Official Cronulla Sharks Board + Management

[mtk]

He stated he could not comment on other matters raised recently "for legal reasons".

Now I may be a novice, but does this suggest some kind of legal proceedings are being considered by the Sharks in relation to the matters reported?

It may just be an excuse for failing to accept and answer any questions from the journos that were there.

Perhaps it may be due to there being a clause in the agreement with 'the girl with the bruises' that neither party will comment on the matter or disclose what happened...?

 

[RisingUp]

July 31?? Unacceptable. Barry should go now without running up more costs involved with yet another election. It sounds like a desperate attempt to retain power for as long as he can, but he's not doing anyone any favours. Hopefully the new directors will have him removed next week. Who knows how much more trouble we'll be in in another two months.

It was an interesting comment from Baz in the press conference (seen on Fox Sports).

He stated he could not comment on other matters raised recently "for legal reasons".

Now I may be a novice, but does this suggest some kind of legal proceedings are being considered by the Sharks in relation to the matters reported?

That con ange bloke is apparently suing the SMH over the sex toy allegations.. maybe that's what he's referring to?

 

[sharksman23]

Barry Pierce has had his time as well, lets start fresh, a complete overhaul. Stuart t stay, lets get new begining, new start. Current Board has had plenty of opportunities

 

[Maysie's Missus]

SERIOULSLY -can anyone vote for this guy

Hey all
Just read the quote from Mr Crowley - W/Ware Bay Developments....

get rid of brett crowley the arrogant jerk, the comment below is a joke, and the attitude to why we are in the face of oblivion

Crowley yesterday dismissed the threat posed by the independents running for the board.

"If they get on they're going to be three out of nine," Crowley said. "All it can do is create a bit of turmoil. It's not going to change what's happening. If those guys get on the board, so what? It's the same directors. It's still six verse three."

Is this for real. And this guy thinks he'll get re-elected. 'Embarassing'. If there's one thing we an do for the Sharks, it's ensure this type of lackluster, half hearted individual does NOT infect our Club any more than he already has.

Come on Sharkies - come on the fans. Time for a change - let's make it work!

 

[SF]

I'd take all of this with a grain of salt the way things are moving and with the NRL meeting coming up.

But July 31 would give time to find and organize good candidates/tickets, and give a lot of time to sign up as many new members as possible. Also keep some focus on the club and the need for locals to get involved, but without a mad media frenzy... they will get bored as soon as we have a month-long election process and will move on.

 

[Garbs]

It will very soon become clear if this is just some exercise to cling onto power.

If these board members stand down, forcing an EGM, and then all re-nominate then their intentions will be clear. This bunch of deluded clowns are an absolute disgrace.

 

[SF]

It will very soon become clear if this is just some exercise to cling onto power.

If these board members stand down, forcing an EGM, and then all re-nominate then their intentions will be clear. This bunch of deluded clowns are an absolute disgrace.

Hey Garbs, do you know if people join the leagues club tomorrow, are they allowed to vote in the current elections and/or the elections following the EGM?

 

[Garbs]

Hey Garbs, do you know if people join the leagues club tomorrow, are they allowed to vote in the current elections and/or the elections following the EGM?

If you join tomorrow you can't vote in the current elections.. but they're pretty much irrelevant now anyway.

Not sure if you can join tomorrow and join the EGM. Can't hurt to try.

 

[Google News]

Sharks chairman survives, for now

Sharks chairman survives, for nowMelbourne Herald Sun, AustraliaBy David Riccio | May 24, 2009 12:00am BARRY Pierce is facing a showdown with the NRL that could lead to the long-serving Cronulla chairman standing down within the next seven days. The besieged veteran survived a push to resign at an emergency board ...

Source: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,25527210-5016549,00.html

Sharks chairman survives, for now
By David Riccio
May 24, 2009 12:00am

BARRY Pierce is facing a showdown with the NRL that could lead to the long-serving Cronulla chairman standing down within the next seven days.

The besieged veteran survived a push to resign at an emergency board meeting held yesterday at Cronulla, but it appears Pierce's days are numbered.

His future at the struggling club is being threatened on several fronts:

* NRL chief executive David Gallop will front Pierce and his board of directors tomorrow to investigate the club's long list of recent dramas and financial woes;
* Brett Crowley, who along with fellow Cronulla board members Keith Ward, Paul Tubridy and Greg Holland, yesterday persuaded the board to call an extraordinary general meeting by July 31 that would ultimately see Pierce voted out;
* Wealthy local and interstate businessmen, who have teamed up with current independent candidates Damian Irvine and Ricky Surace, will lead a much-needed overhaul of the battling club.

At the halfway point of the six-day election, which concludes on Wednesday, the Cronulla board met yesterday to discuss the submission to the NRL.

Gallop has taken the unprecedented step of ordering the club's entire board to explain the club's position after a string of damaging headlines.

It's understood Gallop will ask why the incumbent board is still in place following scandals involving the group sex scandal in 2002, the club's $9million debt and chief executive Tony Zappia accidentally punching a former female employee.

In a press statement yesterday, Cronulla announced that: "The Board unanimously resolved to hold an extraordinary general meeting of all members by July 31 for the purposes of conducting a fresh election and recommend changes to the club's constitution.

"Details of the election will be announced at the annual general meeting on Thursday May 28. The current election will run its course. The board endorsed Barry Pierce as chairman and looks forward to the current board members being re-elected during the current election.''

However, it's possible Pierce's closest allies, directors Graham Gillard, Don Anderson and Jim Barnett, may not survive.

One candidate gaining strong support is Damian Irvine, who is believed to be behind a campaign that includes several high-powered figures coming in to help overhaul the club.

It's understood the director of Skindeep clothing and successful horse breeder is busy manoeuvring the support of at least four wealthy businessmen interested in helping save the club from extinction.

"It's my wish and ambition to have some big players and also some local Shire business identities,'' Irvine, 35, told The Sunday Telegraph last night.

But yesterday he questioned the motive of the board's decision to call an EGM. "They've had 10 years yet they decide during an election period to do this. I don't get it,'' Irvine said. "I can't help but think there's an ulterior motive ... I'm very wary.

"Whatever the future of the club needs and requires, my whole ambition and aim of getting on that board is to facilitate that without ego, personal issues or politics.''

The Sunday Telegraph has also learned Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia will meet with a potential major sponsor on Tuesday to replace LG, which has announced it will end its nine-year, $700,000-a-season association with the club at the end of this season.

 

[Murphy]

on the continuous call team today driving to the game ray hadley is astonished by our board by not stepping aside and resigning and letting the nrl appoint a independent body on board temp to fix the problem he mentioned a guy that runs stadium australia?and a couple of other people i can not vote as i only got membership tonight and my misses as well
but the need to go the whole lot start fresh with innovation the general meeting big annoument is it to do with the whole board extending the time to july to vote and new candidates

 

[Google News]

Board not at fault: Pierce

Board not at fault: PierceLeague HQ, AustraliaCronulla Sharks chairman Barry Pierce finally stepped up to face the music after an emergency board meeting yesterday but absolved his board of any wrongdoing, despite presiding over some of the most damaging scandals to rock the NRL. ...

Source: http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqnews/board-not-at-fault-pierce/2009/05/23/1242498968753.html

Board not at fault: Pierce
Adrian Proszenko and Josh Rakic
May 24, 2009

Trent Barrett, one of the silver linings for the club, lines up a kick. Photo: Getty Images

SEX scandal. Financial crisis. Drug revelations. Sponsor withdrawal. Assault allegations against the chief executive. Facing the wooden spoon.

Cronulla Sharks chairman Barry Pierce finally stepped up to face the music after an emergency board meeting yesterday but absolved his board of any wrongdoing, despite presiding over some of the most damaging scandals to rock the NRL.

Asked if the board should accept any responsibility for the series of shameful events, Pierce said: "No, not at all.

"We've worked very hard. A lot of things are beyond our control that happened. I'm going down that line of things that have happened.

"They say the board is responsible for the player the other day on drugs. The board's responsible for something seven years ago.

"We've worked very hard and I think everyone would know here we've been one of the most vigorous in the changing [of the culture] from 2004. I think [the standing down of] Tevita Latu and Birdie [Greg Bird] all show you how we move very quickly on things - with Brett Seymour too."

The board met yesterday to prepare a response over allegations revealed in The Sydney Morning Herald, including the payment of $20,000 to a female staffer who was accidentally punched in the face by CEO Tony Zappia.

"I can't speak on that on legal advice but we will be speaking with our lawyers on Monday morning to submit a report to the NRL," Pierce said.

Only three new candidates - Damian Irvine, Ricky Surace and Paul Walker - are challenging for the board during this week's elections.

A club statement said: "The board unanimously resolved to hold an extraordinary general meeting of all members by July 31, 2009, for the purposes of conducting a fresh election and recommend changes to the club's constitution.

"Details of the election will be announced at the annual general meeting on Thursday, 28 May, 2009. The current election will run its course. The board endorsed Barry Pierce as chairman and looks forward to the current board members being re-elected during the current election."

There have been calls for the board to resign, but the constitution prevents them from doing so until the election is completed mid-week. Asked whether they should stand down after that, Pierce said: "That's up to them."

Pressed on whether he should do likewise, Pierce - who is unopposed as chairman - replied: "I'll consider that after the decision on [the club's development application] and spending so many years on it working with government, so I'll decide that then. So that's a possibility, yes."

The Sun-Herald can reveal the board largely ignored the findings of a report it commissioned three years ago, which recommended a raft of changes to prevent its present parlous situation.

The Mercury Group completed an independent review of the football club operations after the Sharks crashed to 10 straight losses to end the 2006 season. However, the only action they took was to sack then-coach Stuart Raper, which was not a recommendation of the report.

A Sharks insider said that a lack of leadership meant the report was ignored: "That's why we find ourselves in the position we're in at the moment. Nothing happened - it was a waste of time and money. They totally buggered it up."

Surace, a club sponsor, threatened to pull out his backing if the board did not stand down.

"The whole current board should step down, including Barry Pierce, as well," he said.

"If there is no change on the board I don't think many people will support the Sharks any more.

"I wouldn't blame them. And I'd be one of them as well.

"We should get some fresh faces and bring in a new culture, like the Bulldogs did a few years ago.

"Get out with the old and in with the new. It's time for a change."

Irvine added: "It seems very reactionary at board level and we need to change that."

The late mastercoach Jack Gibson quipped that waiting for the Sharks to win a grand final was like leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt. His right-hand man, Ron Massey, said during the week: "That [porch] light is only just flickering on this season."

 

[SF]

If you join tomorrow you can't vote in the current elections.. but they're pretty much irrelevant now anyway.

Not sure if you can join tomorrow and join the EGM. Can't hurt to try.

Thanks, just saw you answered the exact same question about 5 posts before, sorry!

 

[Garbs]

Ok, here's the low down.

Tubridy, Crowley, Holland and Ward forced this EGM upon the board. Holland and Ward did it because these guys are genuine free thinkers and don't go with the status quo, and I'm sure they're horrified at the current state of affairs.

Those arrogant ****s Crowley and Tubridy have realised that there has been a big push to oust them and have been trying for the past few days to distance themselves from Pierce and the rest. Problem is, for 9 years they have been happily toeing the line. So, they've realised that there is a very strong chance they will lose their spots, and have joined up with Holland and Ward in an effort to get an EGM called. Don't kid yourselves, it's to save their own skin.

Here's what really irks me. It cost the club roughly $50 000 to get the elections all set up, with ballot papers, staff, how to votes and everything else. Now that $50 000 may as well have been flushed down the toilet because we'll be doing it all over again - because those arrogant ****ers Crowley and Tubridy don't want to lose their gigs.

Hopefully sometime in the next week or so, a real opposition ticket made up of local Shire businessmen will come together, so we can sweep the board of the arrogance and nepotism once and for all.

 

[Murphy]

please wake up
And leave gracefully
this is not going to be pretty for you guys

 

[Shark68]

if i become a leagues club member today, can i vote? someone earlier mentioned you need to be a member for 3 years?

cheers

Goodb onya Amamo

 

[mtk]

Here's what really irks me. It cost the club roughly $50 000 to get the elections all set up, with ballot papers, staff, how to votes and everything else. Now that $50 000 may as well have been flushed down the toilet because we'll be doing it all over again

Hey Garbs, isn't this what the plan was anyway...? I thought I read that people were preparing to gather enough signatures after these elections to force an EGM anyway?

Isn't the problem that insufficient rebels nominated for candidacy for this election? (Quite probably because nobody realised how dire the situation actually was)

I am just unclear from having read this forum (and LU), why it is that people are desperate to oust Crowley and Tubridy (as opposed to any two others). If you could please help me understand, I'd appreciate...?

 

[SHARKSTER]

I think it was simply a numbers game mtk. Nothing really agianst those two but was the only way the count could get new blood on the Board.

New ball game now with EGM

 

[Garbs]

Hey Garbs, isn't this what the plan was anyway...? I thought I read that people were preparing to gather enough signatures after these elections to force an EGM anyway?

Isn't the problem that insufficient rebels nominated for candidacy for this election? (Quite probably because nobody realised how dire the situation actually was)

I am just unclear from having read this forum (and LU), why it is that people are desperate to oust Crowley and Tubridy (as opposed to any two others). If you could please help me understand, I'd appreciate...?

Mate, you've raised a few issues so I'll try to address them all. It's all a bit complex and getting more complex as each day passes.

1. Regarding the EGM. Yes, I believe the plan was to call for an EGM irrespective. The difference here is intent. Tubridy and Crowley are both architects of this planned EGM - there is every chance that they will not be voted onto the board over the coming week, and by forcing this EGM themselves they are distancing themselves from Pierce and the other board members as well as allowing themselves another chance at retaining their spot.

Basically, it's a political stunt which has two purposes: to make Tubridy and Crowley look like good guys amid the rest of the cancer, and to give them a second crack at election should they not be voted in this week.

2. Regarding insufficient rebels. At present, there are two rebels on a board of nine members. Those two are Keith Ward and Greg Holland - they were voted in at the last election and, as I understand it, are some of Ricky Stuart and John Fordham's business contacts. Two against seven, basically.

With only three non-incumbants, it certainly isn't an ideal scenario. However, it was highly likely that those three (Irvine, Surace and Walker) would join up with Ward and Holland. Suddenly, we have a new balance of power - 5 rebels against 4 of the old guard. Obviously, there will now be a whole new campaign and we're likely to see a fully formed opposing ticket running against the current board.

3. Regarding Tubridy and Crowley. The way you need to think about the board elections is this - you cannot vote new members ONTO the board, you have to vote current directors OFF the board. That's simplifying it enormously, but that's the basic gist of it anyway.

Consider it this way: 400 people are in favour of the old guard. 600 people want change. The first 400 all follow Barry Pierce's ticket and so the incumbents all receive 400 votes straight up.

The 600 who want change are all in favour of Surace, Walker and Irvine. They all vote in favour of those 3 - so that's 600 votes for each of them. However, if those 600 people then allocate their remaining 5 votes randomly amongst the incumbents, each of the incumbents receives roughly 350 additional votes and none of the new challengers get elected.

As such, the challengers have to make a very concerted effort to target certain incumbents, and make sure nobody votes for them. That's the only way to get new faces onto the board, especially if there isn't a fully formed ticket running in opposition.

So, why Crowley and Tubridy?

Crowley has a number of black marks against his name. He has overseen the development process since Gow's departure in 1999. That's ten years so far, and so far no soil has been turned. He was also overseeing the development of the southern stand, which, under his watch, very nearly did not include any corporate facilities. It was only the intervention of a third party that ensured that these were included. If he can cock up a 9 million dollar grandstand development, can you trust him to get a 110 million dollar multi-faceted land development right?

Tubridy is just an unfortunate scapegoat from the remaining directors. If we could remove them all, I'm sure we would (and maybe we will get that chance in a few months) but ultimately someone had to be chosen as the other option, and Tubridy drew the short straw. Ricky Surace elected to leave Tubridy off his how to vote card, and as such, those of us who are gunning for change have followed this lead so as to ensure that everyone votes along the same lines - to do otherwise would just see all of the same old faces on the board.

I hope that clears it up and makes some sense. Like I said, this is just getting more and more complex as each day passes.

The other issue that has been raised, and could be a complete spanner in the works, is the proposed constitutional changes that Barry mentioned yesterday. We don't know what these might be at this stage, but in the current climate it would not surprise me if these are intended to make it even harder for the current board to be ousted.

 

[amamo]

i joined the leagues club yesterday so hopefully i'll be able to have a say in how things go over the next couple of weeks/months

 

[mtk]

Garbs, thankyou very much for your post... You have helped clarify a few things which I just didn't get...