Former long-running Parramatta boss Denis Fitzgerald wants to help Parramatta recover from their salary cap crisis.
Fitzgerald, who earned the nickname ‘The Emperor’ during his 30-year administrative career with the Eels, was an interested onlooker at Rugby League Central on Tuesday as the findings into Parramatta’s salary cap dramas were announced.
Five Eels officials – chairman Steve Sharp, CEO John Boulos, head of football Daniel Anderson, deputy chairman Tom Issa and director Peter Serrao – face being deregistered by the NRL as part of the breach notice handed down to the club.
Fitzgerald was replaced as CEO of the Eels in 2009, but believes he can now help out the club again during their darkest hour.
“I’m available if the powers-at-be (want me),” Fitzgerald said.
“Who knows what that is going to be in the next short period at Parramatta.
“If the NRL think I can do something I will be only too happy to assist given my 30 years’ experience as an administrator at Parramatta.”
“This is the darkest of days for Parramatta. And it won’t change overnight, it would take a lot of good work from good people to get it back to where it needs to be.”
Fitzgerald said he agreed with the penalty for what the NRL said was overspending on the cap by $3 million since 2013.
“The penalty was harsh but fair,” he said.
“The NRL needed to come down with a penalty that would take the interest out of other clubs trying to do the same thing, and bring to a head some of the things at Parramatta that they have been made aware of at various times.”