Former Eels director says ‘Gang of Five’ should never walk into the club again

A FORMER Parramatta director has called on the ‘Gang of Five’ to resign immediately, declaring: “They should never be allowed to walk into that club again.”

The ‘Gang of Five’ should resign, says former Eels director Mario Libertini.

A FORMER Parramatta director has called on the ‘Gang of Five’ to resign immediately, declaring: “They should never be allowed to walk into that club again.”

Mario Libertini, a respected Eels board member between 2009 and 2013, spoke passionately about Parramatta’s salary cap crisis, claiming the current board was “arrogant” and “a disgrace”.

“Is (chairman Steve Sharp) the right man to lead Parramatta? The answer is no. They have ripped out our hearts,” Libertini said.

In an explosive interview with The Saturday Telegraph, Libertini said the ‘Gang of Five’ — Sharp, chief executive John Boulous, head of football Daniel Anderson, deputy chairman Tom Issa and director Peter Serrao — should quit.

“Like possibly 90 per cent of Sydney, and the NRL public think the same thing, they should go. Do the honourable thing and resign,” Libertini said.

“At the end of the day, if you’re not there for Parramatta then you shouldn’t be there. That’s the way it is. Sharp and co have had plenty of opportunities to get it right and they have been very arrogant about it and continued on the path they have wanted to.

“They are going to have to go and it will give the club a chance to start a new era, a chance for it to start again. They should never be allowed to walk into that club again for what they’ve done to our club.”

Former Eels director Mario Libertini says the ‘Gang of Five’ must resign. Callaghan Walsh

Pressed on Sharp, Libertini said: “He is hanging on for dear life in a power position he has never been in before. Is he the right man to lead Parramatta? The answer is no. There are better people with better credentials to lead Parramatta.”

On Twitter this week, Libertini called the five officials “cowards” for not fronting the media or fans.

“No one has heard from these five. None of them have come out and said boo. It’s been left to the players and coach (Brad Arthur) to front the media and I think that’s a disgrace.”

Asked was it gutless, Libertini paused before saying: “Well ... yeah, it would have to be wouldn’t it? Perhaps they feel they haven’t done anything wrong.

“Steve Sharp stood up at the AGM (a fortnight ago) and said if the club was deducted points he would stand down. The next day he runs straight to the Supreme Court, along with others, wanting an injunction. How does that look?!

“You get good people who have known the club for many years wanting to help, like Denis Fitzgerald did when he helped them (the current board) get in and then they shun him. They turn away from people like (businessman) Bill Moss, Roy Spagnolo. Denis knows more about our cub than anyone else does.”

Libertini, who doesn’t want to return as a director after being suspended, has been a Parramatta sponsor for 30 years. He is angry at what has transpired.

Steve Sharp should resign, says Mario Libertini.

“No end. If we keep heading down this path, privatisation is the only thing that will save us,” he said. “It could save us from going broke.

“I feel for the fans. Parramatta supporters have to be thick-skinned. Brad Arthur is handling this better than most coaches would have handled it. He always has the player’s welfare in mind.

“We tried to have peace talks with these blokes (current board), bring everyone together for the benefit of the club. We need to get it right. Something has to be done because Parramatta is a sleeping giant.”

Originally published as Former Eels director says ‘Gang of Five’ should never walk into the club again