Cronulla are standing by Shane Flanagan, insisting he will be their 2019 coach amid a new controversy at the embattled NRL club.
Flanagan faces another ban after it emerged the NRL integrity unit has uncovered evidence he communicated with the club during his 12-month suspension in 2014.
Flanagan is under investigation after emails scanned from the Sharks’ internet server as part of the NRL’s ongoing salary cap probe raised investigators’ suspicions.
The Sharks expected the investigation into their coach to be finalised by Christmas but were adamant Flanagan would be holding the 2019 reins.
“Shane Flanagan is the Sharks head coach, he is contracted to the club for 2019 and he will remain in his role as head coach,” a club statement said on Wednesday.
An edict under the terms of Flanagan’s suspension imposed after the supplements scandal that engulfed the club stated that the coach was to have no direct or indirect contact with Sharks officials and players.
However The Daily Telegraph reports emails and phone messages during his one-year ban revealed Flanagan communicated with senior staff on issues relating to the 2015 season, when he was set to return.
Flanagan’s case is now a separate NRL investigation to the salary-cap probe that started back in August when new Sharks CEO Barry Russell self reported suspicious payments.
The cap probe surrounds discrepancies involving up to $250,000 in payments from the 2015 and 2017 seasons.
“After self-reporting a salary cap indiscretion to the integrity unit, further issues relating to the 2014 season have been uncovered and have come under investigation,” the Sharks said on Wednesday.
“The NRL integrity unit has informed the club the investigation into the 2014 matter will be finalised prior to Christmas, while the salary cap investigation is unlikely to reach a conclusion until the New Year.”
The ARL commission is expected to meet in Sydney on Tuesday to consider possible punishments over the claims against Flanagan.
If Flanagan is found to have broken any rules he could face another ban and the Sharks a hefty financial penalty.
Cronulla were fined $1 million by the NRL over the supplements scandal with $400,000 suspended.
Flanagan is off contract at the Sharks in 2019 and it is believed the ongoing salary cap investigation has stalled Cronulla’s bid to re-sign the 2016 premiership winner.
In another twist, it has been revealed Flanagan’s son, Kyle Flanagan, could be lost to the Sharks if the NRL slaps the coach with another ban.
The Sharks wouldn’t confirm that 20-year-old Flanagan has a get-out clause when his contract extension kicks in for 2020 if his dad is not Cronulla coach.
The Flanagan claims are yet another blow for Cronulla.
The Sharks are still reeling from Test flyer Valentine Holmes’ NFL defection before reports emerged the club had lost all three major jersey sponsors and was heading into 2019 with a $2 million commercial revenue shortfall.
The sponsorship blow preceded the Sharks sacking 10 staff.
It was believed Cronulla had a major $6-million sponsorship deal in the works but it was scuppered in the fallout from an infamous podcast in which Sharks stars Andrew Fifita and Josh Dugan used obscene language.
The sponsorship shortfall came after the Sharks lost $3 million in their 2018 premiership campaign.