Phil Gould’s relationship with the senior playing group of the Cronulla Sharks in recent years has been nothing short of frosty.
His call for Paul Gallen’s State of Origin sacking was minor compared to his comments that the Sharks had won a “soft competition” in 2016.
The players and fan base haven’t forgotten.
However, the recent approach by the Sharks to look after their football operations, as well his son’s selection in the 2019 Jersey Flegg squad, suggests that there is nothing wrong with his relationship with the club itself.
In fact, the Sharks should try and convince Gould to take on the role as the general manager of football operations.
There is a changing of the guard at Cronulla and the timing is perfect for Gould to come in.
After years of very few – if any – local juniors playing in the first grade team, the last few years have seen a change.
Chad Townsend played in the 2016 premiership win and Jayden Brailey featured in 2018.
A number of juniors have cemented their place this season. Blayke Brailey and Bronson Xerri will be first-graders for years to come, while Kyle Flanagan and Scott Sorensen are looking to make the most of limited chances.
Although they’re not local juniors, Briton Nikora and Will Kennedy have both come through the Cronulla system and are looking very promising.
However, with the loss of Shane Flanagan and the promotion of John Morris, new resources need to be focused on junior development.
Phil Gould was instrumental in the establishment of the Panthers Rugby League Academy.
Of course, the Sharks don’t possess anything like the same budget, but Gould remains the perfect candidate to develop a framework that will develop the next crop of juniors.
Even if the late 1990s did not yield any premierships, Sharks fans still see that era as one of their favourite periods, when a side dominated by local juniors played an exciting brand of football.
While the game has clearly changed since then, Gould could oversee the continuation of this junior pathway to develop first-graders.
Phil Gould congratulates Penrith’s reserve grade team after winning the 2017 State Championship Final. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Gould also has a history of securing big-name sponsors.
The Panthers’ two main sponsors are Oak and Hertz. The Sharks’ two largest sponsors are Ace Cutters and Pointsbet.
No one would question Barry Russell’s perseverance in attracting these sponsors during a difficult time for the club, but Cronulla have always struggled to attract long-term partners.
Having Phil Gould running that role could result in a large difference going forward.
The large problem in attracting sponsors in recent years has been the off-field troubles surrounding the club. The peptide scandal hit in 2014 and the salary cap breaches took their toll in the form of massive fines for the club and the permanent loss of their premiership coach.
It’s easy to look at things in hindsight, but it’s hard to see how Gould would have let the same things happen.
In his role at the Sharks, Gould wouldn’t need a five-year plan as the club has consistently been a contender in recent years.
He will instead need to lead an administration where these errors just don’t occur.
With John Morris making his debut as first-grade coach this year, Gould would also be keen to work for a club where a developing coach may appreciate his guidance.
Finally, there’s no doubt that Phil Gould is a highly respected figure within the NRL hierarchy.
The Sharks have never had that type of representation at NRL board level, instead seemingly engaged in a constant battle to avoid relocation.
There’s no doubt that Gould could change this perception.
The Cronulla Sharks are in a good position. The $40 million windfall via the sale of their share of a blue-chip property development gives them financial stability.
On the field, the club continues to have success.
However, in the area of junior pathways, club sponsors, sound administration and status within the NRL, much work remains to be done.
Phil Gould is just the man for the job.
Bazza
Roar Rookie
Apologies Crosscoder, been out of action and just seeing your response now. You're right, I'm not a Sharks loyal fan but I don't dislike them and certainly wouldn't want to see them come undone. The greatest concern I have is money promised by developers. It doesn't always work out. Sure there's always front money to get the ball rolling but it's the end balloon payments that worry me. How many times have you seen developments fall through? I hope it does work out for the Sharks, but until they have all that money, they'll still be doing a balance act. I wish them well!
mushi
Roar Guru
"Relying on investment returns as a fundamental part of your business model is fraught with danger. Ask any accountant. " 1 - Isn't relying on returns on investment / capital the entire purpose of a business? (Someone better call Warren Buffett and put him in touch with an account before his uncommercial notions send him broke) 2- The level of danger depends on the investment 3- as a club the sharks are community run, using funds to generate returns to allow those community objectives to be achieved is consistent with other nfp institutions (if your accountant went to a university that relies on this model like Harvard should you trust them)
mushi
Roar Guru
I think you're referencing the wrong years (the sharks website sends you to the wrong report the first time you click on it, not a ringing endorsement for their management). Last year they had positive ebit and npat. The junior pathway is an investment so it's not unreasonable to allocate that against the capital inflows.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
NRL should chase gus
JVGO
Guest
Yeah let's chase Phil Gould. Despite all the amateurish chaos by committee, volunteer CEO's, Flanno tiling the gym, Asada, Keogh on coke, Gymea Gorilla's level of organisation at the Sharks who has done better on the field in the last decade on the field, The Sharks or the Phil Gould engineered biggest junior base in the world mega leagues club super genius management Penrith Panthers? No matter what level of fiasco has gone down at the Sharks it is still better than what Phil Gould has managed at the Panthers. And you'd have to listen to the guy as well. Forget it.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Bazza. The money has been received now as you stated and the balance when the retail, starts.The retail is expected to start as soon as the 2019 season is over.Whilst they don't have it all cash in hand now,I suggest 6 months is hardly a lifetime away. The $12.2m in fact will be held in an escrow fund by a third party, for the sole use for a refurbished Leagues club . A club that will add to the patronage and revenue far greater than currently exists. The Sharks have appointed Richard Munro (ex Star)an experienced business exec. as CEO of the Sharks, who will look after the operations of the Leagues club and the Football club. You appear not to understand the concern drive and passion of the Shark's faithful, else the development would never have got to the idea and pursuit of that idea in the first place. An ordinary guy by the name of Damien Irvine helped get the ball rolling. They will be receiving $16m also from the State and Feds for round improvements and a high performance facility. Maybe not out of the woods now immediately, but I'd rather be in that position than not.Owning their own ground also helps.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
That’s what they said about the Dogs and the Storm and the Eels Mr Yards. Time has a tendency to heal,sometimes faster than expected. Bogan players move on eventually or get kicked out .The Sharks have a good new bunch of promising juniors(and they have one of the largest junior rl in Sydney including females). Well they have just about covered their jumpers’ sponsorship, and all their private boxes are sold for the season, so I guess some businesses want to be associated with a club, that has put a new broom through the place.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Yeah HY, most brands are jumping over each other to have their names on Dylan Walkers chest..Jorge Taufua has a rap sheet on the Gold Coast..Moses Suli on his last chance..Hastings blew his..then seeing you’re going back in time, there’s off field ‘catastrophes’..Matai...Watmough and you know who.. All SO brand enhancing they had the best coaches in the business lining up to replace Bazza and had to beat other clubs off with a stick for star players Kane Elgey and Brendon Elliot as their major signing signatures for ‘19....this is your no stink club right ? Some nerve..
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
That is correct Renegade,the money is paid upfront during this year early debt and finality after football season 2019 in just a few months. Requirements are some held for the purpose of updating the licensed club, removal of all debt up to end of 2019,and the rest in the Bank to be invested by an Investment body appointed by the club. The retail section which includes the new refurbished Leagues club and 200 units and hotel ,is expected to be started after the end of this 2019 football season. The Retail section already includes commitments by Woolworths, Aldi, Dan Murphys. I don’t know where some of these guys get their info from ,at times.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
"In a cul de sac" ,in an area that is growing population wise.That has one of the largest and growing junior leagues in Sydney(including females),that has just employed a manager to oversee the business model for now and the future.And received a decent state Govt grant for a Centre of Excellence as part of their stadium. In 2021 the new refurbished Leagues club in combination with the retail development (which has an additional 200 units on top) of an already built and sold and being built earlier residential development adjoining, is expected top be completed.Plus a hotel with accommodation as part of the retail development The Cronulla football club ATM received little financial support from the old Licensed leagues club.A refurbished Leagues club (paid for )with top quality restaurants plus the usual member's facilities, plus money in the Bank, owning their ground, and no debts ,is in a far better position than quite a few other Sydney clubs. Thus Peter they do have the means to fix it.And the F6 freeway when finished ,only just started admittedly, will make access to the hire and the ground far quicker and easier to access. And I also point to Bruno Cullen(ex Broncos CEO)when he did an audit (post ASADA of the Sharks) as required by the NRK admin.He based his view the club will be among the top 5 financial clubs in the NRL.The NRL admin has also been kept up to speed on Sharks' development, it appears you have not.
Peter Piper
Guest
Its true that all footy clubs need to apply that test now and again however whilst I believe that quite a few clubs particularly in Sydney are in financial difficulty, I believe that most of them have a business model which can be fixed. Cronulla on the other hand are effectively in a cul de sac and are a club limited by physical constraints. Maybe removing another club like the Dragons changes that but right now they have a big problem and do not have the means to fix it.
Renegade
Roar Guru
You could use Your statements against any Sydney and certainly more than a few are worse off than the sharks in terms of sustainability…. the sharks are doing something to ensure there’s but more importantly they have the best junior development in the competition right now so Gould wouldn’t have to build from scratch. All that said, I’m not sure he would be the right person for cronulla.
Renegade
Roar Guru
No they’ve got $40m, it’s just being drip fed…the development is already underway.
Paul
Roar Guru
You think so, Mr Yards? Remember when ET was running around in the 80's & 90's? Elle MacPherson was linked to the Club and it was seen as a highly marketable Club. Right now, Galen will move on soon and if they can snare a player with RTs charisma, they'd be quickly back to where they were 20 odd years ago. Valentine Holmes was the man, but obviously he's off the table, at least for now. Maybe on of their juniors can come through as ET did.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Paul I believe by the end of this year we will have a understanding of the areas the NRL will target. Mid next year we will know what if any clubs will re-locate, the NRL already has a “formula” it will use when selecting what clubs fit the re-location proposal. The NRL will probably like to take a renewed expanded competition to the table before the next big rights agreement and like you I’ve no confidence in Beattie or Greenburg
Paul
Roar Guru
when do you expect the NRL to move on expansion, Insider? I look at Peter "I manage by thought bubble" Beattie and Todd "I manage by knee jerk" Greenburg and just don't see how they can come up with a coherent plan about this issue. They don't even have a working business plan for the current Rugby League situation in this country, so a plan for expansion is either not going to happen or won't happen soon. I'm guessing it will be around season 2024 or 5 years down the track before any expansion is realized, and I'm being generous to the guys I named.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Sadly the Sharks - as a brand - stink. Shattered by bogan star players, and the most ignorant and short sighted performance enhancing program. Catastrophic. Who wants to link their own brands with them? Krill I suppose. They have a long way to go before emerging once more into the sunlight.
Paul
Roar Guru
Really good explanation Bazza. By the sounds of things, they need a good financial manager with strong ties to the district, who can not only manage any funds under investment, but can also draw in sponsors to diversify their sources of income. Gould MAY be that person, if he has buy in to the Sharks brand and has the business acumen to grow and expand their income streams. I agree with you, I just can't see it.
Bazza
Roar Rookie
I think people are getting a bit confused about the Shark’s 40 million windfall. They don’t have it. They were given an initial injection of $9 million, $3 million of which will cover their anticipated loss for 2019, pay current debts and their NRL fine for salary cap breach will also be paid. Later this year they receive another $18 million to be paid into a futures investment fund from which they receive an estimated $1.5 million in interest per year that can be used for working capital. Once work begins on the development they then receive another $12 million. So really, they’re not out of the woods financially yet, but in any case it looks like they need a good administrator to keep them on an even keel. Is Phil Gould the right person? I’m not convinced he is. He certainly did a great job at Panthers, but I can’t help feel much of the success can be attributed to his passion for the club. I think the Sharks need their own club faithful with the same drive and passion.
Max power
Guest
Nice, except they have 9 million not 40 mil The other 31 is dependent on property development - good luck with that