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Cronulla boss Tony Zappia says he is unsure what his financially stricken club’s next move will be after the NRL knocked back a request from the Sharks for funding to play home games on the Central Coast.
The league’s partnership executive committee on Thursday said it was “not prepared to embrace” a request for $75,000 per game for five home games in Gosford for the next five years.
The Sharks plan to proceed with the move but will now rely solely on a deal with Bluetongue Stadium, which has reportedly guaranteed revenue of $100,000 per game to clubs playing at the venue.
Cronulla had hoped to supplement that income with the NRL funding.
“It’s obviously disappointing but we’ll just have to continue with other opportunities that may present themselves,” Zappia told AAP on Thursday.
“We’ll work closely with the NRL over the next few months working through the issues.
“One door’s closed, we’ve just got open other doors.”
The NRL has $8 million on the table for any club prepared to make a permanent move to Bluetongue Stadium.
That possibility has not yet been discussed by the Sharks but the league’s decision could prompt consideration of a full-time move at the club’s next board meeting on Tuesday week.
“I’ve just got to take a bit of time to take a breath and go through it,” Zappia said.
“I really don’t know at this stage.”
Asked if he would now focus on completing negotiations with Bluetongue, Zappia said: “That’s something we’ll just sit down in the next couple of days and work through.”
Zappia is scheduled to meet with NRL boss David Gallop on Friday to discuss the club’s parlous financial situation.
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