Function room number three at Club on East (formerly the SUS Club) was filled to capacity with members, fans, sponsors and people from the local community at the first of two Sharks Fan Forums last night.
Incoming Group CEO Lyall Gorman, Chairman Damian Keogh and Head NRL Coach Shane Flanagan spoke, while at the same time listening and learning from the almost 100 in the room, as a number of issues relevant to the future, past and present of the Sharks were addressed.
Gorman expressed his desire to elevate the club to a position of greatness in the Australian sporting landscape, vowing to do it with help and support, along with considerable input, from the members and fans.
Rather than just fielding questions Gorman attempted to instigate debate in the room, requesting fan feedback as to the culture they believe exists at the Sharks and the type of club they would like to help build for the future.
The issue of taking games away from Remondis Stadium was also raised and while announcing he had no official position on the matter just a couple of weeks into his tenure as CEO, Gorman listened to an overwhelming response from the audience as to why the Sharks should continue to host 12 games each season at their home ground.
Such a view was supported by coach Flanagan, citing the advantages of playing in front of a parochial home crowd, while Keogh revealed that Board and management had rejected a lucrative offer to take a game to New Zealand in 2015 in favour of retaining 12 Remondis Stadium games.
In all it was around 90 minutes of earnest and honest interaction with the club and its most ardent supporters, with most leaving the forum with a sense their issues had been raised and their thoughts, hopes and dreams for the future of the club had been heard.
A second Community Forum is scheduled for tonight at Sharkies Leagues Club, with Gorman, Keogh and Flanagan again in attendance.
Members, fans, sponsors and those interested in hearing from the key men in charge of the Sharks, while also having their opinions heard, are all invited to attend.
Tonight’s Community Forum will be held in the auditorium, kicking off at 7.00pm.
