BRUNO Cullen believes Cronulla Sharks can rebuild on the back of an improved club business model and a successful NRL team this season, despite the cloud hanging over the club in the wake of drug allegations.
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The Sharks interim chief executive and former Brisbane Broncos chief remains optimistic.
He revealed the Sharks had budgeted for a profit this year (about $1.4 million), without any funding assistance from the leagues club.
With the ASADA doping controversy and the club's need to fill the positions of chief executive officer and football manager, those budgets will have to be revised.
In a candid interview, the man who was involved with the Broncos from 1989 and was their chief executive officer in 2003-2010 — during which time the Broncos maintained their perfect run of finals appearances until that last season — spoke openly about the road ahead for the Sharks.
The Sharks' board asked the NRL to call the semi-retired Cullen in to act as a troubleshooter after head coach Shane Flanagan was stood down and four other officials were sacked for failing to inform the board about several matters, including alleged doping practices at the club in 2011.
That publicity caused a furore and also forced club chairman Damian Irvine to stand down, replaced by former Sharks first-grader, Glenn Coleman.
"Financially. the club is quite healthy and was on track towards a nice surplus," said Cullen who was sitting with new NRL chief executive David Smith and watching the Sharks-Rabbitohs clash before congratulating the Sharks players.
'Rebuild confidence'
"In fact, the planets were aligned for the Sharks in 2013, with a wonderful playing roster, the club's cash flow going well again and the [$300m] property development approved with projected revenues of between $35-$45 million over the next eight years," he said.
"This drugs issue has severely impacted on our sponsorship and so we will need to fill the big three: stadium, jumper and sleeve [sponsors].
"But we have a good side and we can rebuild confidence in the business community, even if takes half a year."
Cullen said the Sharks didn't need extra finances but was appreciative of the NRL's assistance with "human resources" to help reorganise the club during its present plight.
"We did have a few people in the club doing more than one job," he said.
"But in a little over a week I have been impressed with the attitude of the staff ... they are real footy people all wanting to see the Sharks go well."
Cullen said he would work with the Sharks until they found a permanent CEO and filled the key position of football general manager, with the future of Sharks coach Shane Flanagan apparently imminent.
"I've told the board that I am prepared to work in both Brisbane and Sydney helping the Sharks, while also attending board meetings," said Cullen, who sits on four different company boards in Brisbane and is chairman of two.
Cullen said he had promised the Sharks players "ongoing assistance" in regards to the ASADA investigation, with up to 14 players facing bans from six months to two years if found guilty of taking banned substances.
"It can take a toll emotionally and psychologically," he said. "The public perception of ASADA's processes is that players are being treated as guilty, rather than innocent until proven guilty, like in every court of law.
"But we know they [ASADA] have a job to do ... and, hopefully, this will not drag out too long."
Cullen said his only other big concern was the "timing" of the Cronulla board of directors elections ahead of the annual general meeting next month.
"I'm hoping that whatever the board looks like next month, all the work we put in place [business model] will be retained. Otherwise, we've wasted a lot of time and effort," he said.
Do you agree with Cullen?
