Gorman is new boss
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Lyall Gorman is no stranger to rugby league.
The former teacher is now the new Cronulla Sharks group chief executive.
‘‘I have been involved in rugby league as player, coach and referee,’’ Gorman said.
‘‘I am an accredited level two coach with the National Rugby League.’’
Gorman is on the board of Cricket NSW.
Gorman taught history, English, maths and physical education, and played as fullback, five-eighth and centre in various country rugby league competitions.
He said he followed rugby league all his life and grew up at Revesby.
‘‘I do have family links in Sutherland Shire,’’ Gorman said.
‘‘I followed Canterbury when they were known as the Berries before they became the Bulldogs in 1978.’’
Gorman said he had a new team now — Cronulla Sharks.
‘‘The Sharks are an exciting brand and we have to engage and embrace our supporters, sponsors and the community,’’ Gorman said.
‘‘We have a good playing list, good coaching staff and good staff that work at the club.’’
"The past will never have to equal our future and we have a very clear future and strategy as to where we are to take the club."
Given the recent dramas that the club has faced, Gorman said he had no qualms about taking the job, explaining the situation is almost like starting with a "blank piece of paper"
About moving forward he said:
"We have to engage better with our members and corporate partners and strengthen our relationships with our media partners"
Gorman stressed "it is time to draw the curtains on the past" and move on.
Gorman held his first meeting with the players at lunchtime after starting in the new role at 9am today.
Sharks chairman Damian Keogh said there was an impressive list of applicants but the one that stood out was Gorman.
‘‘Among the quality and calibre of people who applied for the job, Lyall Gorman was the one we kept coming back too,’’ Keogh said.
Keogh was aware that Racing NSW and NSW Waratahs were after Gorman.
What do you Sharks fans think about their new star recruit Lyall Gorman?
EARLIER STORY:
As reported recently in the Leader, Gorman was the front runner for the new group chief executive role after Steve Noyce was made redundant.
The Sharks have won the race to sign him as the new boss ahead of Racing NSW which were keen for him to gallop the thoroughbred racing industry into the future with him aboard.
Gorman’s new role will include responsibilities running the Sharks leagues and football clubs and their residential and business developments.
He is a former Football Federation Australia chief executive, was boss of Central Coast Mariners, and foundation executive chairman of A-League club, Western Sydney Wanderers.
Gorman was the No.1 man on the Sharks radar once Noyce was told his services were no longer required.
He recently met senior Sharks management and toured the club’s facilities at Woolooware.
Gallen back as captain
CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan has confirmed that Paul Gallen will be the Sharks captain in 2015.
Flanagan had sought counsel from one of Australia’s highest-ranked military figures to help with the club’s new leadership structure.
He said he was about to implement a tiered structure from ‘‘first grade down to the under 16s’’.
‘‘I’ve had a few meetings with him and have been mentored by him in relation to leadership,’’ Flanagan said.
‘‘We have plenty of leaders in our club and we have to identify what different qualities they have.’’
Gallen, Wade Graham, Nathan Gardner and Anthony Tupou trained with the Sharks yesterday for the first time after completing their three-month Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) ban for the supplements program furore at Cronulla
in 2011.
Flanagan ended a media conference early and was walking away to continue his training session with the players when he was questioned by a journalist about ASADA issues.
‘‘We’re preparing for 2015 and it’s exciting to have all the players back on deck,’’ he said.
‘‘The players are in a good head space and we will make sure
we look after their welfare and their families.’’
But he reacted when a journalist asked: ‘‘Are you sorry for allowing your players to be injected with illegal substances?’’
Flanagan replied: ‘‘Excuse me! I have gone through this all before; I’m not going to go over it again,’’ and then he left.
Flanagan earlier had been asked about the comments from a former Cronulla player Matthew Wright, who had said he felt let down by the club on the issue.
‘‘I’m disappointed Matthew made those comments that the club let him down," he said.
‘‘If he believes that, it’s unfortunate."
Flanagan was then asked if he felt he had let anyone down.
‘‘We are talking about season 2015 now," said Flanagan.
‘‘We have gone through paper after paper, comment after comment. We are concentrating on season 2015.’’
Flanagan was then asked when he would answer those questions.
‘‘What questions?" Flanagan said.
‘‘We have gone through that numerous times. We are talking about season 2015 and the return of the players. That’s what I’m here to talk about."
Gallen did not attend the media conference but seemed in good spirits chatting with his teammates in the training session.
It was his first day back since the ASADA ban ceased at midnight on November 23.
Flanagan said there was a ‘‘good vibe’’ and ‘‘positive feeling’’ among the squad members.
Recruits Michael Ennis and Mitch Brown from Canterbury trained for the first time with the Sharks today on the training field next to Remondis Stadium, Woolooware.
New signing Gerard Beale from St George Illawarra has been given an extra break after playing for New Zealand in the recent Four Nations series win over Australia.
Are you excited about the Sharks chances in 2015?