New Eels board eyeing fresh beginnings

The new seven-member Parramatta board is confident of landing a blue chip player to usher in an exciting new era for the Eels.

The club officially turned the page on the NRL salary cap scandal on Friday as they announced five new independent directors to steer the club forward.

A fed-up NSW government sacked the Eels board following the salary cap saga, for which the club was fined $1 million and docked 12 competition points.

The five new directors will join League Club appointees Jim Sarantino and chairman Max Donnelly on the board. They are:

* Anthony Shiner, Telstra executive director of digital, 20 years experience as a telecommunications executive

* Colin James Robertshaw, former banker and Commonwealth Bank national head of property finance

* Michael McRitchie, Satelite Office founder and chief executive

* Vicki Leaver, Legal Aid executive director

* Sean McElduff, Westpac chief operating officer of financial markets

The salary cap scandal tarnished the club’s brand and they posted a $12-million loss last year.

However chief executive Bernie Gurr said the election of a new board marked the end of a long governance review process and was important because it made the Eels an attractive destination for the stars of the game.

“You need a strong front office and we think we have that now,” Gurr said.

“From a point of view of selling a club, players want to know they’re coming to a club that’s professionally managed, ethically run and financially sustainable.

“With this club, we have that now. We’re going to be a very attractive destination to top-line players.”

The club will have room to work with under the salary cap for season 2018 following Kieran Foran’s exit midway through last year and with Semi Radradra heading to European rugby.

The game is expected to witness a player merry-go-round like never before this year with an unprecedented number of the game’s biggest names off contract.

The NRL is yet to finalise the salary cap for next year, meaning players and their agents have held off negotiations in the hope of earning a significant pay rise.

Gurr said the club was in the hunt to land a big-name star and was now as competitive in the player market as any of their rivals.

“We’ve got a very solid roster this year, we’re under the salary cap, we’ve already had discussions with head coach Brad Arthur and our recruitment manager Peter Sharpe as to which direction we may go next year,” Gurr said.

“We’ll be looking at our roster and we’ll potentially be in the market for the right player.”

Gurr also praised changes to the club’s constitution aimed at ending the factionalism which has marred it over the last decade.

Under the changes, all directors must be independent and fulfil strict criteria meaning members of the Parramatta Leagues Club board will no longer be automatically voted onto the football club board.

Chairman Donnelly was also elected to a new 12-month term following the board’s first meeting on Friday.

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