the bottom of the allegations.Sharp also said he had spoken briefly to coach Brad Arthur about the situation but he wanted the players to keep their focus solely on the field with the Eels enjoying a promising start to the season after beating North Queensland and Canterbury in their past two matches.He concluded by saying he was not concerned about the personal toll the investigation was talking on him and he was confident the club would survive it.“I am watching good people being smeared and that’s unpleasant,’’ Sharp said. “Of course it is.“The current board and CEO are pulling out a lot of old weeds. When you do that you get mud on your hands. You get smeared.“But we’re determined. And in time the truth will come out as the investigations get to it.”http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-chairman-steve-sharp-wont-let-old-warlords-return/news-story/d08c6a3e7e0058123142d0ff489c5503

"I think Warriors will be interested in a theee team swap or maybe even the Knights. I wonder if Josh King is interested in heading back up to Maitland, you probably think immediately Nup Bellyache loves Kingy, but I think every good coach is happy…"

"Yep, there has been some amusing talk, but its all a load of bollocks innit.Dogs will offload him soon and he'll retire to a weak club that pays massive overs for him."

Replies

ParraTime March 21, 2016 at 2:00am

Makes sense to me. Sharp & Co out Fizty & Co in or Spag & Co in. My opinion is to keep this guy until NRL can insert a board or CEO with no connection to previous boards.
Jimmy March 21, 2016 at 2:14am

Sharpie doesn't appear to be too concerned about the two sets of board minutes that were central to the DT's allegations last week. The shortened version of the minutes leaked to the DT were "taken out of context" and they had provided the NRL with the full version.

Positive stuff but there is obviously a cloud still over the Watmough, Zibara and Hayne matters.
Yobz March 21, 2016 at 4:42am

The NRL needs to give their verdict before the AGM in May. Time is ticking.
Kurupt March 21, 2016 at 6:53am

3 years isn't that long when you're dealing with dud contracts, dud employees and trying to change a culture that has been set almost in stone.
We are starting to see the fruits of Sharps labor on the field only now.
You were wrong about BA, I hope the same goes for Sharp too.
- Joseph > Kurupt March 21, 2016 at 7:34am
  
  Agreed, well said.
- This reply was deleted.
  - Kurupt March 21, 2016 at 7:54am
    
    A bit contradictory, if there is no evidence, then he doesn't have to say anything further then what's said above.
Kurupt March 21, 2016 at 7:00am

Unless some real evidence comes to light, as a community we need to back Sharp.
There is no one else willing to put their name and reputation on the line the way Sharp has, so let's back him.
Simple really, back Sharp or go back to the Fitz and Spags Show.
Joseph March 21, 2016 at 7:20am

lol, listen to yourself Fong. Members, fans and the club have a common interest, to win on the field.

Newsflash for you Fong, what happens on the field is the result of what happen off the field.

I prefer to judge on exam results and not the homework leading up to exam.

Sharp is a real leader, he hasn't hidden in a bunker waiting to be killed. Sharp has fort for our mighty club and he won't roll over and let grubs take over.

Sharp has planted the trees that are starting to fruit. He deserves to see out the whole harvest.

We need a leader with a backbone, unlike our own Mensa Fong who deleted his 100 page blog because he couldn't handle the heat.

Stay out of the kitchen Fong.
Muttman March 21, 2016 at 7:24am

Regardless of your opinion of this current Board the reality is our current Board and Administration is the best we've had in ten years.
Looking purely at the outcomes, things haven't been this good on the field in forever and the Leagues Club is showing record profits and is going along nicely.
This Board is not perfect but on outcomes alone they're doing great work.
- Joseph > Muttman March 21, 2016 at 7:33am
  
  Well said Muttman.