New Cronulla chief executive Steve Noyce is determined not to be a short-term fix as he tries to guide the embattled club through its problems with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.
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Noyce was appointed interim chief following the sudden departure of Bruno Cullen on Monday. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Sharks, Noyce said Cronulla's future was "exciting".
"All of this has happened really quickly," Noyce said. "I think it is a vote of confidence in myself and shows the club is serious about leadership and making sure the club is moving forward. I am not sure of the word 'interim'. I know exactly what the challenge is and most people that know me know that I am not a title person.
"I want to continue to work with an amazingly dedicated on- and off-field team and take this club forward for what I think will be exciting times ahead."
The former Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers boss became the Sharks' football manager in April.
He takes over from Cullen on an interim basis. Cullen left the club in protest after its new board reinstated four sacked staff on Monday without consulting him.
"There's a number of priorities," Noyce said. "I think everyone is well aware of the ASADA investigation. In any business revenue is important, community engagement is really important and I think that is one of the huge opportunities here. I've been blown away by the warm welcome I've received and I've come to admire the passion and loyalty of the people of the shire towards the Cronulla Sharks. There are real opportunities to harness all that and use that positivity and energy to help drive the club forward.''
In another day of change at the Sharks, chief operating officer Gy Wallace announced he would also leave the club. While Cullen's departure was immediate, Wallace will stay on with the club for another six months, largely overseeing its $300 million property development. This will allow the new directors a chance to familiarise themselves with the plans before his departure.
Wallace has been the club's link with property developer Bluestone Capital Ventures after former board members Damian Irvine and Craig Douglas, who started the project, left the club earlier this year.
After joining the Sharks two years ago, Wallace was appointed chief operating officer in April. He has been given the new title of director of leagues club and development for the next six months.
This follows the departure of general manager of marketing and commercial Pat Woods who left the club earlier this month after less than a year at the Sharks.
