Reports indicate that the Cronulla Sharks will appoint Lyall Gorman as their new club CEO on Tuesday morning. This is arguably the best signing the Sharks have made since they welcomed a certain young, former Eels second rower to the club.
The impending appointment of Gorman, the man credited with creating the incredibly successful Western Sydney Wanderers brand, is a sign that the Sharks are dead serious in achieving success both on and off the park.
Gorman, who is also a former head of the A-League, replaces former CEO Steve Noyce, whose position was made redundant by the Sharks board due to a management restructure.
I spoke with Mr Noyce during his tenure earlier this season for around half an hour. Even though we disagreed on many aspects of the season to date and the vision of the club, I could never doubt his passion for the club and its players.
Whether or not you were a fan of Noyce, there is little doubt that the Sharks, after a horror 2014, needed fresh blood and fresh ideas.
In Gorman, the Sharks have signed one of the best sporting administrators in modern time. His success at the Wanderers is absolutely incredible considering the club is still only its third season of existence.
The Sharks have enjoyed a successful off-season player movement wise. They have added former Origin hooker Michael Ennis and former Dally M medallist Ben Barba, among a host of new faces, proving there are plans in motion to improve on-field.
Gorman’s appointment sends a very strong message that things off field are also going to take a turn for the better.
Reports earlier this season linked Gorman both the Brisbane Lions and Carlton CEO positions, while recently he was linked to a job within Racing NSW.
His appointment is truly a coup for the struggling Sharks, who have seemingly taken every step required to ensure 2015 and beyond is as far removed from 2014 as possible.
Since returning to the club, Shark’s coach Shane Flanagan has spoken about overhauling the club’s culture. Gorman, who handled both the Danny Vukovic and Brendon Santalab cases with dignity, is just the man to oversee said cultural change.
Gorman has an incredible reputation as one of the best sporting administrators in the country, and his presence is nothing but a positive for the black, white and blue.
2015 is shaping up as quite the year for the Sharks. If the squad plays to its potential, and Gorman can work his magic, 2014 will be nothing but an afterthought.
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