Phil Gould supports banned Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan

Panthers supremo Phil Gould has leapt to the defence of banned Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan in a reference letter to the NRL integrity unit, insisting Flanagan did not coach the team during his 12-month suspension. READ THE LETTER IN FULL

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Panthers supremo Phil Gould has leapt to the defence of banned Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan in a reference he recently sent to the NRL integrity unit.

In a copy obtained by The Sunday Telegraph, Gould insists Flanagan did not coach the Sharks during his 12-month peptide suspension in 2014 and that he was only being “caring and supportive” of players and staff in emails exchanged while banned.

“I am having real trouble agreeing with the suggestion that this has been a ‘serious’ breach of NRL rules, warranting the NRL’s suggestion that Mr Flanagan is ‘otherwise not a fit and proper person to remain registered under the NRL Rules’, ” Gould wrote.

Phil ‘Gus’ Gould has written a letter in support of banned Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan. Picture: Brett Costello

“It’s my understanding that the vast majority of the communications were actually instigated by the Cronulla Club, seeking assistance from Mr Flanagan on a number of matters.

“To be honest, this comes as no surprise given the lack of experienced leadership at the Cronulla Club at this time and the lack of people in the club with the experience and knowledge to deal with day-to-day issues and planning for the future, of which Mr Flanagan was always going to be a part.”

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Gould’s support of Flanagan is interesting in that the pair have not always seen eye-to-eye.

The Panthers boss famously said Flanagan’s 2016 triumph at the Sharks was the result of a soft competition that year. Flanagan was quick to hit back.

Flanagan did work under Gould at the Sydney Roosters almost 20 years.

In the reference Gould said the Sharks would have been incapable of making decisions in 2014 without communicating with Flanagan and having access to his knowledge and experience.

“Mr Flanagan was not coaching the team. That was the spirit of the penalty,” Gould wrote.

“Mr Flanagan providing support to the people within the club, to ensure the club’s suffering would hopefully not extend beyond his suspension period.

Shane Flanagan was banned from coaching the Cronulla Sharks. Picture: Damian Shaw

“He was being supportive of his club and staff. He would be feeling tremendous guilt that his suspension was costing his club, his players and staff dearly.

“He would feel a sense of obligation to try and minimise the stress for all these people. I don’t see it as breaking NRL rules. I see it as being supportive and caring for the game, his club and his staff.”

Flanagan recently quit the Sharks after being stood down by the NRL.

The integrity unit is expected to hand down a penalty next month.

“I do not accept the notion that Mr Flanagan is not a fit and proper person,” Gould said.

“I’m not for one minute denying the fact that along the way Mr Flanagan has made mistakes, or at the very least he has been guilty of errors of judgment — but I think it falls well short of saying he is not a fit and proper person.”

Originally published as Phil Gould supports banned Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan