I feel like it's Groundhog Day here at @LadiesWhoLeague because once again, I am writing about my beloved Parramatta Eels.
If you've been following the blog throughout the year, you will know how much Parramatta mean to me and how much it has hurt me to see the team struggling both on the football field and in the boardroom. I have been embarrassed, disappointed and at times furious with what has been happening at my club. At the same time however, I love my team and will always be there, through thick and thin.
It's now time for me to move forward from the last year and look toward 2014.
This week Parramatta made 2 new appointments. Firstly, we appointed Brad Arthurs as our new coach and we then preceded to appoint Daniel Anderson as our General Manager of Football.
Much can be said about the appointment of these two men, but I feel that the papers have been rife with commentary about these appointments for the entire week. It is no longer of use to debate whether they were or were not the right men for the job. Whether you agree or disagree with these appointments is now irrelevant because they have been appointed to do a job.
What we, as both a football club and as fans of this football club need to do is come together.
In the past year, Parramatta has seen a new board, a new CEO, a new coach and a new GM of football. For me this represents Parramatta's best chance for a fresh start in many years.
As fans, it is absolutely time for us to come together and look forward to 2014. I am not suggesting that we have the squad to see us improve dramatically from this year's result, but we certainly have a squad that is capable of improving. We certainly have a team of individuals, hopefully now all working together with the best interests of the club in mind and we certainly have the ability to begin to take small steps toward making Parramatta the powerhouse it should be again.
We as fans should expect improvement and we should expect everyone working at this club to take advantage of this opportunity for a fresh start and to work together.
A strong Parramatta is crucial for the success of the NRL. I have also blogged throughout the year my thoughts on crowds declining. I think a big part of it is that teams like Parramatta, the Dragons and the Tigers, with such strong supporter bases, have not been performing. As well as drawing crowds, Parramatta are a proud club built on tradition. We are a team that is part of the foundation of the NRL and who make such important contributions to Rugby League at a grass roots level through development of Juniors.
What is clear however is that there is no more time for excuses and those responsible for the appointment need to stand by their decisions. Steve Sharp pushed for Brad Arthurs from Day 1 and by all accounts, Scott Seward was also heavily involved in negotiations. If Arthurs fails, these men need to take responsibility and stand by their decision. We as fans also have the right to make judgement, as elections are essentially only a year away.
For Parramatta, the hard work starts now. As a fan, it's time to take a deep breath and get ready for the roller coaster that is season 2014.
How long till the season starts again?
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
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