NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has declared open warfare on Parramatta’s remaining directors after confirming he would work with one of the groups attempting to overthrow the club’s existing board.
Greenberg, who fronted a press conference this morning to confirm the club would be docked 12 premiership points and fined $1 million for breaches of the salary cap, said the NRL was disappointed with the actions of the four directors who led the club’s response to the salary cap allegations.
In their response, those directors — Geoff Gerard, Tanya Gadiel, Andrew Cordwell and Paul Garrard — took aim at Greenberg, calling on him to remove himself from the sanctioning process because of his relationship with former Eels chief executive Scott Seward.
Greenberg responded today by calling on the Eels’ members to make a decision in the best interests of the club when it came time to voting on a group of directors to take Parramatta into the future.
“From what I understand there are three separate individual groups looking to make a play for the board,” Greenberg said.
“We need to think very carefully and work with the right group to make sure that the ownership and running of this club is what it should be.
“A very clear message I would like to provide to Parramatta members this morning is they must make clear decisions here to put people in charge of their club that puts their players and their fans first.
“That must be the ultimate response from Parramatta members today. We’re disappointed with the conduct of people at this club and we continue to be disappointed.
“That’s why we must look forward. We must find ways for this clubs to be governed and led by the right people. We have made it clear from the start that the other members on this board were not issued with breach notices but that should not be taken as a sign of an endorsement that they are having a strong performance.
“Having said that, the actions of the remaining board members in this interim period is also remain very disappointing. Rather than trying to get the club back on track, what they have continued to do is engage with us in factionalism and infighting. That has to stop.
“This is a big decision for members to make. The message for the members is very clear — ensure you put people in charge of your club who put the fans and the members first.”
In their response to the allegations, Eels directors formally requested that Greenberg play no part in determining the final sanctions against the club because they believed his relationship with Seward had the potential to create a concern of “apprehended bias”.
The Eels also claimed Seward’s evidence, which they believe was largely responsible for sanctions being brought against the club, was deserving of little weight.
The decision to stand by the original penalties indicated the NRL gave little weight to Parramatta’s response, although the Eels are set to appeal the decision through the NRL appeals tribunal.
The veracity of Seward’s evidence was a central component of the clubs’ response to the allegations, which has been obtained by The Weekend Australian.
The club also argued the actual size of its salary cap breaches was $728,903 rather than the figure claimed by the NRL of $1,924,733, and maintained a number of breaches alleged by the NRL were in fact legal third party agreements.
The club also requested Greenberg play no part in determining the final outcome against the club because he had a relationship with Seward — Greenberg provided a verbal reference when Seward joined the Eels.
“Without in any way questioning the integrity of the NRL or Greenberg, due to the previously referred to connections between Greenberg and Seward, there would be a concern of apprehended bias given that the decision maker in this instance is Greenberg,” the Eels said.
“The relationship between Greenberg and Seward is a requisite factor given Seward is both heavily involved in the allegations and the primary source of evidence in the breach notice.
“The connection in this matter is that any decision is highly dependant on the decision maker’s appraisal of Seward’s evidence and character.
“Greenberg has previously offered to provide testimony to the character of Seward so there is reasonable apprehension that a decision might not be brought about with an impartial or unprejudiced mind.
“In the circumstances it is respectfully submitted that the final decisions in this breach notice should be made by the chief operating officer of the NRL as provide under rule 10 or, and we respectfully submit that it is preferable in the circumstances. that the issues be determined by a mediator acceptable to both parties ...”
A spokesman for the NRL said that under the rules Greenberg was required to make the final determination.
“There is no reason to deviate from that position,” the spokesman said.
In terms of Seward, the Eels’ response was damning.
“Seward’s evidence is deserving of little weight,” the club said.
“He is the only witness who declares that he knowingly signed a false declaration. He is the only witness who believes that those declarations were false and the information he bases that upon is derived almost entirely from his own evidence.
“The veracity of any information in subsequent statements or declarations he makes is questionable.”
It is understood the NRL furnished the club with further information — up to 300 pages of documents — earlier this week which the club provided a response to yesterday afternoon. Ultimately, their submissions carried little weight as the NRL maintained its original decision.
As well as the points penalty and fine, five officials had their registrations cancelled including chairman Steve Sharp, deputy chairman Tom Issa, chief executive John Boulous, director Peter Serrao and head of football operations Daniel Anderson.
Replies
Can we please move on and learn from this lesson,
The only thing that bothers me about the NRL and its decision is that it is very cloudy how they make claims about TPAS and systematic rorting when we all know every other club is up to their eyes balls fisting their 3rd parties without a boo from the NRL.
Anyway we got done I hope we never hire people who have worked or followed other clubs because loyalty is thrown out the window when jobs are on the line. Seward is the shit that stained parra.
Lesson learned lets get some pro's in and rip the shit out of our 3rd parties and get back to level terms with the remainder of the other 15 clubs.
I will be happy to put my vote to professionals only no supporters apply. We only want supporters with Cash willing to help with TPA's arms fucking length.
Dyldam how about you fucking pull your finger out and give every player a unit as TPA's, you make enough money that doing this would be perfect. Just create a company and do not let any relations be a director, then that company can pretend to consult work for you and you pay them stupid consulting fees. From there they return the funds by buying units off you. Then They just sell them to the players at half price. Shazzam third party deal done for 500k unit at 250k
I would like to give Greenburg a very clear- no brown message: Who found that 'shit in a box' company for me online?? Think it was Yobz?????
He deserves shit in a box via aus post every week
anybody have Spewards postal address, I think you are onto something Carlo,
A shit a day from every 1 eyed eel on the front door.
Gift rapped as well please
I used to send them to every man who wronged me
Dog turd of course back then- it was the nineties ....I had decorum
nah you need baby poo, they are disgusting. you had decorum but you still went ahead though
The NRL is attempting to make an example of those who won't just roll over. The one director who has been there almost longer than anyone and apparently was witness to all is being made look good by by NRL for the service of turning on others!
Parra shouldn't confuse giving up and confessing to things they didn't do with moving on. Sharp and Anderson aren't factional warlords in the Fitzgerald, Spagnolo or Moss mould.
In Sharp's case he was just someone out of his depth who meant well and had the interests of the club at heart. Sharp made the unforgivable mistake of hiring Seward and allowing meetings to be recorded. On the plus side BA wouldn't be here or Schubert working for us if not for him. I would feel very unParramatta like to throw him under a bus to appease the NRL's desire to make an example of someone (to make up for the fact the NRL was impotent against the Bronco's and others).
x2
Hmmm , its not formed, I would rather Greenturd open up a huge cable :-) lmfao
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