The Parramatta Eels having boardroom issues has become as common as a sportsman’s brother or cousin having an outburst on twitter.
Ken Edwards and the Eels have now parted ways, Parramatta are in need of a CEO.
So who is out there? Who wants to take on a role than has claimed four CEOs in four years?
Parramatta should take a look at the Sydney Roosters, a team performing on the field this year but, more importantly, they are a team performing off the field.
In October 2012, the Roosters sacked CEO Steve Noyce and brought back former CEO Brian Canavan into the role of Chief Operating Officer – Football, and promoted Ted Helliar into the role of Chief Operating Officer – Commercial.
Essentially they’ve split the role of CEO into two separate areas, deciding the football department and the commercial department need 100% focus, rather than 50% each.
Parramatta need to follow suit and hire Former Melbourne Storm CEO Ron Gauci as COO Commercial and for the role of COO Football, the club should look as Peter V’landys who is currently Racing NSW chief executive.
Gauci came to the Storm in July 2010, the salary cap scandal was still fresh and the club’s position for 2010 and the future was in doubt.
He came in from a non-rugby league background but with a reputation from business of being a ‘Mr Fix it’ – and fix it he did.
After taking control of the club, he was able to retain and attract sponsors and keep faith with disenchanted fans, who had no idea if they had a club to support in 2011. This has resulted in the Storms average crowds and memberships going up since 2010.
Along with coach Craig Bellamy, Gauci took the club from not playing for premiership points in 2010 to being minor premiers in 2011 and winning the premiership in 2012.
This year the Storm are in the top four and among the favourites for the title again.
All this while signing key players to long term deals and coach Craig Bellamy to a new four year coaching deal before the season.
Gauci’s parting gift for the Storm was being instrumental in the negotiating with the business consortium who bought Storm, thus ensuring the long term future of the club.
Trainer John O’Shea said of Peter V’landys, “I think he’ll go down in history as the bloke that saved the industry.”
When first appointed in 2004, he immediately developed a strategic plan to address the problems facing the industry.
V’landys was at the centre of the 2007 Equine Influenza outbreak. He coordinated the response and implemented contingency plans, which included meeting with then-Prime Minister John Howard and negotiating an unprecedented $235million rescue package.
In May 2013, V’landys was ranked as the 40th most influential person in Sydney, something that, when dealing with the Parramatta board and being in his position for a rugby league team in Western Sydney, is no disadvantage.
Stability starts from the top and two men with experience in business and sport are the combination the Parramatta Eels need.
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