NRL: Gallop refuses to guarantee Sharks future

SYDNEY - NRL chief executive David Gallop says he cannot guarantee embattled Cronulla's future as the club's crisis deepens.

Gallop has called for an urgent meeting with the Sharks after further unwanted front-page headlines on Thursday.

The Sydney Morning Herald claimed the embattled club had paid A$20,000 to former employee Jenny Hall, who was accidentally hit in the face by Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia last year.

Zappia has previously said the incident on August 9 was an accident and he was simply shadow boxing but Gallop and the NRL have asked for a full report from the club by noon on Friday detailing all aspects of its termination settlement with Hall, a community liaison officer at the time.

A 'please explain' will also be sought for Wednesday's revelation that former Test forward Reni Maitua had failed a drugs test.

The club's major sponsor, LG Electronics, announced earlier on Thursday they would not renew their A$700,000 a season agreement with the club due to the recent events.

The club had already lost A$150,000 worth of sponsors in the wake of last week's sex scandal involving former star Matthew Johns in 2002.

Gallop said he didn't think the latest setback for the club would spell the end of the Sharks but admitted they had tough times ahead.

"Not necessarily (the end). Obviously they've got some big issues ahead of them," he said.

"We need to get in and talk to them about the strategies to solve their problems.

"I've said for some time we don't have a blank cheque for any club but certainly we will do what we can, to look at their financial situation to see if there is any way through it.

"Certainly part of our broadcast deal is that we provide eight games a week and that will be something we take into account as we go forward looking at their financial position.

"I cannot guarantee anything at this point."

Gallop knocked back suggestions he had given up on the Sharks and was aiming to create a new club on the NSW central coast but confirmed he was aiming to meet with the club's board as soon as possible.

The Sharks did however announce a new sponsorship agreement with car park management company InterPark for the rest of the 2009 NRL season.

The value of the deal was not disclosed.

"We are extremely pleased InterPark has thrown their support behind the Sharks and we hope it will lead to a long and fruitful partnership between us," said Sharks chairman Barry Piece.

"It has been well documented that times are tough at present, with this new sponsorship arrangement certainly a positive development."

InterPark managing director Peter Stewart said he was pleased to be able to lend the support of his company in a time of need.

"We believe the Sharks to be a club with genuine integrity who have been extremely proactive in dealing with any player behavioural issues in recent years," Stewart said.

"We look forward to developing a relationship with the club which will lead to much larger sponsorships in the years ahead."

LG's marketing director David Brand said the recent controversies involving the club were behind the decision not to renew their long-running deal with Cronulla.

"We have had a successful association with rugby league and the Sharks but we no longer see the benefits of an ongoing sponsorship given the evolution of our brand," said Brand in a statement.

"While the recent controversies around the NRL, and the Sharks in particular, were certainly a significant element in our decision, we also considered the direction of our company and where we want to take the LG brand."

- AAP