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Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan is facing deregistration from the NRL for continuing to have dealings with the club during his 12-month ban in 2014.
The NRL today notified the Sharks boss of their intention to deregister him following an Integrity Unit investigation, while also announcing handing down a breach notice proposing a combined $800,000 fine for the club.
Following the drug scandal which rocked the NRL in 2013, Flanagan was banned from coaching in the NRL for 12 months. One of the terms of his suspension was not being able to communicate with the Sharks.
The NRL, however, have found evidence supporting a preliminary finding that Flanagan continued to have dealings with the club during the period when he was suspended.
The original suspension was handed down as a year with three months suspended, while the club were originally fined $1 million with $400,000 suspended.
The fine proposed by today’s breach notice includes that original suspended amount, as well as an additional $400,000.
“One of the conditions imposed by the NRL was that “the club must not allow Mr Flanagan to be concerned directly or indirectly with the club” while suspended,” an NRL statement today read.
“As part of the current investigation into the Sharks salary cap, documents have been uncovered that support the preliminary finding that Mr Flanagan had dealings with the club in relation to recruitment and retention of players.”
It’s understood the suspension this time would be indefinite, rather than for another 12 months, because of the fact the last suspension was breached.
Even though the suspension is not yet confirmed by the NRL, Flanagan will be banned from dealing or coaching at the club effective immediately, pending further results and a response.
“While the findings are preliminary and no final determination will be made until the response he provides has been properly considered, he will not be permitted to coach or act in any official capacity at the club pending a final determination,” said the statement.
If the ban is upheld, the Sharks will have to move on from Flanagan and source a new coach ahead of the 2019 season and beyond.
The Sharks, who have until January to respond to the sanctions, held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. CEO Barry Russell said it was disappointing for the club, but they would appeal the severity of the penalty.
“This is a very disappointing day for our club,” said Russell.
“My thoughts go out to Shane and his family. From my point of view, it’s paramount we provide him with the wellbeing and support for Shane. As you could imagine, he is extremely upset and disappointed.
“The fine is subject to an appeal, which will be undertaken over the next few weeks. We have until January 31 to lodge an appeal. $800,000 is a substantial amount and we will be appealing that.
“I’ve been informed that there has been an enormous amount of communication between the club and Shane. As CEO of the club, we have to accept the responsibility that we broke the rules and we are paying for that right now.
“It’s sad for our fans, our players, that we are dealing with this. From my point of view, I’m going to do whatever it takes to get through this matter and clear this. The integrity and governance of this club needs to be first class. Our fans and members don’t deserve this.
“In the interim, we have John Morris and Jim Dymock to oversee the coaching of the club. We are determined to be successful next year.
The club have said it will be up to Flanagan to determine whether he appeals his suspension, with the Sharks only set to appeal the severity of the fine. He also said Jim Dymock and John Morris would take over the coaching.
“That is for Shane to determine. We received letters with a summary of correspondence and accusations of what we breached this morning. We will receive a large number of files in the coming days to review, then it will be up to Shane to decide whether he appeals his breach,” said Russell.
In the same statement by the NRL, the Wests Tigers have been issued a breach notice. CEO Justin Pascoe has been notified by the NRL that there is also an intention to cancel his registration after an undisclosed agreement was made to pay Robbie Farah as an ambassador when he finishes his career.
The NRL believed this should have been put on the salary cap of the Tigers, who, in addition to potentially losing their CEO, will have a $750,000 fine and $639,000 – the value of the ambassador’s agreement – added to their 2019 salary cap.
The Tigers have vigorously denied any wrongdoing, and have also been given until the end of January to respond to the proposed punishments.
