After 17 years as the boss at Tradies club, Tim McAleer has joined major rival Cronulla Sharks as chief executive of the leagues club and overseer of its building development project.
Mr McAleer, who has been on indefinite leave from Tradies for unexplained reasons, handed in his resignation on Monday this week, and took up his new post the following day.
Ironically, Mr McAleer has joined the club he rejected as a merger partner for Tradies in 2010-11 when Sharks were pinning their future on what he considered at the time were unachievable development plans.
“I am happy to admit I was wrong in thinking they would never get the approvals they were seeking when they started out,” he said on his first day in his new job.
I am happy to admit I was wrong in thinking they would never get the approvals they were seeking when they started out.
- Tim McAleer
“I talked to the council general manager [John Rayner] who said he had never seen a development of that scale approved by a council.”
Former Sharks CEO Damian Irvine accused Mr McAleer on social media this year of trying to “kill off [the] Sharks”.
Mr McAleer replied, “At the time, we didn't feel we were able to provide the dedication that running a football club requires and did not want to disappoint loyal Sharks fans with anything less than a full commitment”.
Mr McAleer said he wanted to concentrate on the positives in joining Sharks, rather than his resignation from Tradies.
“What they have done here is amazing,” he said.
“Five or six years ago, Sharks was surrounded by swamp, mangroves and sand – now there is development everywhere. They are building a new club, developing a new precinct and they have got all their approvals.
“The whole future is very bright.
“This club now needs someone to take the reins of the leagues club and assist in guiding the [ongoing] development.”
Mr McAleer said the offer to join Sharks came “at the same time doors were closing at the previous venue [Tradies]”.
“As the saying goes, ‘One door closes and another opens,” he said.
Mr McAleer said the job performed by Sharks CEO Lyall Gorman before he left the club this year had been split in two, with the football club and leagues club / development roles separated.
“I am pleased to have my two most senior managers [from Tradies] join me,” he said.
“Lisa Wilkinson has been appointed operations manager and Elie Bassil the business development manager.
“The three of us we have been very much welcomed by Dino [Mezzatesta] and the board and I am finding this morning a very warm welcome from the staff.
“They are aware of the very successful track record of our team and we are looking forward to working with them.
“I know the board is looking to give the leagues club direction, which may have been lacking for a period of time.”
Mr McAleer said negotiations with the Sharks had been “going on for some time”, which was why he was not prepared to comment about his situation at Tradies.
He took unexpected leave after a turbulent nine months.
The has been speculation about the reason for him taking leave suddenly, but no official explanation has yet been provided.
It may relate to the club’s controversial development applications (DAs) for a childcare centre and affordable housing project for key workers at Gymea.
Mr McAleer became general manager 17 years ago and developed Tradies into Sutherland Shire’s biggest club, with premises at Gymea, Caringbah and Helensburgh and 54,000 members.
However, the club has endured a horror nine-months as a result of the two DAs and the sudden disappearance of its catering contractor.
The DAs angered nearby residents.
Sutherland Shire Council rejected the childcare centre DA in August on the recommendation of an Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel (IHAP).
The housing project DA was withdrawn.
ROLES SEPARATED
Cronulla have traditionally had separate CEOs for their leagues club and football operations until Lyall Gorman was appointed as Group CEO in November, 2014.
Gorman left his role last month, 12 months after helping end the Sharks’ 50-year premiership drought.
Earlier this month it was announced he had taken the vacant CEO role at Manly. Cronulla’s chief financial officer, Paul Eriksson, assumed the role of interim CEO at the Sharks.
But since the departure of Gorman the club’s board decided to return to separate chief executives for the leagues club and football club.
While McAleer will steer the leagues club side of the business, Cronulla are yet to appoint a new chief executive for their football operations.
It is understood the club are not yet close to making a final decision on that appointment.