Parramatta Leagues Club has stared down a misguided attempted coup, surviving a constitutionally required motion to dismiss directors hoping to ‘give the power back’ to the footy fans.
A vocal contingent of Club (PLC) members assembled the Make Parra Matter Again (MPMA) committee, drumming up support for the idea that the club’s current administration is guilty of poor performance and mismanagement (of the Parramatta Eels in the NRL).
A petition was drafted, fronted by Eels fan Michael Barrilaro, but reportedly masterminded behind the scenes by former chairman Roy Spagnolo, who was not successful in his heavily funded bid in 2023 to be re-elected to the club’s board.
The MPMA levelled claims that the administration did not understand the game of rugby league, which caused them to make mistakes in decisions. The committee stressed it simply wanted to create change, focused on the lofty ambitions of regaining control, rebuilding the club, and uniting what it sees as the ‘Parramatta family’.
The petition called for the removal of directors Sue Coleman, Joy Cusack, Richard Foda and Mark Jenkins.
The club’s constitution required it to put the resolutions to a member vote, and an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) was called for Tuesday, 19 November.
In detailing the proposed resolutions, the affected directors offered statements, with Coleman arguing members should vote against all motions, to “protect our Club’s reputation” and retain its strong governance.
She stressed avoiding a return to the “factionalism and dysfunction” that had previously brought the club major difficulties and noted the current directors’ focus on achieving the constitutional objectives of: providing social and recreational facilities for members, promoting the game of rugby league, and supporting other sports and community initiatives.
It was also noted that since the mandated reforms of 2019, the club has thrived, seeing record membership growth, strong financial performance and the expansion of facilities for members.
The notice acknowledged the “challenging 2024 season” of the NRL team, but noted that the team had made more finals in the past eight years than at any other time in the past two decades, and recently moved into the “best stadium in the NRL”. Recent years have also seen the launch of the NRLW program, with the club’s team enjoying considerable success in 2024.
The notice also outlined the burden of undertaking the EGM, with legal requirements and notifications contributing to an estimated cost of more than $400,000.
PLC’s recent history and governance framework was shaped by a protracted period of disruption between 2009 and 2016, when rival interests brought about Board turnover and the club experienced significant financial losses.
This eventually led to an intervention by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA). Reforms followed, restructuring the entity to have separate Boards and constitutions for PLC and for Parramatta Eels.
ILGA deemed four of the directors unfit – including MPMA ringmaster Spagnolo, who the regulator reportedly said had not demonstrated the skills and knowledge expected of a club director.
Preparing for the EGM, PLC CEO Chris Dimou fended off criticism, citing the focus of the directors on upgrading facilities, the “strategic plan” to decrease reliance on poker machines, and the addition of the group’s third campus, the Dural Club.
Dimou also clarified to members that changes to the Board of PLC would not have any direct effect on governance of the Parramatta Eels, due to their forced separation.
President Greg Monaghan addressed members in October, relaying how the club is experiencing record membership growth and strong financial performance, with a pending masterplan for further redevelopment.
While lauding the importance of the process to allow members’ voices to be heard, Monaghan urged them to not generate another period of instability.
“While the Club has been limited in what we can say about this situation up until this point, as President of the PLC and a lifelong Eels supporter I share many Members and supporters’ disappointment that we are going through this process.”
But Barrilaro argued that the club is all about the rugby league, which should be the guiding influence in all club decisions. He pronounced that once the forces of change gained a majority controlling interest they could begin “overhauling” the organisation and give fans “a genuine voice” again.
MPMA had furthered its criticism by suggesting the current facilities needed still, or again, to be overhauled, to reduce the reliance on EGMs and create more dining and entertainment options for the boisterous members’ football-focused club.
Gathering on Tuesday evening for the controversial EGM, the conveners of the meeting failed to attract the 100 voting members required by the constitution (for a quorum) for the meeting to proceed, and at 7.15pm the meeting was dissolved, with no resolutions passed.
“All existing directors will continue to serve the Club and its members,” clarified the statement.
The news was met with considerable derision on PLC’s social media, largely based in the entire exercise being an expensive waste of time.
“Should be consequences for this behaviour. Calling for an EGM and then not even fronting for the meeting. Deliberately wasting the club’s (the members) money,” said one.
