Cronulla Sharks board sack coach and staffers following review of ASADA doping allegations

THERE was blood in the water at Cronulla Friday night as the Sharks board sacked four football staffers and stood down coach Shane Flanagan

THERE was blood in the water at Cronulla Friday night as the Sharks board turned upon its own, sacking four football staffers and standing down coach Shane Flanagan on the most dramatic day in the club's 46-year history.

The extraordinary exodus came as a result of an independent review, which discovered "serious management failures" over a three-month period in 2011 when controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank worked at the club.

That period is also the focus of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's investigation, which left 14 players contemplating offers to accept six-month bans amid concerns they inadvertently took banned peptides.

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But while all players will be available for tomorrow night's season opener against Gold Coast, the same can't be said for the majority of their bosses, who were savagely cut within a matter of hours yesterday.

After meeting with ASADA officials for two hours in the morning, coach Flanagan was stunned to learn he would now be stood down pending a secondary review to be conducted by business advisory firm Grant Thornton.

That review could also lead to heads rolling from the club's board, with deputy chairman Keith Ward last night admitting directors would accept whatever recommendations are tabled.

However, there will be no second chances for football manager Darren Mooney, doctor David Givney, physio Konrad Schultz and trainer Mark Noakes.

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All were sacked yesterday, with ASADA's former deputy chair Dr Tricia Kavanagh revealing that they failed to adequately communicate information to the board during the period that covered Dank's tenure at the club between March and May 2011.

Kavanagh also confirmed that players were advised to not remain in contact with Dank after he was dismissed from the club.

With the players still considering their options last night, Kavanagh pledged that a full strength team would take the field under interim coach Peter Sharp tomorrow night.

But neither she nor Ward could guarantee the make-up of the side in weeks to come.

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The Rugby League Players Association yesterday hired an independent barrister, Andrew Coleman SC, to assist and a final decision on whether they will accept the six-month bans is not expected until next week.

Ward revealed the Sharks had consulted with the NRL before tabling written offers to the players on Tuesday, which include incentives of full pay, an automatic one-year contract extension and the payment of representative bonuses earned in 2012.

"If players want to put their hands up and do a deal with ASADA there's a question of whether we should be supportive of those players," Ward said. "We wanted to do our best to make sure the players could make that decision without those pressures. We've given them a commitment that we would meet their basic contractual arrangements."

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The 30-minute press conference unfolded on the first floor of Sharkies Leagues Club, with stunned patrons watching it unfold live on big screen televisions in the bistro below.

At the back of the room stood shattered Sharks employees, whose very future is now as uncertain as the club they love.

Serious questions now hang over the club's survival, given it still carries a $3.5 million debt to St George Bank and has little chance of securing further corporate support until the scandal abates.

"Before this we were having our best year that we've ever had," Ward said.

"To have this happen is devastating. I'm devastated."

Ward said the club would also be liable for payouts to sacked staff, while Flanagan will continue to be remunerated while he's stood down.

Unable to afford the collapse of a club thanks to its new TV deal that guarantees eight games a week, the NRL has provided crucial financial support. It's highly unlikely the Sharks would still be afloat but for their lifeline.