Tabakoff: EELS HIRE BIG GUNS TO HELP ‘GOVERNANCE’

EELS HIRE BIG GUNS TO HELP ‘GOVERNANCE’April 2, 2016 12:00amNick TabakoffThe Daily TelegraphMORE interesting moves are afoot at the Parramatta Eels in the wake of my “Dodgy Deels” investigation into the club.With no fanfare, the club has brought in the big guns.It has hired John “Jack” Whelan. Mr Whelan is a former senior adviser to two prime ministers, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, and one premier, Bob Carr.I understand Mr Whelan himself approached the club about a fortnight ago to offer his services, after the initial stories about the Eels flouting salary cap rules.Whelan is a lifelong Eels fan, and has close connections to two senior Eels figures: CEO John Boulous and director Tanya Gadiel (the former Labor state member for Parramatta).It is believed that Whelan made his approach to the Eels via Gadiel.We have been assured by Eels representatives that the appointment of Whelan — a noted writer and speechwriter — has nothing to do with the stepping up of rhetoric by representatives of the Eels in the past fortnight.They say he is there to improve the club’s “governance”.The recent escalation of the campaign by the board has included several messages to members on the Eels’ home page about stories by The Daily Telegraph, including one that talked of “falsehood” and “smear”.Board members have even been openly submitting “op-ed” pieces to newspapers.Yesterday, chairman Steve Sharp was at it again, talking of the “recent and disturbing calculated smear campaign aimed at your board”.He said the current board was made up of “people of the utmost integrity”.This comes at a time when the forensic NRL investigation into the Eels continues.http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nick-tabakoff-woolies-boss-wields-new-broom-in-early-days/news-story/7d12af9356a73d98f5f7b807d59f353c#load-story-comments

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  • Looks like DT is offering a truce?
    • LOL

      Far from it, this is a return of serve for the "It's been a media smear campaign" line that Sharp has been using

  • I would imagine he has been brought in to negotiate with the NRL on any potential salary cap penalties.
    • Thats what hes been bought in for, for sure Jimmy.

      Lets hope our negotiations havnt broken down and this is a last resort.

  • In light of MY investigation"

    This is basically a "look at me look at me I" or in the words of Homer J Simpson "I am so smart I am so smart S-M-R-T I mean S-M-A-R-T"

    • What are you on about? Every board hires staff to run their club. That's what CEOs, managers, coaches and other staff are for.
  • By using the quotation marks around the smear campaign and integrity of the board lines he is making it clear that he doesn't believe either line to be true.

    By mentioning that Mr Whelan is a notied speechwriter and linking him to Rudd and Gillard who weren't exactly strong PM's he is making it clear that he believes that John was also brought it to help the Eels with their spin-doctoring to attempt to get enough public support so the NRL reduces any potential points penalty.

    This whole article is essentially Tabakoff saying "Look the Eels board is scum and they have employeed the person responsible for all the lies and spin told to the media by Rudd and Gillard who told plenty of lies during their time in charge of the country" 

    • It wouldn't be like the Telecrap to take a negative line against a guy who has ties to the Labor Party.

  • Nonna, where have you been for the past 6 or more weeks, I don't mean to be rude but the NRL has actually lifted its investigation into cap issues again in that time, DT & SMH has been running these stories constantly along with the radio shock jerks.

  • Whelan's have been high profile names in & around the Parramatta district for years I can remember them back in the 50's & been associated with the club for a long time as well.  Their business skills are also well known, could be a good move,

    Although the mention of his association with those parrots in politics is a bit disconcerning though, maybe an each way bet in having links in those circles.

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