Under-siege Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp says he’ll stand down to save the Eels’ season

PARRAMATTA chairman Steve Sharp conceded he would quit his post if it meant the Eels avoided being deducted competition points for salary cap breaches.

Parramatta Eels will learn its fate on Tuesday.

FOR the very first time, under-siege Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp conceded he would quit his post if it meant the Eels avoided being deducted competition points for salary cap breaches.

Sharp made the shock admission at the end of a marathon three-hour AGM out west, with most of the 263 members in attendance angered by the board’s refusal to answer most questions about the latest cap breaches, which threatens to end their NRL campaign.

The Eels will learn their fate on Tuesday, which former Eels’ boss Denis Fitzgerald - who clashed several times with Sharp at Monday’s meeting - tipping loss of competition points, and a fine worth up to $1 million.

Former Eels CEO Denis Fitzgerald leaving the Parramatta Leagues Club after their annual general meeting. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Sharp, who has dug his heels in right through the club’s latest embarrassing ordeal - he even discussed taking legal action against the NRL over the weekend - could finally be caving in to the pressure if last night’s response to a simple question was anything to go by.

A member asked Sharp if he would stand down if it meant the Eels avoided losing points.

“If they gave me an ultimatum, ‘if you go, you won’t lose any points’, I would go,” Sharp replied.

“When the findings come out, whenever they are, if we don’t believe they are correct and just we will take that challenge up for the members like yourself.’’

Fitzgerald was more to the point and told The Daily Telegraph Sharp and the rest of the board, who all sat on stage at Monday’s AGM, would be left with no other option but to resign.

“It’s not up to me, but there would be tremendous pressure if the NRL breach notice says the club must have points deducted and there’s a massive fine, which you can only imagine will be higher than last year’s ($465,000)’’ Fitzgerald said.

“I’d say the fine would be between $750,000 and $1 million if they’re found guilty of breaching the cap. The biggest ne will be the deduction of competition points, which makes it difficult for coach Brad Arthur and the players.

Steve Sharp says he will quit his post if it means Parramatta avoid points deductions. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“They deflected questions about it tonight, and they said they had received no word about what the NRL decision is.’’

Fitzgerald was at one stage accused of being too old by Sharp, to which the man known as The Emperor replied: “I might be old, but I’ve still got my smarts.’’

Sharp and the board were happy to continue to refer to the ‘’smear campaign’’ involving the cap breaches.

Another former long-serving chairman, Alan Overton, was also of the opinion Sharp and the board would need to stand down if found guilty of the breaches.

“Probably so, yes,’’ Overton said.

“It will be interesting what the penalty is. The board were very quiet tonight.’’

Sharp was still holed up at Parramatta Leagues Club after 10.30pm, long after most members had gone home.

Several members were filthy about the conduct of some of the board, and could not believe they had passed a motion to give themselves $100,000 for expenses, despite an initial belief the same motion had been defeated minutes earlier.

Others members were also gobsmacked by the 6pm start time, which denied many members the chance to attend.

Originally published as Under-siege Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp says he’ll stand down to save the Eels’ season