TENSION surfaced between three separate tickets and some of the 24 candidates vying for the eight director positions for the Cronulla Sharks board as the week-long voting for club members begins today.
Under the club's constitution, four of the eight directors up for election must be filled by candidates who are members of both the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks leagues club and football club, with counting ending before the Sharks AGM on Monday night, April 22.
Claims of electioneering misbehaviour arose, including copyright and IP infringement and ignoring the clubs constitution.
It forced Sharks boss Bruno Cullen to issue a warning about "colourful and unsavoury comments" in a statement.
"Our constitution is available for members and any interested person to read. It includes a clear set of rules that all candidates standing for the election must abide by.
"Some candidates seem to be ignoring it. Have no doubt, the club will seek to ensure that all candidates abide by the constitution — without fear or favour.
"In recent days there have been some flagrant abuses of the rules of the election and the people responsible for these abuses have been contacted by the club's lawyers and warned to cut it out.
"A warning is not necessary under the rules. The club will not be drawn into the campaign rhetoric but will not stand by and allow its management to be defamed and maligned in electioneering.
"Everyone is treated the same. We have a great club. We don't need people acting badly."
Sharks board chairman Glenn Coleman is unopposed and has incumbents Craig Douglas, Peter Kerr, Greg Holland and Phillip Tiernan running with him, along with Matthew Hartley.
Damian Keogh's ticket includes John Dunphy, Darren McConnell, Andrew Boldeman, Kevin Dwyer, Paul McCarthy, Craig Airey, Dino Mezzatesta and Paul O'Neile.
Glenn Gorrick's ticket includes Mark Goodwin and Mark McGaw, and there are six independents in former chairman Damian Irvine, Greg Mcaleer, Peter O'Driscoll, David Boldeman, Dane Sorensen and Peter Cobb.
This is a brief description of the 24 candidates (taken from longer profiles posted to Sharks members last week).
CHAIRMAN UNOPPOSED
- Glenn Coleman: Sharks chairman, former Sharks first grade winger, property developer and managing director of Coleman Group.
POTENTIAL DIRECTORS, A-Z
- Craig Airey: CSA Electrical Services managing director, former Sharks player.
- Andrew Boldeman: financier and CEO of TAL's Group Life.
- David Boldeman: youngest group sales manager at Bauer Media (formerly ACP Magazines).
- Peter Cobb: former policeman and principal solicitor of own law practice.
- Craig Douglas: chartered accountant, company director, Cronulla Sharks director past two terms.
- John Dunphy: long-time Sutherland Shire resident and boss of Shimano Fishing Australia for more than three decades.
- Kevin Dwyer: principal of Warren McKeon Dickson Lawyers and Cronulla Lions Club vice-president.
- Mark Goodwin: retired assistant police commissioner; accredited and registered personal, fitness and sports trainer.
- Glen Gorrick: Sutherland police sergeant, Cronulla Triathlon Club captain and son of former Cronulla-Sutherland Junior League president, Bob Gorrick.
- Matthew Hartley: corporate Sharks sponsor and managing director of Empire Glass and Aluminium.
- Greg Holland: Sharks board member, owner and manager of a national public affairs business and Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club official.
- Damien Irvine: former Sharks chairman who stood aside for Glenn Coleman.
- Damian Keogh: triple basketball Olympian and former Sydney Kings captain, and chief executive of Val Morgan.
- Peter Kerr: lawyer, Water Polo Australia president, chairs disciplinary and Olympic selection appeals committees; on numerous boards including Cronulla Sharks and FINA doping panel.
- Greg Mcaleer: shire resident and managing director of his own business.
- Paul McCarthy: investment broker and Blue Ocean Equities executive director.
- Darren McConnell: Career Corporation managing director and Cronulla-Sutherland Junior Rugby League vice-president.
- Mark McGaw: former Sharks international and fitness and sports trainer.
- Dino Mezzatesta: senior executive, Accor Hotel Group business.
- Peter O’Driscoll: I.T. project manager, chairman of Sharks Leagues Club Sports Council and member of Cantorion Male Voice Choir.
- Paul O’Neile: founder, chief executive and executive director of Boost Tel Pty Ltd (Boost Mobile).
- Dane Sorensen: former Kiwi prop forward international with more than 200 first grade games with the Sharks and former club director.
- Phillip Tiernan: lawyer, former league player and Sharks board member.
COMMENT - Brad Forest, sports editor
There is a large and wealthy talent pool in the list of the 24 candidates for the Cronulla Sharks board.
A terrific mix of business leaders and sporting professionals whose brains should be fully utilised on whatever board is chosen finally under chairman Glenn Coleman.
People such as Craig Douglas, Peter Kerr, Damian Keogh, John Dunphy, Kevin Dwyer, Andrew Boldeman, Paul McCarthy, Greg Holland, Glenn Gorick, Matt Hartley, Mark Goodwin, Darren McConnell ... and more.
Unfortunately, there’s only room for eight directors.
But here’s the rub. The winners could, and probably should, put election rivalries aside and invite some of these esteemed gentlemen to join them in a new Cronulla Sharks.
A new Sharks will emerge from the chaos of uncertainty surrounding ASADA and the Sharks football club because previous boards worked long and hard to get the $300 million property development approved, and with work starting this year.
There will be plenty of work ahead, guiding new Cronulla Sharks divisions such as business, entertainment, property, commercial, stadium, gaming, fan, sponsorship and membership, as well as the more traditional leagues and football club divisions.
All this talent needs to be harnessed, not wasted, from next Monday night onwards.
Who are you backing?
