Parramatta are searching for a new boss after Bernie Gurr decided to step down once his contract expires at the end of the NRL season.
Gurr helped the Eels back on their feet after being appointed chief executive in late 2016 to lead them out of one of the darkest periods in the club’s history.
At the time, Parramatta suffered multiple salary cap breaches that forced major changes to the board and were without a major sponsor.
Three years on and Gurr has overseen a successful return to a new $330-million home Bankwest Stadium, and a planned move to a $40-million base in Kellyville.
This year, NRL coach Brad Arthur was re-signed until the end of 2021 while star duo Clinton Gutherson and Mitchell Moses also received three-year extensions.
More importantly, the Eels are on the cusp of a return to the finals just one season after finishing with the wooden spoon.
Eels chairman Sean McElduff hailed Gurr’s efforts over his tenure.
“Bernie has provided a major contribution to rebuilding our club both on and off the field,” McElduff said in a statement on Thursday.
“He is an experienced administrator who provided stability, calmness and professionalism to the many issues our club was facing in 2016.”
The club also revealed Gurr had been instrumental in helping slash operational costs from over $12 million to 2016 to around $4 million last year.
The football department is expected to move into their new headquarters, claimed to be the biggest in the country, in time for pre-season in November.
“Bernie and his management team led some of the exciting new initiatives that will drive our club in future years,” McElduff said.
“We now have the wonderful new Bankwest Stadium as our home, the Kellyville Park “Centre of Excellence” project, a definitive Strategic Plan, increased management personnel, and our football programs are in good shape.”
However, the Eels are set to lose some experience over the summer, led by forward pair Manu Ma’u (Super League) and Tepai Moeroa (rugby union).
Daniel Alvaro, Michael Jennings, Tim Mannah, Brad Takairangi, Josh Hoffman and Peni Terepo all remain unsigned.
Mid-season acquisition Waqa Blake from Penrith is currently their only major addition so far for next year.
But the club has recently been heavily linked with another Panthers player in former Kangaroos representative Reagan Campbell-Gillard.